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The Great Unknown

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"The Great Unknown by Iron Maiden
[VERSE]
EmWinteEm9r sofEmtly Em7fallEming Em11to the Em9grouEmnd
EmCalmlEm9y waiEmtinEm7g donEm't yEm11ou heaEm9r a sEmound
EmWhen Em9the world has fallen to the depths belEmowEm7  
EmWherEm11e the future's open and the fear has grEm9ownEm  
EmAnd tEm9he path to follow to the great unknownEm  Em7  
EmWherEm11e the dark has fallen and the seed is sEm9ownEm  
Em   Em9  Em Em7  Em  Em11  Em9  Em
[PART 2]
E5In F#5the selfish heaDrtEs of some
E/GThe nE/AightmE/F#are's E/GcomiE/F#ng
E5WitF#5h the spilling DblEood of others
GNow AwriE5nging through
E5Now F#5the cup is spiDllEing over
E/GWake E/Ato neE/F#ws of E/GdeatE/F#h
E5And F#5the prophecy oDf Esages
GDesAtiny E5is met
E5To F#5the depths of hDumEan mind
E/GThe cE/Ary is E/F#burniE/GngE/F#  
E5WitF#5h the mentor's DanEger
GOf Athe E5lesson ringing true
E5And F#5for those who DliEve by 
E/Gand aE/Are dyE/F#ing by E/Gthe E/F#sword
E5TheF#5y will take theDir Eideals with them
GJusAtify E5their end
[CHORSU]
CWhere the fools are lying and Athe meek are crying
BWhere the wolves are preying
GOn the Aweak alone
CWhere the sons are dying
AHear their mothers crying
BAnd the distant sound of fire
GBegins agAainE  
GNever Dm7ending the Csusdesires of men
GIt'll Dm7never be the samE5e or calm again
GIn a Dm7time of chaCsusnging hearts And great unknown
GIt'll Dm7be the damnation and E5end of us all
[SOLO 1]
(E5 F#5            D E)
(E/G  E/A  E/F#  E/G E/F#)
(E5 F#5            D E)
(G  A   E5)
[CHORUS]
CWhere the fools are lying and the meek are cryAing
BWhere the wolves are preying
GOn the weak alAone
CWhere the sons are dying
AHear their mothers crying
BAnd the distant sound of fire
GBegins agAainE  
GNever Dm7ending the Csusdesires of men
GIt'll Dm7never be the samE5e or calm again
GIn a Dm7time of chaCsusnging hearts And great unknown
GIt'll Dm7be the damnation and E5end of us all
[SOLO 2]
[C       DD#, Bb       DD#] 4 TIMES
[SOLO 3]
[A        BC G, G           BC ]
(ENDING INTRO FEEL)
(Em     Em9   Em    Em7    Em    Em11    Em9Em)  X
When the world has fallen  And we stand alone...

All chords in this song (17)

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The Great Unknown

by Iron Maiden

Lyrics & chords · Original key

Chords in this song · guitar

Em9

Em7

Em11

F#5

E/G

E/A

E/F#

Dm7

Csus

"The Great Unknown by Iron Maiden

[VERSE]

Em Em9 Em Em7 Em Em11 Em9 Em

Winter softly falling to the ground

Em Em9 Em Em7 Em Em11 Em9 Em

Calmly waiting don't you hear a sound

Em Em9 Em Em7

When the world has fallen to the depths below

Em Em11 Em9 Em

Where the future's open and the fear has grown

Em Em9 Em Em7

And the path to follow to the great unknown

Em Em11 Em9 Em

Where the dark has fallen and the seed is sown

Em Em9 Em Em7 Em Em11 Em9 Em

[PART 2]

E5 F#5 D E

In the selfish hearts of some

E/G E/A E/F# E/G E/F#

The nightmare's coming

E5 F#5 D E

With the spilling blood of others

G A E5

Now wringing through

E5 F#5 D E

Now the cup is spilling over

E/G E/A E/F# E/G E/F#

Wake to news of death

E5 F#5 D E

And the prophecy of sages

G A E5

Destiny is met

E5 F#5 D E

To the depths of human mind

E/G E/A E/F# E/G E/F#

The cry is burning

E5 F#5 D E

With the mentor's anger

G A E5

Of the lesson ringing true

E5 F#5 D E

And for those who live by

E/G E/A E/F# E/G E/F#

and are dying by the sword

E5 F#5 D E

They will take their ideals with them

G A E5

Justify their end

[CHORSU]

C A

Where the fools are lying and the meek are crying

Where the wolves are preying

G A

On the weak alone

Where the sons are dying

Hear their mothers crying

And the distant sound of fire

G A E

Begins again

G Dm7 Csus

Never ending the desires of men

G Dm7 E5

It'll never be the same or calm again

G Dm7 Csus

In a time of changing hearts And great unknown

G Dm7 E5

It'll be the damnation and end of us all

[SOLO 1]

(E5 F#5 D E)

(E/G E/A E/F# E/G E/F#)

(E5 F#5 D E)

(G A E5)

[CHORUS]

C A

Where the fools are lying and the meek are crying

Where the wolves are preying

G A

On the weak alone

Where the sons are dying

Hear their mothers crying

And the distant sound of fire

G A E

Begins again

G Dm7 Csus

Never ending the desires of men

G Dm7 E5

It'll never be the same or calm again

G Dm7 Csus

In a time of changing hearts And great unknown

G Dm7 E5

It'll be the damnation and end of us all

[SOLO 2]

[C DD#, Bb DD#] 4 TIMES

[SOLO 3]

[A BC G, G BC ]

(ENDING INTRO FEEL)

Em9 Em Em7 Em Em11 Em9

(Em Em) X

When the world has fallen And we stand alone...

About The Great Unknown Chords by Iron Maiden

Learn how to play The Great Unknown by Iron Maiden with free guitar chords, lyrics, and interactive chord diagrams. Search for “The Great Unknown chords”, “The Great Unknown guitar chords”, or “Iron Maiden The Great Unknown chords” and you will find this page — transpose to any key, tap chords for diagrams, and use auto-scroll while you play. Perfect for beginners looking for easy The Great Unknown chords and for experienced players who want accurate The Great Unknown lyrics and chords in one place. Common chords in this song include Em, Em9, Em7, Em11, E5, F#5.

FAQ — The Great Unknown by Iron Maiden

How do I play "The Great Unknown" by Iron Maiden on guitar?

Open the free chords for "The Great Unknown" by Iron Maiden on Free Chord Book. Tap any chord to see its diagram, use transpose to change the key, and turn on auto-scroll to play hands-free.

Are the chords for "The Great Unknown" by Iron Maiden free?

Yes. The chords for "The Great Unknown" by Iron Maiden are 100% free on Free Chord Book — no sign-up required.

Can I transpose "The Great Unknown" to a different key?

Yes. Use the transpose buttons on the song page to shift "The Great Unknown" up or down by half-steps so it matches your vocal range or capo position.

Can I see chord diagrams for "The Great Unknown"?

Yes. Tap any chord in "The Great Unknown" to instantly see an interactive guitar chord diagram with alternate fingerings.

Is "The Great Unknown" easy to play on guitar?

Many players learn "The Great Unknown" by Iron Maiden with our free chords. Use transpose and chord diagrams to simplify tricky shapes, and browse related songs by Iron Maiden below.

What key is "The Great Unknown" in?

The chords for "The Great Unknown" show the original chord names (including Em, Em9, Em7, Em11, E5, F#5). Use transpose to move the song into any key that fits your voice or capo.