Countdown To Extinction

Songs on this album
Skin O' My Teeth
Symphony Of Destruction
Architecture Of Aggression
Foreclosure Of A Dream
Sweating Bullets
This Was My Life
Countdown To Extinction
High Speed Dirt
Psychotron
Captive Honor
Ashes in Your Mouth
More info on this time period

Interpretations and Lyrics

Skin O' My Teeth

     Another one of Dave's experiences in his life was the time in 1993
     when he tried to kill himself by overdosing on a drug, possibly valium.
     Obviously it didn't work, but it changed his attitude towards life
     immensely. This song is about trying to kill yourself over and over
     again, but always just barely failing, as you 'hold... into life by
     the skin of ( your ) teeth.'

I had wrists donning slits, flowing constantly;
my broken body in a wreck, wrapped around a tree.
A cross-walk, hit-and-run, the finish line for me.
People clutter in the gutter, take a look and see.
No escaping pain; you belong to me.
Clinging onto life by the skin o' my teeth.
No escaping pain; you belong to me.
Clinging onto life by the skin o' my teeth.
My blood flows through the streets; deluge from the wounds.
Empty jars of sleeping pills on the dresser in my room.
My wet brain, neighbor cranes, his neck to see in time
the white lights of a train bearing down on me.
No escaping pain; you belong to me.
Clinging onto life by the skin o' my teeth.
No escaping pain; you belong to me.
Clinging onto life by the skin o' my teeth.
I won't feel the hurt, I'm not trash any longer
And that that doesn't kill me only makes me stronger.
I need a ride to the morgue, that's what 911 is for.
So tag my toe, and don't forget, ooh, to close the door.
No escaping pain; you belong to me.
Clinging onto life by the skin o' my teeth.
No escaping pain; you belong to me.
Clinging onto life by the skin o' my teeth.

Symphony Of Destruction
     Some people think that this is a song about an evil president. They
     are wrong. While it is about a president, he is not evil, he is just
     a tool. He doesn't realize that he really isn't in control for a 
     long time, and when he tries to do something about his position, he
     finds out that it is too late. Sort of like Dave in the movie 'Dave,'
     played by Calvin Kline, except in the movie he is able to get better.
     The referance to the Pied Piper of Hamlin relates how the people just
     follow whatever their leader says to do, even if it turne out for the
     worse. Meanwhile, this tool of a president has allowed the world to 
     fall apart around him, until he is all that is left.

You take a mortal man
and put him in control.
Watch him become a god;
watch people's head a-roll.
A-roll... a-roll...
Just like the Pied Piper lead rats through the streets,
we dance like marionettes, swaying to the symphony of destruction.
Acting like a robot;
it's metal brain corrodes.
You try to take its pulse
before the head explodes.
Explodes... explodes...
Just like the pied piper lead rats through the streets,
we dance like marionettes, swaying to the symphony of destruction.
The earth starts to rumble;
world powers fall.
A'warring for the heavens,
a peaceful man stands tall.
Tall... tall...
Just like the Pied Piper lead rats through the streets,
we dance like marionettes, swaying to the symphony of destruction.

Architecture Of Aggression
     This one is pretty straight-foreward. The 'architecture of aggression'
     is, in this case, land. Many of the countries of the world are looking
     for ways to expand their borders now, and just about all have at some
     point in history. And when one country wants land, it doesn't go ask
     another country if it can spare some. What usually happens is they have
     a nice little war over the disputed area. Yes, there is the possibility
     for a money transaction like the Louisiana Purchase, but I wouldn't
     count on it happening; Peace sells, but who's buying?

Born from the dark, in the black cloak of night,
to envelope its prey below, deliver to the light.
To eliminate your enemy, hit them in their sleep;
and when all is won and lost, the spoils of war are yours to keep.
( chorus )
Gret nations built from the bones of the dead,
with mud and straw, blood and sweat;
you know you've won when your enemies
praise your architecture of aggression.
( end chorus )
Ensuming power vacuum, a toppled leader dies;
his body fuels the power fire,
and the flames rise to the sky.
One side of his face a kiss, the other genocide.
Time to pay, with your ass, a worldwide suicide.
( repeat chorus )
Born from the dark, in the black cloak of night,
to envelope its prey below, deliver to the light.
To eliminate your enemy, hit them in their sleep;
and when all is won and lost, the spoils of war are yours to keep.
( repeat chorus )

Foreclosure Of A Dream
     The lyrics of this song are written by Dave Jr. about his own personal
     experience. Jr.'s family had a farm which was repossessed by the
     government when the farm was not able to produce enough to pay its
     debts. The lyrics have a lot to do with the 'American Dream' of
     prosperity and happiness, which the U.S. government likes to spread
     around the world. But then, in the case of Jr.'s family and many
     others like them, the government is throwing the dream away. The song
     includes the clip of George Bush in 1987 when he promised the people
     that he would not raise taxes; a promise he broke soon after entering
     office.

Rise so high, yet so far to fall;
a plan of dignity and balance for all.
Political breakthrough, euphoria's high;
more borrowed money, more borrowed time.
Backed in a corner, caught up in the race;
means to an end ended in disgrace.
Perspective is lost in the spirit of the chase
( chorus )
Foreclosure of a dream;
those visions never seen.
Until all is lost,
personal holocause;
foreclosure of a dream.
( end chorus )
Barren land that once filled a need;
all worthless now, dead without a deed.
Slipping away from an iron grip;
nature's scales are forced to tip.
The heartland cries, loss of all pride;
to leave ain't believing, so try and be tried.
Insufficient funds, insanity and suicide.
( repeat chorus )
( clip of George Bush; )
'the congress will push me to raise taxes,
and I'll say no; read my lips...'
( in the speach, this was followed by 'no new taxes.' )
Now with new hope, some will be proud;
this is no hoax, no one pushed out.
Receive a repreive and be a pioneer;
break now ground of a new frontier.
New ideas will surely get by,
no deed or dividend, some may ask why.
You'll find the solutiuons, the answers in the sky.
Rise so high, yet so far to fall;
a plan of dignity and balance for all.
Political breakthrough, euphoria's high;
more borrowed money, more borrowed time.
( repeat chorus )

Sweating Bullets
     Dave may or may not be a schizophreniac; I don't know. He has 
     mentioned that he is one several times when introducing this song,
     but I'm not so sure that it is true. However, this song is about a
     schizophreniac who's altered state tends to go around killing
     people without his regular state knowing about it. I'd like to
     mention here that not all schizophreniacs have multiple
     personalities; schizophrenia is catagorized as any kind of mental
     delusion. But in this case, multiple personalities is the
     affliction. The regular side of the guy eventually gets into all
     kinds of trouble because of his altered state's actions, which he is
     not accountable for.

Hello, me; meet the real me,
and my misfits way of life.
A dark black past is my
most valued possession.
Hindsight is always 20/20;
but looking back, it's still a bit fuzzy.
Speak of mutually assured destruction...
Nice story; tell it to Reader's Digest!
Feeling paranoid; true enemy or false friend?
Anxiety's attacking me and my air is getting thin.
I'm in trouble for the things I haven't got to yet;
I'm chomping at the bit, and my palms are getting wet...
Sweating bullets.
Hello, me; it's me again,
you can subdue but never tame me.
It gives me a migrane headache
thinking down to your level.
You just keep on thinking it's my fault,
and stay an inch or two out of kicking distance.
Mankind has got to know
his limitations.
Feeling claustraphobic, like the walls are closing in;
blood stains on my hands and I don't know where I've been.
I'm in trouble for the things I haven't got to yet;
I'm sharpening the axe, and my palme are getting wet...
Sweating bullets.
Well, me, it's nice talking to my self;
low credit to dementia.
Someday you too will know my pain,
and smile it's black-toothed grin.
If the war inside my head
won't take a day of, I'll be dead.
My icy fingers claw your back;
here I come again!
feeling paranoid; true enemy or false friend?
Anxiety's attacking me and my air is getting thin.
Feeling claustraphobic, like the walls are closing in;
blood stains on my hands and I don't know where I've been.
Once you committed me,
now you've aquitted me.
Claiming validity
for your stupidity.
I'm chomping at the bit; I'm sharpening the axe.
Here I come again, woah!
Sweating bullets

This Was My Life
     Just another Megadeth song about having a affair. This time, the main
     character starts to actually hate the woman who he's having the affiar
     with, but he's kind of stuck in his situation anyway. Most of this
     song takes place inside his head. He really dislikes this woman, so he
     thinks about killing her, but he knows that if he does, there will be
     'society to pay,' and he's going to be sent to jail or executed if he
     goes ahead and kills her. So that's the one reason that holds him back
     and keeps him from finishing her off.

It was just another day;
it was just another fight.
It was words strung into sentences.
It was doomed to not be right.
There is something wrong with me, there is something wrong with you.
Now there's nothing left of us; there is one thing I can do.
Lying on your bed, examining my head,
this is the part of me that hates.
Paybacks are a bitch, I throw the switch;
Somewhere an electric chait awaits.
Hey, this was my life.
Hey, this was my fate.
This was the wrong thing to do; this was the wrong thing to be doing.
This was the road to destiny; this was the road to my ruin.
Now there's motives for the suspect; now there's nothing left to say.
Now there's method to the madness; now there's society to pay.
Lying on your bed, examining my head,
this is the part of me that hates.
paybacks are a bitch, I throw the switch;
somewhere an electric chair awaits.
Hey, this was my life.
Hey, this was my fate.
In our life, there's 'if;'
in our beliefs, there's 'lie;'
in our business, there's 's-s-sin;'
in our bodies, there's 'die.'
This was my life;
this was my fate.

Countdown To Extinction
     This song focuses on the 'canned hunts' which have become popular
     in some parts of the world recently. When you go out on a canned
     hunt, you are usually taken to some sort of pen or cage ( depending
     on how dangerous the animal you want to 'hunt' is ) and then you
     just shoot the animal while its stuck in its cage with nowhere to
     go. These places always have taxidermists on hand to make your kill
     into any of a variety of trophies ( rug, wall-mountable head, full
     body stuffing, etc., ) and then the 'hunters' go home to brag about
     their 'courageous' kill of some animal locked in a cage. This song is
     about the thrill that some guy gets because he is the 'luckey one' who
     gets to kill the last member of a species in this way.

Endangered species caged in fright; shot in cold blood no chance to fight.
The stage is set, now pay the price; and ego boost, don't think twice!
Technology; the battle's unfair, you pull the hammer without a care.
Squeeze the trigger that makes you Man; pseuod-safari, the hunt is canned.
The hunt is canned.
All are gone, all but one.
No contest; nowhere to run.
No more left, only one.
This is it; this is the countdown to extinction.
Tell the truth, you wouldn't dare; the skin and trophy, oh, so rare.
Silence speaks louder than words; ignore the guilt and take your turn.
Liars anagram it 'Lairs; man, you were never even there.
Killed a few feet from the cages; point blank, you're so courageous.
So courageous.
All are gone, all but one.
No contest; nowhere to run.
No more left, only one.
This is it; this is the countdown to extinction.
One hour from now, another species of life form will dissappear off the face of the planet,
forever; and the rate is excellerating
All are gone, all but one.
No contest; nowhere to run.
No more left, only one.
This is it; this is the countdown to extinction.

High Speed Dirt
     One of the band's passtimes is skydiving, which is a fun thing to
     do, but obviously there are a few dangers involved. This song is
     about jumping from the plane, pulling your cord to release your
     parachute, and then having nothing happen. As Dave said, 'You hit
     dirt at very high speeds... and you die.' Incidently, just a few
     days after the song was recorded, somebody who the band knew
     slightly had that same sort of parachute failure, so the song is
     kind of about him, although not intentionally.

Do it if you dare; leaping from the sky.
Hurling through the air; exhilarating high.
See the Earth below, soon to make a crater.
Blue sky, black death; I'm off to meet my maker.
Energy of the gods; adrenaline surge.
Won't stop til I hit the ground; I'm on my way for sure.
Up here in the air; this will never hurt.
I'm on my way to impact; a taste of high speed dirt.
Paralyzed with fear; feel velocity gain,
Entering the near catatonic state.
Pressure of the sound roaring through my head.
Crash into the ground; damned if I'll be dead.
Energy of the gods; adrenaline surge.
Won't stop til I hit the ground; I'm on my way for sure.
Up here in the air; this will never hurt.
I'm on my way to impact; a taste of high speed dirt.
Jump or die!
Dropping all my weight; going down full throttle.
The pale horse awaits like a genie in a bottle.
Fire in my veins, faster as I go.
I forgot my name; I'm a dirt torpedo.

Psychotron
     Nick and people who share his views agree that during the Cold War,
     the U.S.S.R. was working on some sort of chip which would be injected
     into the base of the head of a person, and would make them completely
     oblivious to all wants, angers, feelings, etc. and would make the
     perfect army, since the only their their programming would allow them
     to do would be to follow the orders of their leader. They would take
     America out of their way and make Russia the most powerful country of
     the world. Fortunately it did not work. Supposedly, Jimmy Carter was
     injected with the chip while he was visiting Russia, but the chip just
     made him throw up. This song is about that army of half man/half
     mechanical soldiers.

Assassian in stealth, assailant from hell;
impervious to damage.
Computer onboard, engaged in a war;
non-stop combatant.
Maybe not a mutant... Maybe a man?
Part bionic,
and organic,
not a cyborg;
call him psychotron.
Burning inside; godspeed in glide;
battle plan running.
A killing machine; just downright mean,
and forever gunning
Maybe not a mutant... Maybe a man?
Part bionic,
and organic,
not a cyborg;
call him psychotron.
Target to destroy, arms in employ;
full assault fire threat.
Sensors indicate you will terminate;
Life systems disconnect!
Maybe not a mutant... Maybe a man?
Part bionic,
and organic,
not a cyborg;
call him psychotron.
Psychotron

Captive Honor
     It is pretty apparent that any criminal who is convicted of his crimes
     is going to have time to reflect and repent for his doings while he is
     in jail.  But there's jail and then there's jail, if you know what I
     mean. The criminal would like to think of himself as a kind of tough
     guy; very masculine and unforgiving and definately not one to stoop so
     low as to be the 'bitch' of some other man. But once he is in jail, 
     his sort of ego is forced to change drastically in that respect.

Madness comes, and madness goes.
An insane place, with insane moves.
Battles without for battles within;
where evil lives, and evil rules.
Breakin'em up, just breakin'em in;
quickest way out, quickest relief wins.
And when you kill a man, you're a murderer,
kill many, and you're a conqueror,
Kill'em all and... ooh, oh! You're a god!
Ladies and gentelmen of the jury, have you reached a decision?
Yes we have, Your Honor. We find the defendant... guilty on all counts,
for crimes against all humanity.
By virtue of the jury's decision, and by the power vested in me by the State,
I sentence you to be incarcerated with no possibility of parole... For life.
Life? What do you mean 'life;' I ain't got a life!
Boy, your soul better belong to Jesus...
hmmm-mmm... 'Cause your ass belongs to me!
Captive honor ain't no honor!
No time for questions; no time for games.
Start kickin ass, and takin down the names.
A long shit list, a shorter fuse;
he is untouchable, and guarantees you'll lose!
Captive honor ain't no honor!
Inside the big house, his nightmare unfolds;
before he got there, his manpussy was sold.
Black-blanket welcome, this tough guy's now a bitch
praying for death, it can't be worse than this!
Captive honor ain't no honor!

Ashes In Your Mouth
     Over the past few years, there have been many regions have struggled
     for years to gain their independance from some other country. Some of
     them manage to win their wars and begin to experience self-government
     for the first time in hundreds of years, if not for the first time in
     their history. But what the people living in these regions soon found
     is that they were better off before their revolution than they are now,
     with some dictator or something to that effect in power and treating 
     them with total disregard,

People have round shoulders from carrying heavy loads;
and the soldiers liberate them, laying mines along their roads.
Sorrow paid for valor was too much to recall,
of the counted corpses are piled up along the wailing wall.
Melting down all metals, turning plows and shears to swords.
Shun words of the bible, we need implements of war.
Chalklines and red puddles of those who have been slain.
Destiny, that crooked schemer, says the dead shall rise again.
Where do we go from here?
And should we really care?
The end is finally here...
God have mercy.
Now we've re-written history. The one we've found out;
Sweet taste of vindication, it turns to ashes in your mouth.
Where do we go from here?
And should we really care?
The end is finally here.
God have mercy.
Mercy.

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