Megadeth

Released: September 14, 2004

Songwriter: Dave Mustaine

Producer: Jeff Balding Dave Mustaine

[Verse 1]
Dawn breaks evenly today
On the truth and the lie
All rise, court's in session
We're hanging someone high

[Pre-Chorus 1]
Justice means nothing today
Now that the courts are for sale
Pick a crime from the menu
Pick a sentence and defend you
And pick up the down payment called bail
The system's for sale

[Chorus 1]
Kick the chair, the rope's tight
Just like one quick wrench, the tooth is out
Friend or foe, I gotta hang 'em dead
Or they'll come back around
Kick it!

[Verse 2]
The court's wrong when it keeps track
Of victories and defeats
The press that never rests waits
For somebody's soul they can eat

[Pre-Chorus 2]
Justice means nothing today
Now that the jury's for sale
Guilty or not, the verdict's a lie
You're going to jail
The system has failed

[Chorus 2]
Kick the chair, the rope's tight
Just like one quick wrench, the tooth is out
Friend or foe, you gotta hang 'em dead
Or they'll come back

[Instrumental Outro]

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

Warchest

From the albums

The System Has Failed (2004)
Warchest (2007)

Megadeth popular songs

Kick the ChairMegadeth

Megadeth

Warchest