Megadeth

Released: August 30, 1999

Songwriter: Marty Friedman Dave Mustaine

Producer: Dann Huff Dave Mustaine

[Instrumental Intro]

[Verse 1]
As sure as the sun rises in the east
Another gunman will come seeking my defeat
Will he be as fast as me? Are his nerves quiet and still?
Will he fall like all the rest, ending his days upon Boot Hill?

[Chorus]
I'm an outcast riding into town alone
I got wanderlust branded deeper than the bone
I'm an outcast riding into town alone
I got a lust for wandering branded deeper than the bone

[Verse 2]
As I ride into the sunset to take another town
Thank you for the invite, but I just can't settle down
Just can't settle down
The dust that coats my hat is from a dozen towns
Dust from shooting down another dozen clowns

[Chorus]
I'm an outcast riding into town alone
I got wanderlust branded deeper than the bone
I'm an outcast riding into town alone
I got a lust for wandering branded deeper than the bone

[Bridge]
A drum beats for me, it gets louder every day
The cadence tells me that soon I'll meet my judgment day
My judgment day, my judgment day, my judgment day
My judgment day, my judgment day, my judgment day
My judgment day, my judgment day, my judgment day
My judgment day, my judgment day, my judgment day
My judgment day

[Verse 3]
A drum beats for me, it gets louder every day
The cadence tells me that soon I'll meet my judgment day
Life's an endless showdown, never knowing when they'll come
I sleep with one eye open lying with my smoking gun
My smoking gun!

[Verse 4]
The game I play has caused a lot of grief
They were dying for fame, so I obliged some relief
Dying for fame, I obliged some relief!

[Outro]
I'm an outcast riding into town alone
I got wanderlust branded deeper than the bone
I'm an outcast with lightning in my hand
I got wanderlust, lost in no man's land
I got a lust for wandering, lost in no man's land
I got wanderlust...

After being kicked out of Metallica, Dave Mustaine decided to form a Thrash Metal band that not only rivaled his former band, but played faster, more technical Metal. Along with bassist David ‘Junior’ Ellefson and a revolving door of guitarists and drummers, Mustaine set the world afire as Megadeth became known as the world’s state-of-the-art Speed Metal band throughout the 80s and the early 90s. One of the Big Four of Thrash Metal, Megadeth remains one of Metal’s most popular acts today.

However, Dave Mustaine’s fledgling band got off to a shaky start. Initially unable to find like-minded individuals, it was not until an altercation with his (underage) downstairs neighbours Dave Ellefson and Greg Handevidt, that led to him buying them beer and forming the first incarnation of the band with drummer Dijon Carruthers in 1983.

The band was named after a political pamphlet that referred to a “megadeath” (one million deaths by nuclear explosion):

more tracks from the album

Risk

From the albums

Risk (1999)
Warheads on Foreheads (2019)

Megadeth popular songs

WanderlustMegadeth

Megadeth

Risk