Written by bassist and founding member Steve Harris, the song is based on the Charge of the Light Brigade at the Battle of Balaclava 1854, which took place during the Crimean War,[2] and inspired by Lord Tennyson's 1854 poem of the same name.

[3][4] The track has been the subject of much praise since its release, with AllMusic describing it as "an all-time genre classic that boasts guitarists Dave Murray and Adrian Smith's most memorable harmonized lead riff, plus that trademark galloping rhythm",[5] while Mick Wall comments that it is the song "which most Maiden fans from those days still recall first when you mention the Piece of Mind album".

The single's accompanying music video, filmed in Brixton Academy and directed by Jim Yukich, included clips of a cavalry battle from the 1936 film The Charge of the Light Brigade, starring Errol Flynn and Olivia de Havilland,[8] which the BBC refused to play unedited, deeming the footage too violent.

[2] The band's manager, Rod Smallwood, has since criticized the decision, stating, "Anyone would think we'd killed the horses ourselves instead of using an old Errol Flynn movie".

A regular fixture in the band's concerts, vocalist Bruce Dickinson has always waved a Union Flag during live performances and, more recently, has begun wearing an authentic red coat uniform which would have been worn during the battle on which the song was based.

[19] In addition, the song has been released by Sentenced on The Trooper EP (1994),[20] Rage on End of All Days (1996), Hellsongs on Hymns in the Key of 666 (2008),[21] Thumper on the Metalliska compilation,[22] Highland Glory as a bonus track on Forever Endeavour (2005),[23] Radio Cult on Grooves from the Grave (2008),[24] Stryper on The Covering,[25] Iced Earth on the "tour edition" of their 2011 album, Dystopia,[26] 2Cellos on their 2015 album, Celloverse,[27] and Esprit D'Air releasing a cover with Tim "Ripper" Owens and Ben Christo (The Sisters of Mercy).