Megadeth

Released: May 15, 2001

Songwriter: Dave Mustaine

Producer: Dave Mustaine Bill Kennedy

[Verse 1]
An iron fist quietly sits
Inside the Velvet Glove
Take control, untouchable
Just like God above
I can't escape, wrapped in red tape
What will become of me?
If I object, then I defect
My country 'tis of thee

[Chorus 1]
"The White House is calling."
Tell 'em I'll call them back
Just tell 'em anything
Yeah, get 'em off my back

[Post-Chorus]
(The world needs a hero)

[Verse 2]
Not that I would ever lie
But I have no choice
Words I say heard today
Are not mine, just my voice

[Chorus 2]
"NATO is on line one."
They wanna talk to me?
Tell 'em that I'm not in
Tell 'em that I'm not free

[Post-Chorus]
The world needs a hero
The world needs a hero

[Verse 3]
Phantom rule, the hidden jewel
Who's really in control?
On puppet strings, a nation swings
Undermined by moles

[Chorus 3]
"The UN is on hold."
Tell 'em I'll call 'em back
Yeah, tell 'em anything
Just get 'em off my back

[Post-Chorus]
The world needs a hero
The world needs a hero

[Instrumental Break]

[Chorus 4]
"Dave, the White House is calling."
They wanna talk to me?
Tell 'em that I can't be bought
Tell 'em that I'm not free

[Outro]
The world needs a hero
The world needs a hero
The world needs a hero
The world needs a hero
The world needs a hero

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

Still, Alive... and Well?

From the albums

The World Needs a Hero (2001)
Still, Alive... and Well? (2002)

Megadeth popular songs

The World Needs a HeroMegadeth

Megadeth

Still, Alive... and Well?