"Iron Fist"

Art by Nathan Spoor.

**"Iron Fist"** is a song by the American rock band Coheed and Cambria. It is the seventh track on their 2013 album *The Afterman: Descension*. A demo version of the song was released on *The Afterman: Descension* (Big Beige Demos) album.

## Lyrics

**[Verse 1]**

The wish you plead and the things you sought

We all think, we all thought

The things I've done, and the world I've seen

Don't measure up to you, my queen

Oh, I'd take one for the other, and work my way through this machine

**[Chorus]**

God damn this cursed iron fist

When I lose control, oh no

God damn this cursed iron fist

When I lose control, oh no

**[Verse 2]**

The first train out, while the last one drones

We'll all sing: "We're going home"

As the curtain swings in to cover up
Our secrets kept, our love enough

**[Revised Chorus]**

God damn this cursed iron fist

When I lose control

Give me the strength, I know, and please believe me

Oh girl, this is what I've become

And I'm going to leave it up to you

What are you going to do?

**[Interlude]**

Cause I don't want to lose your hold on me

Cause I don't want to lose your hold on me

**[Revised Chorus]**

God damn this cursed iron fist

When I lose control

Give me the, oh no, please believe

Oh girl, this is what I've become

And I'm going to leave it up to you

What are you, what are you

**[Bridge]**

Just remember

Pay no attention to this iron fist, this iron fist

Just remember

Pay no attention to this iron, oh, this iron fist

**[Chorus]**

God damn this cursed iron fist

When I lose control, oh no

God damn this cursed, god damn

God damn this cursed, god damn

God damn this cursed, god damn

God damn this cursed iron fist

## Story Context

In this chapter, Sirius is finally released from the hospital but he is a shell of who he used to be. He keeps thinking about what happened—all he's lost, and how he played a role in it. He understands that his desire to make himself into something special caused this rift between them, and he finally realizes that it wasn't as important or special as his relationship to Meri. ("The wish you plead and the things you sought" and "The things I've done, and the world I've seen / Don't measure up to you, my queen.")

Of course, in the chorus we hear his regret that his actions have caused. (The "iron fist.")

In the second verse, there's a more direct connection to his present. He's finally going home in a taxi, but the last time he was in a car still rings through his head ("The first train out, the last one drones"). He's going home, but his heart is elsewhere ("the curtain swings in to cover all / Our secrets kept, our love enough").

The chorus is then revised to include four new lines which show Sirius pleading with her, though all in his head. He has no right to ask her to forgive or help him, but he is so full of regret that only her direction can lead him back to some semblance of normalcy. Though he all but ignored her before, he wants to keep her in his life, and this is a way to build that connection. He hopes she will ignore his actions to forgive him.

## Background

Sanchez said that he struggles with communication sometimes, and not being able to communicate can frustrate him which also causes him to be unable to articulate further, causing a vicious cycle. He said that this song is a way to apologize to his wife for those times in which he can't communicate the way he wants and the results of that frustration.

## References

1. ↑ https://childrenofthefence.tumblr.com/post/41956159881/iron-fist-song-premiere
2. ↑ Coheed and Cambria. Booklet. *The Afterman: Decension*, Everything Evil Records, 2013.
3. ↑ https://genius.com/Coheed-and-cambria-iron-fist-lyrics