Megadeth Lyrics

Peace Sells... But Who's Buying?

Info

Wake Up Dead (Music, lyrics: Mustaine) I sneak in my own house It's four in the morning I've had too much to drink Said I was out with the boys I creep in my bedroom I slip into bed I know if I wake her I'll wake up dead I wonder, will she find out? About the other, other lover... Diana Wake up dead, you die Wake up dead, and buried Wake up dead, you die Wake up dead

This song is about a man who has been cheating on his wife or girlfriend and is sneaking into his house, knowing that if his wife finds out about his other lover, she'll kill him.

The Conjuring (Music, lyrics: Mustaine) Welcome to our sanguinary sect or worship Feel at home in our black conventicle As we anathmastise All those who oppose us. Don't summon the devil, Don't call the priests If you need the strength, The conjuring, obey! Behold! the flames rise From the compass' cardinal points Burn the sacred oil, And with the ashes you'll annoint Arrange the symbols Of the wizard and magician. Light the candles, Place the parchment paper in position Between its leaves place The lash from a black cat's eye, A straw of a broom, Fold, burn and centralize. Don't summon the devil, Don't call the priests If you need the strength, The conjuring. I am the devil's advocate A salesman, if you will. You know my name. I met your father years ago Gave him what he'd please. He called my name, you'll do the same. I'm claiming what is mine by right It's time to close the deal. You're bought and sold, bought and sold. Come join me in my infernal depths, Mephisto's Hall of Fame I've got your soul, I've got your soul. The conjuring. Obey!

This song obviously describes some kind of ritual, probably inspired by Dave's involvement with witchcraft at this stage in his career. The last several verses are from the point of view of Satan claiming the soul of someone who has made a deal with the devil. "I read the Satanic Bible and all that stuff, but it was so adverse to what I wanted, and is hasn't been until the past couple of years that all that stuff's been shaken. I've had to go through a lot of spiritual healing to get clean. I don't think people really realize how intense that stuff is and the marks it can leave on you. There was one time where I did some witchcraft on this guy who had punched me, and it physically affected him, and to this day I regret it. That will never leave my mind - the power of that stuff. I would rather light a candle than curse the darkness. There was a time when I was very comfortable being part of the darkness because I didn't understand the light. But now I like seeing people smile more than watching them wrinkle up their forehead and make the devil's sign. If half these kids only knew that the way they make the devil's sign really means 'I love you' in sign language anyway." (Mustaine, 1995) "Our theory is, we play slower tempos, the girls will come. Last night they were dancing to 'The Conjuring.' We're up there going, 'Look at that. They're dancing to the satanic part of the set'!" (Ellefson, 1993) References: Sanguinary means 'accompanied by carnage' or 'consisting of blood.' A conventicle is a secret or illegal religious meeting. To anathematize is to curse or condemn. Mephisto is short for Mephistopheles, the devil in the Faust legend to whom Faust sold his soul.

Peace Sells (Music, lyrics: Mustaine) What do you mean, "I don't believe in God"? I talk to him everyday. What do you mean, "I don't support your system"? I go to court when I have to What do you mean, "I can't get to work on time"? I got nothing better to do. And, what do you mean, "I don't pay my bills"? Why do you think I'm broke? Huh? If there's a new way, I'll be the first in line. But it better work this time. What do you mean, "I hurt your feelings"? I didn't know you had any feelings. What do you mean, "I ain't kind"? Just not your kind. What do you mean, "I couldn't be the President Of the United States of America"? Tell me something, it's still "We the people," right? If there's a new way I'll be the first in line But it better work this time Can you put a price on peace? Peace, Peace sells..., Peace, Peace sells..., Peace sells... but who's buying? Peace sells... but who's buying? Peace sells... but who's buying? Peace sells... but who's buying? No, peace sells...

"I remember the day it was written. Dave and I were picking up Gar on our way to rehearsal... you remember that old van we used to have? Anyway, Dave asked me, 'What do you think about 'Peace Sells... But Who's Buying?' for a song idea?' We then went to our rehearsal studio and he wrote the chorus, we rehearsed it a couple of times and - bam! Within a couple hours the song was pretty much done... It was one of those magical moments." (Ellefson, 1998) This song is the Mustaine's way of dispelling many of the stereotypes about the band and heavy metal fans in general. More specifically, that they are lazy, anti-government, and anti-religion, which Mustaine says are all untrue. The video for the title track became an MTV mainstay and the opening guitar lines could be heard on MTV News broadcasts. References: "It's still 'We the People, ' right?" is obviously a reference to the preamble to the United States Constitution which reads, "We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquillity, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America."

Devil's Island (Music, lyrics: Mustaine) The light that fill my lonely cell, Is blocked out by the key, That locks the door to this hell, The place they wanted me. Time's racing like the wind, Execution's near. Oh Lord, I wait for death, And yes, I have no fear. I recall that night, my every breath, And step along the way. Closed my eyes, walking, As danger paved the way. The devil and the darkness Let her evil wander free. And here on Devil's Island, The final stop for me. Devil's Island! Devil's Island! Oh there's no escape, The sea is full of sharks. The tides take you way And smash you on the rocks. The sun is shining, But feel not today, Its warmth, it's dying, And fading away. Devil's Island! Devil's Island! Oh hear the call, From the grave beyond Oh so pernicious, Her soul could, it creates song. As there is no man that is Here upon the earth, Able to terminate our Noisome will since birth. The priest that reads the sermons, Is walking next to me, To the stake, my last request, To have her burn with me. But so it did, the heavens opened, Rain began to fall. The final judgment came. And was spread before you all. Final Judgment! Old, weak, and feeble, But the lesson taught to me, To stay away from evil, She doesn't care for me. She haunts me in my sleep, Though I tore that page away. And here on Devil's Island, I'll always have to stay. Devil's Island! Devil's Island! Here I am Devil's Island! Devil's Island!

This song expresses the thoughts of a prisoner on Devil's Island about to be executed. In the song, the prisoner's life is spared by God right before he is about to be killed, but he is condemned to spend the rest of his life on Devil's Island. References: "Devil's Island is part of the French overseas department of French Guiana. Established as part of the French Guiana penal colony in the 1850s, it became notorious for its unhealthful tropical climate and for the cruel treatment of prisoners. France made plans to abolish the penal colony in 1938 and completed the removal of prisoners early in the 1950s." (Grolier Multimedia Encyclopedia) Devil's Island is also a 1940 movie directed by William B. Clemens and starring Boris Karloff. The movie is about a doctor who is sent to Devil's Island for aiding a treasonous fugitive and later escapes with the help of the wife of the prison's commandant.

Good Mourning (Music, lyrics: Mustaine) Hey, I don't feel so good. Something's not right, Something's coming over me What the fuck is this?

Black Friday (Music, lyrics: Mustaine) Killer, intruder, homicidal man If you see me coming run as fast as you can. A blood thirsty demon who's stalking the street I hack up my victims like pieces of meat. Blood thirsty demon, sinister fiend, Bludgenous slaughters, my evil deeds. My hammer's a cold piece of blood lethal steel, I grin while you writhe with the pain that I deal. Swinging the hammer, I hack through their heads, Defiant defiler, you're next to be dead. I unleash my hammer with sadistic intent. Pounding, surrounding, Slamming through your head, yeah! Their bodies convulse in agony and pain. I mangle their faces 'til no features remain. A blade for the butchering, I cut them to shreds. First take out the organs then cut off the head. The remains of their flesh now sop under my feet. One more bloody massacre, the murder's complete. I seek to dismember, a sadist fiend. And bloodbaths are my way of getting clean. I lurk in the alleys, wait for the kill I have no remorse for the blood that I spill. A merciless butcher who lives underground. I'm out to destroy and I will cut you down. I see you and I'm waiting for Black Friday Killer, intruder, homicidal man If you see me coming run as fast as you can. A blood thirsty demon who's stalking the street. I hack up my victims like pieces of meat. I lurk in the alleys, wait for the kill. I have no remorse for the blood that I spill. A merciless butcher who lives underground. I'm out to destroy and I will cut you down. It's Black Friday, paint the devil on the wall.

"'Black Friday' was inspired by a great drummer named Dijon Carruthers whose father was Ben Carruthers from the movie 'The Dirty Dozen.' Dijon's brother was Cain Carruthers from the ska band The Untouchables. Dijon was pretty much a band member until we found out that he lied about being 'black' to us. I am not against having any person in our band, regardless of color, but Dijon said he was Spanish. One day his brother walked in and Dijon nearly died on the spot. We used the material that we were working on as we kept going, but we knew that a man that is embarrassed about his family, race, or upbringing, would never fit our creed." (Mustaine, 2001) "Dijon Carruthers was a drummer with Megadeth temporarily, before Gar Samuelson. He was a very talented, but strange person. He used to hang out with an even stranger guy that was definitely into the occult; this guy was fully wacked! Dijon's friend seemed to know a lot of the occult, he wrote a lot of strange things and symbols down on paper. Although Dijon did get credit for inspiring those two songs ["Bad Omen" and "Black Friday"], that was the extent of it. Dijon may or may not be or have been a Satanist, and he did not commit murder that I know of at the time I was associating him. Dijon was a very talented drummer, and he came from a gifted family. I wish him well in his endeavors, whatever they may be." (Mustaine) References: In U.S. history, Black Friday is the name given to September 24, 1869, the day when a panic on Wall Street caused the financial ruin of thousands of investors. Black Friday is also the name of a 1940 horror movie starring Boris Karloff.

Bad Omen (Music, lyrics: Mustaine) Down fell the stars And they splashed in the sea. "Mi nomine baphomet," Come dance with me. Sacrifice the virgins, Spiritual rites. Their master has come, The moon is full tonight. Drinking, dancing, They worship and toast. The Devil, who's watching, With demons remote. Fire, rising, Racing in your blood. Possessed, naive, His service is done. Bloody blasphemy Sinister's the word As the demons take their fill. An orgy's taking place, Human blood will spill. And act of worship As they concieve the ghouls. Satan has their souls, They sing pagan tunes. The ceremony is sure to be cursed. They wait for his blessing But down comes the worst. Their bodies, souless, A corpse from the grave. Their minds are helpless And no one can save them, No one can save them.

This song is about people worshipping the devil. They have a big ceremony where all sorts of immorality is going on, and they invite Satan and hope that he gives them his blessing. Instead, his demons rape and destroy the people and Satan takes their souls. "We're aware of the subjects we write about - witchcraft, satanic sacrifices and the like - but we're not condoning them. If anything, the songs are a warning. The bad guys don't come out ahead in our songs. I've learned from past experience that the good guys, even if they don't wear white hats, are the ones who end up happy at the end of the day." (Mustaine, 1987)

I Ain't Superstitious (Music, lyrics: Willie Dixon) I ain't superstitious When a black cat crosses my path. And I ain't superstitious As I break the looking glass. Ain't afraid of no demons, Don't make me laugh! I ain't superstitious, Under the ladder I go. I ain't superstitious, It's all bullshit don't you know? Ain't afraid of the shadows, I like the dark anyway, and that's a fact! Superstitious I ain't superstitious, No such thing as bad luck. I ain't superstitious, I couldn't really give a fuck. Take your stupid superstitions And find some other, Paranoidal, chickenshit, sissy, worm, And tell it to him. Superstitious

Willie Dixon's I Am the Blues The original "I Ain't Superstitious" was featured on the Willie Dixon album, I Am the Blues, released in 1970. It can be also be heard in the 1996 movie, Casino. Willie Dixon is considered the premier blues composer of the post-World War II era. Megadeth's "I Ain't Superstitious" was featured in a Japanese Honda commercial in 1996.

My Last Words (Music, lyrics: Mustaine) My life's on time But again my sense is late. Feel a might unsteady But I still have to play. Six to one's the odds And we have the highest stakes. And once again I gamble With my very life today. Highly polished metal, The oil makes it gleam. Fill the terror chamber, Your mind begins to scream. Your life is like a trigger, Never troubled till you're squeezed. You you crack a smile As you give the gun a squeeze. Place the pistol down, Now give the gun a spin. Soon as the spinning stops, Oh no, the game starts in. A hateful way of vengeance, A bit of playful sin. Load another bullets, Now the second round begins. A couple grains of power, A couple grams of lead. A touch against the trigger, A touch inside the head. Take another drink And raise the last bets. Think about my last words, They might be what I just said. A click comes from the hammer That couldn't drive a nail. Sense the numbing cold blue Or the red of Hades' grill. A fraction of a second, Do you lose or maybe still. Pass it to the left And collect your mighty kill. Add another bullet, The third round begins. Soon as the spinning stops, Oh no, the game starts in. Please, no IOUs No markers for death. Does anybody play? Anybody? Somebody? Anybody play? You, you! Next victim! You, next to die. You, you! Next victim! You, next to die. You, come on! Next vitim! You, next to die. You, come on! Next vitim! You, next to die.

This song is about a game of "Russian Roulette."