Holy Wars... The Punishment Due
Megadeth
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Brother will kill brother Spilling blood across the land Killing for religion Something I don't understand Fools like me, who cross the sea And come to foreign lands Ask the sheep, for their beliefs Do you kill on God's command? A country that's divided Surely will not stand My past erased, no more disgrace No foolish naive stand The end is near, it's crystal clear Part of the master plan Don't look now to Israel It might be your homelands Holy wars Upon my podium, as the Know it all scholar Down in my seat of judgement Gavel's bang, uphold the law Up on my soapbox, a leader Out to change the world Down in my pulpit as the holier Than-thou-could-be-messenger of God Wage the war on organized crime Sneak attacks, repel down the rocks Behind the lines Some people risk to employ me Some people live to destroy me Either way they die, they die They killed my wife, and my baby With hopes to enslave me First mistake, last mistake! Paid by the alliance, to slay all the giants Next mistake, no more mistakes Fill the cracks in, with judicial granite Because I don't say it, Don't mean I ain't thinkin' it Next thing you know, they'll take my thoughts away I know what I said, now I must scream of the overdose And the lack of mercy killings Mercy killings Mercy killings Killings, killings, killings, killings Mercy you know, they'll take my thoughts away
Watch: New Singing Lesson Videos Can Make Anyone A Great Singer
Written by: Dave Mustaine
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
12 facts about this song
Song Creation"Holy Wars... The Punishment Due" is the opening track of the fourth studio album, "Rust In Peace" by the American heavy metal band Megadeth.
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Conceptual InspirationThe song's lyrics were written by the lead vocalist and guitarist Dave Mustaine. The inspiration behind the song stemmed from the conflict in Northern Ireland, which he mistook for a form of holy war in his youth.
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Retrospective RealisationMustaine later confessed his ignorance and admitted his mistake about religious wars when he wrote this song, after being confronted by fans.
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Album Release"Rust In Peace" was released on September 24, 1990, and "Holy Wars...the Punishment Due" was the first single off of the album.
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Song StructureThis song is known for its intricate musical structure, with shifting time signatures and tempo changes, showcasing the band's technical prowess.
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Commercial SuccessUpon release, the album peaked at number 23 on the US Billboard 200 chart and was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).
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Heralded SoloMarty Friedman's guitar solo in the song is highly acclaimed and is universally recognized as one of the greatest in heavy metal history.
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Live Performance IncidentDuring a live performance of the song in Northern Ireland, Megadeth faced a riot after Mustaine dedicated the song to "The Cause" - A term often used to refer to the Irish republican cause.
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Sensitivities AcknowledgedFollowing the Northern Ireland gig incident, Megadeth temporarily removed the song from their setlist during the rest of the European tour.
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Video Game Appearance"Holy Wars... The Punishment Due" has featured in several video games, including "Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock” and “Rock Band 4.” It was also featured in the 2009 film, “Jennifer's Body”.
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Award NominationMegadeth received a Grammy nomination for Best Metal Performance for "Holy Wars... The Punishment Due" in 1991, but they did not win. They would later win their first Grammy in 2017 for the song "Dystopia."
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LegacyDespite the controversies, "Holy Wars... The Punishment Due" remains a fan favorite and is regularly performed by Megadeth. It continues to be ranked among the greatest heavy metal songs of all time.
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Citation
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