Man Of Sorrows

Bruce Dickinson's 'Man Of Sorrows' delves deep into the existential and spiritual struggles of a tormented soul. The song opens with a poignant image of a small boy kneeling in a church, praying to a god he does not know or feel. This sets the stage for a lifelong journey of inner turmoil and unanswered questions. The boy's inability to cry symbolizes a suppression of emotions, hinting at a deeper, unresolved pain that will follow him into adulthood.

The recurring refrain, 'Man of sorrows, I won't see your face,' suggests a sense of abandonment and loss. The boy, now a man, grapples with the absence of a guiding figure or a clear purpose. The lyrics 'Do what thou wilt!' echo the famous maxim of Aleister Crowley, a controversial figure known for his esoteric and often misunderstood teachings. This reference adds a layer of complexity, suggesting that the man's quest for meaning leads him down a path of rebellion and self-destruction.

As the song progresses, the man becomes a 'tortured seer' and a 'prophet of our emptiness,' embodying the collective existential dread of humanity. His life is marked by guilt, shame, and self-hatred, encapsulated in the line 'I hate myself!' The repetition of 'Do what thou wilt!' underscores his desperate search for freedom and identity, even as he remains trapped in a cycle of suffering. The song leaves us with an open-ended question: Is his journey over, or has it just begun? This ambiguity reflects the ongoing nature of the human struggle for meaning and redemption.