The title is a pun on euthanasia, implying that society is euthanizing its youth, which would be consistent with bandleader and principal songwriter Dave Mustaine's views.
Youthanasia continued the band's trend toward slower, more melodic hard rock songs which began with Megadeth's commercial breakthrough album, Countdown to Extinction.
Lyrically, the album displays a variety of influences: mythology ("Elysian Fields" and "Blood of Heroes"), rape and incest ("Family Tree"), nuclear war ("Black Curtains"), gambling ("Train of Consequences"), and a hit that is about the last moments in life, "À Tout le Monde".
Megadeth's previous album, Countdown to Extinction, was tremendously successful and the band was faced with the daunting task of making an album to follow it. It was a time of problems and conflicts for Megadeth, in that every two weeks or so according to Mustaine, there were "outrageous emotional interventions" in order to make the group a democracy. Many band meetings during this period concerned Mustaine's creative control over a "successful formula", so that the band could better exercise their creativity.
Another problem was the indecision on where the recording would take place. Mustaine did not want to record in Los Angeles, so the band eventually decided to record in Phoenix in the home state of the majority of the band, Arizona. They began recording in Phase Four Studios (the studio in which the 2004 remaster was remixed), but due to problems they left and decided to find another studio. There were no likely choices in Phoenix, so producer Max Norman suggested building a studio of their own. The construction process was recorded on Evolver - The Making of Youthanasia. As of 2007, this is the only Megadeth album recorded in E-flat guitar tuning (guitar strings tuned down half a step). Most preceding and all subsequent albums are in standard tuning, (the exceptions being Killing Is My Business... and Business Is Good! and Peace Sells...But Who's Buying?). Live performances of the songs from the album are also played in standard tuning.
Reckoning Day
Megadeth Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And all the reasons I give you to bitch
And how I make you wanna scream in pain
And feel your life is just a losing game
I like the way that you let me in
The way you look when the walls cave it
I like the way that your stomach knots
And how you cry for it all to stop
I like the way that you fool yourself
And make believe there's nobody else
I like the way that you stand in line
And beg salvation from the empty skies
Don't want no revenge
Ain't no pay back time
It ain't called getting even
Here comes the Reckoning Day
I like the things that you try to fake
And your face when I see you break
And that you say you will pray for me
You realize you are prey for me
I like the way you stay on attack
No matter what, I keep coming back
And how you try to hold me down
But you end up driven to the ground
Don't want no revenge
Ain't no pay back time
It ain't called getting even
Here comes the Reckoning
Don't want no revenge (don't want no revenge)
Ain't no pay back time (ain't no pay back time)
It ain't called getting even (it ain't called getting even)
Here comes the Reckoning (here comes the Reckoning)
Day, here comes the Reckoning
Here comes the Reckoning day
Here comes the Reckoning day
Here comes the Reckoning day
Here comes the Reckoning, here comes the Reckoning day
Here comes, is coming
The lyrics of Megadeth's song Reckoning Day convey a sense of dominance and power over someone else. The opening lines, "I like the way that I make you itch / And all the reasons I give you to bitch," present the singer as intentionally provoking and irritating their target. The lines "I like the way that your stomach knots / And how you cry for it all to stop" further emphasize the power dynamic, as the singer enjoys causing their target's pain and discomfort. Additionally, the line "I like the way that you fool yourself / And make believe there's nobody else" suggests that the singer is aware of their target's vulnerability and exploits it for their own benefit.
However, the chorus of the song provides a twist, revealing that the singer is not seeking revenge or payback, but rather that "Here comes the Reckoning Day" - a day of reckoning or judgment, in which their target will be held accountable for their actions. The song as a whole presents a complex dynamic of power and control, with the singer enjoying their dominance over their target but ultimately recognizing that there will be consequences for their actions.
Overall, the lyrics of "Reckoning Day" showcase Dave Mustaine's sharp wit and biting lyricism, as well as Megadeth's signature heavy metal sound.
Line by Line Meaning
I like the way that I make you itch
I enjoy the satisfaction of causing irritation to you
And all the reasons I give you to bitch
I give you enough reasons to complain
And how I make you wanna scream in pain
I take pleasure in making you want to cry out in agony
And feel your life is just a losing game
I like to see you feel defeated in life
I like the way that you let me in
I enjoy the power I have over you that allows you to let me inside your head
The way you look when the walls cave it
I like to see the fear on your face when everything seems to be crumbling down around you
I like the way that your stomach knots
I enjoy watching your stomach tighten in knots due to the anxiety and fear that I instill in you
And how you cry for it all to stop
I like seeing you cry out for the torment and pain to end
I like the way that you fool yourself
I enjoy seeing you deceive yourself into thinking that you are in control
And make believe there's nobody else
I like seeing you pretend that you are the only one who matters
I like the way that you stand in line
I take pleasure in seeing you wait in line, hoping for salvation from something beyond us
And beg salvation from the empty skies
I enjoy seeing you beg for help from something that doesn't exist
Don't want no revenge
I have no desire for retribution
Ain't no pay back time
This is not about revenge or getting even
It ain't called getting even
This is not about evening the score
Here comes the Reckoning Day
However, the day of reckoning has come for you
I like the things that you try to fake
I appreciate the effort you put into trying to deceive me, despite knowing that you cannot hide the truth
And your face when I see you break
I take satisfaction in seeing the vulnerability on your face when you are finally broken
And that you say you will pray for me
I find it amusing that you think praying for me will save you
You realize you are prey for me
You have finally come to terms with the fact that you are my prey
I like the way you stay on attack
I enjoy seeing you constantly attempt to retaliate against me
No matter what, I keep coming back
I will not stop tormenting you, no matter how hard you try to fight back
And how you try to hold me down
I like to see your attempts to hold me back, knowing that you cannot succeed
But you end up driven to the ground
However, your effort to hold me down only leads to your own defeat
Day, here comes the Reckoning
The day of reckoning is imminent
Don't want no revenge (don't want no revenge)
I do not seek revenge
Ain't no pay back time (ain't no pay back time)
This is not about repayment
It ain't called getting even (it ain't called getting even)
This is not about making things equal
Here comes the Reckoning (here comes the Reckoning)
However, the moment of truth is upon us
Day, here comes the Reckoning
The day of reckoning is here
Here comes the Reckoning day
The day of reckoning has arrived
Here comes the Reckoning day
The day of reckoning is now
Here comes the Reckoning, here comes the Reckoning day
The moment of truth is here and now
Here comes, is coming
The reckoning is on its way
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Capitol CMG Publishing, Integrity Music, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Dave Ellefson, Dave Mustaine, David Ellefson, Martin Friedman, Marty Friedman, Nick Menza
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind