Track listing
"Crush" (John Bush, Scott Ian, Charlie Benante) – 4:21
"Catharsis" (Bush, Ian, Benante, Bello) – 4:53
"Inside Out" (Bush, Ian, Benante) – 5:31
"P & V" (Bush, Ian, Benante) – 3:12
"604" (Bush, Ian, Benante) – 0:35
"Toast to the Extras" (Bush, Ian, Benante) – 4:24
"Born Again Idiot" (Bush, Ian, Benante) – 4:17
"Killing Box" (Bush, Ian, Benante) – 3:37
"Harms Way" (Bush, Ian, Benante) – 5:13
"Hog Tied" (Bush, Ian, Benante) – 4:36
"Big Fat" (Bush, Ian, Benante) – 6:01
"Cupajoe" (Bush, Ian, Benante) – 0:46
"Alpha Male" (Bush, Ian, Benante) – 3:05
"Stealing from a Thief" + "Pieces" (bonus track) (Bush, Ian, Benante) – 13:02
British edition
"Crush" (Bush, Ian, Benante) – 4:21
"Catharsis" (Bush, Ian, Benante, Bello) – 4:53
"Inside Out" (Bush, Ian, Benante) – 5:31
"Piss 'n' Vinegar" (Bush, Ian, Benante) – 3:12
"604" (Bush, Ian, Benante) – 0:35
"Toast to the Extras" (Bush, Ian, Benante) – 4:24
"Born Again Idiot" (Bush, Ian, Benante) – 4:17
"Killing Box" (Bush, Ian, Benante) – 3:37
"Harms Way" (Bush, Ian, Benante) – 5:13
"Hog Tied" (Bush, Ian, Benante) – 4:36
"Big Fat" (Bush, Ian, Benante) – 6:01
"Cupajoe" (Bush, Ian, Benante) – 0:46
"Alpha Male" (Bush, Ian, Benante) – 3:05
"Stealing from a Thief" (Bush, Ian, Benante) – 5:30
"Pieces" – 4:59
Bonus tracks
"Giving the Horns" (Bush, Ian, Benante) – 3:34
"The Bends" (Radiohead cover) (Jonny Greenwood, Colin Greenwood, Ed O'Brien, Phil Selway, Thom Yorke) – 3:52
"Snap/I'd Rather Be Sleeping" (Dirty Rotten Imbeciles cover) (Kurt Brecht, Spike Cassidy, John Menor, Eric Brecht) – 2:14
Personnel
John Bush – Lead Vocals
Scott Ian – Guitar, Backing Vocals
Frank Bello – Bass, Backing Vocals, Lead Vocals on "Pieces"
Charlie Benante – Drums, Lead Guitar, Percussion
Guest musicians
Phil Anselmo – Backing vocals on "Killing Box"
Dimebag Darrell – Lead Guitar on "Inside Out" and "Born Again Idiot"
Paul Crook - Lead Guitar on "Big Fat","Hog Tied","Killing Box" And "Stealing From A Thief"
Crush
Anthrax Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Go before I am the goat
You get away with murder
Kill me when you're through
Do I have to give up me to be loved by you?
From the smallest taste I use
From the smallest taste I lose
Won't you crush on me?
Pile your dead on top of me
Tape my eyes so I can't see
The lyrics of Anthrax's song Crush can be viewed as a depiction of the fear and uncertainty that can arise in a relationship when one partner dominates over the other. The opening lines "Now you see me, now you don't, Go before I am the goat" suggest that the singer feels like they are constantly being manipulated or threatened into submission. The line "You get away with murder, Kill me when you're through" could be interpreted as the singer feeling like they are being emotionally or psychologically "killed" by their partner.
The chorus "Do I have to give up me to be loved by you?" reflects the internal turmoil that the singer is facing - wondering whether they have to sacrifice their own identity and desires to satisfy their partner's expectations. The following lines "From the smallest taste I use, From the smallest taste I lose, Won't you crush on me?" could be seen as the singer pleading for their partner to stop exerting so much control over them and to instead show gentleness and kindness.
The final lines "Pile your dead on top of me, Tape my eyes so I can't see" create a dark and twisted image of the singer being suffocated and unable to escape their torment. The lyrics overall highlight the importance of mutual respect and trust in a relationship, rather than one partner seeking to overpower the other.
Line by Line Meaning
Now you see me, now you don't
I am here, but I am not here. I am here physically, but mentally, I am already gone.
Go before I am the goat
Leave before I become the scapegoat of this situation.
You get away with murder
You escape the consequences of your actions, even if they cause harm to others.
Kill me when you're through
End my misery and suffering when you have gotten what you want from me.
Do I have to give up me to be loved by you?
Is it necessary for me to sacrifice my own identity and individuality to earn your love and affection?
From the smallest taste I use
I take even the tiniest bit of joy or happiness I can from this situation.
From the smallest taste I lose
In exchange for that little bit of happiness, I am losing more of myself and what I stand for.
Won't you crush on me?
Despite the harmful and destructive nature of our relationship, can't you still find love and affection for me?
Pile your dead on top of me
Let the weight of your mistakes and failures rest upon me, even if it is suffocating me.
Tape my eyes so I can't see
Blind me to the situation I am in, so I cannot see how much harm it is causing me.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: David John Matthews
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Evillive
on Now its dark
Jesus… you need your art spoon-fed to you.
Now It’s Dark is about the movie Blue Velvet.