To Tame A Land

"To Tame a Land" is the closing track on Iron Maiden's fourth studio album, Piece of Mind. It was inspired by the classic science fiction novel Dune by Frank Herbert. However, when Steve Harris requested permission from the author to name the song "Dune" and to use a spoken quotation as the track's intro, his request was met with a stern reply from Frank Herbert's agent: "No. Because Frank Herbert doesn't like rock bands, particularly heavy rock bands, and especially rock bands like Iron Maiden". This statement was backed up with a legal threat, and eventually the song was renamed "To Tame a Land" and released in 1983. The song contains some unusual modulations (such as from B minor to Ab minor just before the main riff sets in). Around 4:09 into the track, it quotes the main theme of classical guitar showpiece Leyenda (Asturias) by the Spanish composer Isaac Albéniz. "To Tame a Land" has been covered by the Pyrenean band Stille Volk (under the title "Adoumestica Una Terro"). The song was also covered in 2008 by Dream Theater on the tribute CD Maiden Heaven: A Tribute to Iron Maiden released by Kerrang! magazine, and is included in the special edition release of their 2009 album Black Clouds & Silver Linings.

[Verse 1] He is the King of all the land In the Kingdom of the sands Of a time tomorrow He rules the sandworms and the Fremen In a land amongst the stars Of an age tomorrow He is destined to be a King He rules over everything In the land called planet Dune Body water is your life And without it that you would die In the desert the planet Dune, oh! [Verse 2] Without a still suit you would fry On the sands so hot and dry In a world called Arrakis It is a land that's rich in spice The sand riders and the mice That they call the 'Muad'Dib' He is the Kwizatz Haderach He is born of Caladan And will take the Gom Jabbar He has the power to foresee Or to look into the past He is the ruler of the stars [Instrumental Break] [Segue] [Bridge] The time will come for him To lay claim his crown And then the foe Yes, they'll be cut down You'll see, he'll be The best that there's been Messiah supreme True leader of men And when the time For judgment's at hand Don't fret, he's strong He'll make a stand 'Gainst evil and fire That spreads through the land He has the power To make it all end [Instrumental Break] [Guitar Solo] [Guitar Solo]