This was also the song that Megadeth played when guitarist Marty Friedman was auditioning for the band.
The music video for this song features the band playing at a rock concert enclosed in a cage. As the video progresses, the fans go crazy and begin to jump around and climb the metal cage.
Wake Up Dead
Megadeth Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It's four in the morning
I've had too much to drink
Said I was out with the boys
I creep in my bedroom
I slip into bed
I know if I wake her
I'll wake up dead
About the other, other lover...
Diana
Wake up dead, you die
Wake up dead, and buried
Wake up dead, you die
Wake up dead
The lyrics of Megadeth's "Wake Up Dead" dive deep into the mind of a man who sneaks back into his house after a night of drinking with his friends. He's paranoid that his girlfriend will wake up and discover that he's been unfaithful to her. So, in order to not get caught, he sneaks into bed and tries not to wake her up. The title of the song, "Wake Up Dead," is a reference to waking up in a state of being that feels like death, owing to the fear and anxiety of getting caught. The lyrics build upon the idea of a self-inflicted emotional turmoil that is born out of the fear of the consequences of one's actions.
The song is dark and brooding, with a driving beat that underscores the danger and unease of the situation. The line about the "other lover...Diana" adds another layer of tension to the story, as the singer has not just one but two mistresses. The lyrics speak to the loneliness and desperation that often accompanies infidelity. As the song progresses, it becomes clear that the singer is not just fearing discovery but is also looking for a way out of his relationship. Overall, the lyrics to "Wake Up Dead" paint a vivid picture of a man whose recklessness and infidelity have trapped him in a dangerous and volatile situation.
Line by Line Meaning
I sneak in my own house
I enter my own home secretly, trying not to disturb anyone
It's four in the morning
The time is very early, before sunrise
I've had too much to drink
I have consumed an excessive amount of alcohol
Said I was out with the boys
I previously told my spouse that I was spending time with my male friends
I creep in my bedroom
I quietly enter my sleeping quarters
I slip into bed
I get into bed without making any noise
I know if I wake her
I am aware that if I rouse my partner from sleep
I'll wake up dead
She will be extremely angry and I will face severe consequences for my actions
I wonder, will she find out?
I am uncertain if my partner will discover my infidelity
About the other, other lover...
I am concerned that my partner will discover my affair and the other person involved
Diana
The name of the woman I am cheating on my partner with
Wake up dead, you die
The consequences for my actions will be severe and possibly deadly
Wake up dead, and buried
If I am caught, I will face punishment and be seen as dead to my spouse
Wake up dead, you die
The consequences for my actions will be severe and possibly deadly
Wake up dead
I am living on borrowed time with my dishonorable behavior.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Dave Mustaine
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@tbhidc4321
I sneak in my own house
It's four in the morning
I've had too much to drink
Said I was out with the boys
I creep in my bedroom
I slip into bed
I know if I wake her
I'll wake up dead
I wonder, will she find out?
About the other, other lover...
Diana
Wake up dead, you die
Wake up dead, and buried
Wake up dead, you die
Wake up dead
@hansgerber8654
3:01 this part ... one of the best things i've ever heard in metal
@itkojecockot
definitely one of the best Megadeth solos.....
@jonzrx
Yeah, break it down.
@Slashhead1
I think in terms of packing amazing riffs in just one song, this is the 2nd best metal song, lead only by holy wars !
@RobertoGinsburg
Sounds like a early example of Funk Groove Metal
@stinky_nut_blast
Epic riff.
@XiyuYang
Not even 4 minutes long but holy shit this was such a sophisticated song. Key changes, tempo changes, multiple solos, chromaticism, there’s a reason why Dave stood out, his musicianship at that age was already phenomenal
@HakunaMatata225
true, this one is so sophisticated, Beethoven & Mozart would have been very proud
@fullhog
The guy's a fucking genius.. Dave getting kick out of his previous band was the best thing that happened for metal fans!
@josearellano3268
Yeah that’s the difference between Megadeth n Metallica ..
besides Lars couldn’t even play like Gar 😂😂
And Dave’s always been more technical and faster than James and Kirk ..
don’t forget Chris then Marty then now Kiko 🤘🤘🤘🤘💪💪💪