UNRAVELED & EXPLAINED: The Loneliness Of The Long Distance Runner

An in-depth, part by part analysis of this deep cut from Iron Maiden's 1986 album, Somewhere In Time.

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Guitars:
Jackson USA Signature Adrian Smith San Dimas
Fender Dave Murray Signature Stratocaster
Squire Classic Vibe '70s Precision Bass

Plugins: BIAS FX II and Neural DSP Archetype: Petrucci
DAW: Reaper Audio
Audio Interface: Focusrite Scarlett 2i2
Strings: 9-46 (Jackson) 9-42 (Fender)
Picks: Ernie Ball Heavy

[UltraPvnk]

An introspective song only possible on SiT, as much as Infinite Dreams was only possible on 7s. Impossible to grow tired of either. 2 of Maiden’s best.

[mister_syre]

Somewhere in Time is not only my favorite album but also a unique one in their discography. The artwork, the sound, the production, the themes: everything fits perfectly.

[MrMvidz]

The harmonies on this song are just peak Maiden stuff.

[andrejobradovic]

Maiden played distance runner just once in their facinating career on September 10 1986 in Belgrade, Yugoslavia. That was very first gig on Somewhere in Time tour. It was amazing show just like this channel is.

[KOSTAS]

I went to Milano from Greece to watch the boys, SIT is my favorite album in all of music and I had to overcome financial issues to go watch the show. When they came on stage with "Caught" I seriously had an outer body experience. I travelled all the way back to my room as a kid first discovering the band and the album, the artwork, Bruce's voice, the solos, everything man. During "Alexander" I was numb and in tears almost through all of the song.

[manosassassin]

Man I wish they played it live on the tour! Don't get me wrong, the setlist is A BLESSING on this tour, but this song here is so underrated in my opinion. What a band.

[Moonchilddbk]

First Iron Maiden song i heard in 1987 and it is still my favorite

[nicolasaraistrujak]

the most underrated Iron Maiden song ever

[benedictdonald]

Absolutely one of their top ten best songs. Their best album, IMO, as well.

[aaroncoroner]

The three songs I wanted to hear live, Lonliness, Sea of Madness and Deja-vu, are the ones they aren't playing. My luck.

[MrAnthropic]

Hello Nico. Your breakdown of Hell on Earth inspired me to learn the entire Senjutsu album. Now I appreciate that album like I never did before. You're an inspiration. Hope you do a breakdown of Deja vu sometime in the near future. Thank you.

[olivergarner]

The dog has good taste 😊
As someone who’s done quite a few distance runs, this song perfectly tells the story of running. The lyrics aren’t necessarily needed, the music just encapsulates all the emotions - urgency, determination, elation, struggle and triumph.
Steves ability to really tap into the story he wants to tell through the music is quite something, by just subtlety changing a key here, or shifting the tempo there.
And he does this by using the same notes he’s used since day one!
All hail.

[Zeviticus]

Listening to these songs when young and growing up always invoked such imaginative stories and feelings that could never be found anywhere else. Steve Harris is already a musical legend.

[mathias]

Somewhere in time is one of those rare albums where I truly love every song. Not a single song on that album that I skip to get to another song that I want to hear more.
These smaller breakdowns to learn about the structures of the songs area truly great.
I am sitting with my guitar at the same time pausing and sometimes going back a bit to learn the parts 🤘

There was no better guitar duo than these two guys for me, and nowadays there is not a better guitar trio than the Maiden guys!

[rachaeltownend]

Hands down one of my favourites on SiT and one I play regularly in my warmup routine. Great breakdown as always thank you!

[jackelliott]

Hey Nico! Would love if you would keep doing analysis videos like this. 😊

[DavorMagdic]

Having heard this sound probably 1000 times in my life allows me to appreciate it even more after having seen this analysis. Thank you!

[aceshigh]

I don't really know if i can say that this my favourite SiT song, since there's not a single bad track on this record and i love all of them. But definitely one of my top ten Maiden songs.

Kinda bummed that they don't play it on the current tour, but the setlist is near perfect, so it's by far no dealbreaker. Maybe they'll play it one day.

Love your breakdowns of Maiden songs, always nice to see how nicely everything flows together

[kntzounis]

Definitely one my favorites.
But seeing your videos, isolating each instrument, there is one question that comes to mind. What on earth happens in Steve’s Harris head?
I mean you decide to compose on bass guitar and write once again a story. But the end product has so much work sonically (even if it is 1986, with the then available technology) which makes you wonder how he initially thought of the composition and how it ends up.
There is some magic in the in between process.
Sometimes I get the same feeling listening to Marillion songs, there must be so much work, arranging and discussion behind this kind of songs which we cannot even imagine.

[Pepper]

Nico, it is so awesome that you elected to break down this particular song. When I was in my mid-to-late-teens, I absolutely adored this track; I simply couldn't get enough of it. Over the past 10-15 years, it has been in a constant battle with several other Maiden songs as they fight for the title of "Favorite Maiden Song" in my head (along with "Still Life", "Lord of Light", "Sea of Madness", "The Talisman", I could go on and on). It was so great to see and hear your breakdown of the riffs and sections. Loved it. Great stuff, Nico. Just keep doing what you're doing. Cheers again from New Orleans. :-)