Man of Sorrows (song)
Encyclopedia
Man of Sorrows is the second single from Bruce Dickinson
's fourth solo album, Accident of Birth
, released on 3 June 1997. The song was originally written for a film called Chemical Wedding
, which existed only as a script at the time (it was eventually filmed and released in May 2008). The original version of the song is included on the Best Of Bruce Dickinson
album and was recorded in 1990, engineered by André Jacquemin (who is better known for his sound-engineer work for Monty Python
) and with Janick Gers
on guitar.1
In interviews, Bruce Dickinson has stated that the song's lyrics are about the occult English writer Aleister Crowley
. The repeated expression "Do what thou wilt!" refers to the motto of the Abbey of Thelema, which the French Renaissance
writer François Rabelais
invented in his philosophical work Gargantua
. In this abbey, men and women live together in peace and harmony according to the principle:
Inspired by Rabelais' ideas, Crowley founded in 1920 a commune called the Abbey of Thelema
in Sicily.
The title Man of Sorrows
refers to a passage in the Bible
, in the book of Isaiah 53
, which describes a man who takes on the sins of all mankind. According to Catholic
teaching, this figure foreshadows Jesus
, who died for mankind to redeem them:
A Spanish version of the song, Hombre Triste, is included on the 2005 expanded edition of Accident of Birth. A radio edit and an orchestral version of Man of Sorrows are included on the same CD.
Bruce Dickinson
Paul Bruce Dickinson is an English singer, songwriter, airline pilot, fencer, broadcaster, author, screenwriter, actor and marketing director, best known as the lead vocalist of the heavy metal band Iron Maiden....
's fourth solo album, Accident of Birth
Accident of Birth
Accident of Birth is a heavy metal album released in 1997 by Bruce Dickinson. It was published by Zomba Music.This is the second album made in collaboration with guitarist/producer Roy Z and is therefore much different from Bruce's previous Skunkworks album. It marks Bruce's return to his more...
, released on 3 June 1997. The song was originally written for a film called Chemical Wedding
Chemical Wedding (film)
Chemical Wedding is a British supernatural horror/science fiction film produced by Bill&Ben Productions in conjunction with the London-based Focus Films. It is directed by Julian Doyle, who edited Terry Gilliam's Brazil and Time Bandits, Life of Brian and Monty Python's The Meaning of Life...
, which existed only as a script at the time (it was eventually filmed and released in May 2008). The original version of the song is included on the Best Of Bruce Dickinson
The Best of Bruce Dickinson
The Best of Bruce Dickinson is a compilation album released in 2001 by Bruce Dickinson. Two versions were released; a single disc version and a bonus disc version...
album and was recorded in 1990, engineered by André Jacquemin (who is better known for his sound-engineer work for Monty Python
Monty Python
Monty Python was a British surreal comedy group who created their influential Monty Python's Flying Circus, a British television comedy sketch show that first aired on the BBC on 5 October 1969. Forty-five episodes were made over four series...
) and with Janick Gers
Janick Gers
Janick Robert Gers is an English musician, best known for being one of the three current guitarists in Iron Maiden, along with Dave Murray and Adrian Smith, as well as his earlier work with Gillan and White Spirit.-Career and Personal Life:...
on guitar.1
In interviews, Bruce Dickinson has stated that the song's lyrics are about the occult English writer Aleister Crowley
Aleister Crowley
Aleister Crowley , born Edward Alexander Crowley, and also known as both Frater Perdurabo and The Great Beast, was an influential English occultist, astrologer, mystic and ceremonial magician, responsible for founding the religious philosophy of Thelema. He was also successful in various other...
. The repeated expression "Do what thou wilt!" refers to the motto of the Abbey of Thelema, which the French Renaissance
Renaissance
The Renaissance was a cultural movement that spanned roughly the 14th to the 17th century, beginning in Italy in the Late Middle Ages and later spreading to the rest of Europe. The term is also used more loosely to refer to the historical era, but since the changes of the Renaissance were not...
writer François Rabelais
François Rabelais
François Rabelais was a major French Renaissance writer, doctor, Renaissance humanist, monk and Greek scholar. He has historically been regarded as a writer of fantasy, satire, the grotesque, bawdy jokes and songs...
invented in his philosophical work Gargantua
Gargantua and Pantagruel
The Life of Gargantua and of Pantagruel is a connected series of five novels written in the 16th century by François Rabelais. It is the story of two giants, a father and his son and their adventures, written in an amusing, extravagant, satirical vein...
. In this abbey, men and women live together in peace and harmony according to the principle:
In all their rule and strictest tie of their order there was but this one clause to be observed, Do What Thou Wilt; because men that are free, well-born, well-bred, and conversant in honest companies, have naturally an instinct and spur that prompteth them unto virtuous actions, and withdraws them from vice, which is called honour.
Inspired by Rabelais' ideas, Crowley founded in 1920 a commune called the Abbey of Thelema
Abbey of Thelema
The Abbey of Thelema refers to a small house which was used as a temple and spiritual centre founded by Aleister Crowley and Leah Hirsig in Cefalù, Sicily in 1920....
in Sicily.
The title Man of Sorrows
Man of Sorrows
Among the passages in the Hebrew Bible that have been identified by Christians as prefigurations of the Messiah, the Man of Sorrows of Isaiah 53 is paramount - the various theological traditions are discussed at that article...
refers to a passage in the Bible
Bible
The Bible refers to any one of the collections of the primary religious texts of Judaism and Christianity. There is no common version of the Bible, as the individual books , their contents and their order vary among denominations...
, in the book of Isaiah 53
Isaiah 53
Isaiah 53, taken from the Book of Isaiah, is the last of the four Songs of the Suffering Servant, and tells the story of the Man of Sorrows or "The Suffering Servant", which became a common theme in medieval and later Christian art. The passage is known for its interpretation by many Christians to...
, which describes a man who takes on the sins of all mankind. According to Catholic
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
teaching, this figure foreshadows Jesus
Jesus
Jesus of Nazareth , commonly referred to as Jesus Christ or simply as Jesus or Christ, is the central figure of Christianity...
, who died for mankind to redeem them:
He was despised and forsaken of men,
A man of sorrows and acquainted with grief;
And like one from whom men hide their face
He was despised, and we did not esteem Him.
Surely our griefs He Himself bore,
And our sorrows He carried;
Yet we ourselves esteemed Him stricken,
Smitten of God, and afflicted.2
A Spanish version of the song, Hombre Triste, is included on the 2005 expanded edition of Accident of Birth. A radio edit and an orchestral version of Man of Sorrows are included on the same CD.