Released: October 24, 2000
Capitol Punishment: The Megadeth Years
2000’s Capitol Punishment: The Megadeth Years is a collection of all the classic hits including two new songs, “Kill the King” & “Dread and the Fugitive Mind”, and twelve others from the band’s seven full-length Capitol Records albums. The album also boasts a hidden track “Capitol Punishment”, a medley of the songs on the album. A notable aspect of Capitol Punishment is that the album’s sequence moves backwards from 1999’s Risk back to 1986’s Peace Sells… But Who’s Buying?.
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KILL THE KING
KILL THE KING
Broken down, feeling naked
Leaving me unfulfilled
Promising compromise
Championing mediocrity
Time and time again
What you said ain't what you mean
Even if all my bones are broken
I will drag myself back from the edge to
Kill the King, The King is dead, Long live the King
Kill the King, The King is dead, Long live the King,
I am the King, God save the King
Kill the King, The King is dead
I am the King, Long live the King
Kill the King, The King is dead
I am the King, Long live the King
I reveal a deceiver
In the highest seat in the land
His idle hands the Devil's workshop
Generate more smoke than heat
Time and time again
What you said ain't what you mean
Even if all my bones are broken
I will drag myself back from the edge to
Kill the King, The King is dead, Long live the King
Kill the King, The King is dead, Long live the King,
I am the King, God save the King
Kill the King, The King is dead
I am the King, Long live the King
Kill the King, The King is dead
I am the King, Long live the King
A new precedent in pain, a new precedent in pain
Mankind is blown to dust, mankind is blown to dust
An explosion of the Brain, an explosion of the Brain
Spontaneously combust, spontaneously combust
Kill the King, The King is dead, Long live the King,
I am the King
Kill the King, I, The King is dead, I am, Long live the King,
I am the King
Kill the King, I, The King is dead, I am, Long live the King,
I am the King
Kill the King, I, The King is dead, I am, Long live the King,
I am the King -
DREAD AND THE FUGITIVE MIND
DREAD AND THE FUGITIVE MIND
Let me introduce myself I'm a social disease
I've come for your wealth leave you on your knees
No time for feeling sorry, I got here on my own
I won't ask for mercy, I choose to walk alone
What's yours is mine and what's mine is mine too
If you shake my hand better count your fingers
What if I do get caught? What if there is no judgment?
If I'm right I lose nothing, if you're right I lose it all
I ought to get caught because I'm doing something wicked
I'm guilty haunted by my fear and the only consequences
Are Dread and the Fugitive Mind
You built walls to protect you so no one will infect you
Pursued by those out there that vanish in thin air
Come a long way to find what you really left behind
You don't know when the end is but it's coming fast
What's yours is mine and what's mine is mine too
If you shake my hand better count your fingers
What if I do get caught? What if there is no judgment?
If I'm right I lose nothing, if you're right I lose it all
I ought to get caught because I'm doing something wicked
I'm guilty haunted by my fear and the only consequences
Are Dread and the Fugitive Mind
Solos - Mustaine, Pitrelli
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CRUSH 'EM
CRUSH 'EM
Enter the arena and hit the lights
Step up now you're in for a ride
this is war, ain't no fun and games
we get it up, you go down in flames
Party time, going down
you better not mess us around
the stakes are rich, take a hit or stay
the price is high, someone's gonna pay
Heads I win, tails you lose
out of my way I'm coming through
roll the dice don't think twice
and we crush, crush 'em
Looking for trouble, now you've found it
you're a drum and we're gonna pound it
Last one standing wins the fight
hear us scream and shout all night
down on the floor and eat the grit
this is gonna hurt a little bit
Heads I win, tails you lose
out of my way I'm coming through
roll the dice don't think twice
and we crush, crush 'em
Now we lay you down to rest
you'll never be more than second best
step inside you're in for a ride
and we crush, crush 'em
Crush! Crush!
Don't need reason, don't want names
just a John Doe to put to shame
step aside let me explain
the name of the game is pain
Now we've found you
We're gonna pound you
We're gonna beat you
Gonna defeat you
We're gonna bust you
We're gonna crush you
We're gonna crush 'em
Heads I win, tails you lose
out of my way I'm coming through
roll the dice don't think twice
and we crush, crush 'em
Now we lay you down to rest
you'll never be more than second best
step inside you're in for a ride
and we crush, crush 'em
Crush! Crush!
Oh, boy, here we go, its time to crush 'em
Yeah and you shed some tears, it's gonna hurt, crush 'em
Not here, not tonight, it's our town, and we're gonna crush 'em!
Crush! Crush 'em!
Music - Mustaine/Friedman
Lyrics - Mustaine/Bud Prager -
USE THE MAN
USE THE MAN
I heard somebody fixed today
There was no "last goodbyes" to say
His will to live ran out
I heard somebody turned to dust
Looking back at what he left
A list of plans and photographs
Songs that never will be sung
These are the things he won't get done
I've seen the man use the needle, seen the needle use the man
I've seen them crawl from the cradle to the gutter on their hands
They fight a war but it's fatal, it's so hard to understand
I've seen the man use the needle, seen the needle use the man
Just one shot to say goodbye
One last taste to mourn and cry
Scores and shoots, the lights go dim
Just one shot to do him in
He hangs his head and wonders why
Why the monkey only lies
But pay the pauper, he did choose
He hung his head inside the noose
I've seen the man use the needle, seen the needle use that man
I've seen them crawl from the cradle to the coffin on their hands
They fight a war but it's fatal, it's so hard to understand
I've seen the man use the needle, seen the needle in his hand
Cryptic writing on the wall, the beginning of the end
I've seen myself use the needle, seen the needle in my hand
Solo - Friedman
I've seen the man use the needle, seen the needle use the man
I've seen them crawl from the cradle to the gutter on their hands
They fight a war but it's fatal, it's so hard to understand
I've seen the man use the needle, seen the needle use the man
In my hand!
Music - Mustaine/Friedman
Lyrics - Mustaine -
ALMOST HONEST
ALMOST HONEST
I lied just a little
When I said I need you
You stretched the truth
When you said that you knew
Just can't believe it
There's nothing to say
I was almost honest, almost
Living alone, can't stand this place
It's four in the morning and I still see your face
I was nearly pure
When I said I loved you
You were semi-sincere
You said I'd bleed for you
We were kind of candid
Now you've gone away
You were almost honest, almost
Living alone, falling from grace
I want to atone but there's just empty space
I can't face tomorrow, now you're not coming back
Walked off in the night and just left me the tracks
I question your call by the tone of your voice
I know I should hang up but I don't have a choice
It happend that night when you told me to go
Don't ask who's to blame, I don't know
Solo - Friedman
Living alone, falling from grace
I want to atone but there's just empty space
I can't face tomorrow, now you're not coming back
Walked off in the night and just left me the tracks
Almost, almost honest
Almost, I was almost honest
Music - Mustaine/Friedman
Lyrics - Mustaine -
TRUST
TRUST
Lost in a dream
Nothing's what it seems
Searching my head
For the words that you said
Tears filled my eyes
As we said our last goodbyes
This sad scene replays
Of you walking away
My body aches from mistakes
Betrayed by lust
We lied to each other so much
That in nothing we trust
God help me please, on my knees
Betrayed by lust, by lust
We lied to each other so much
That in nothing we trust
Time and again
She repeats let's be friends
I smile and say yes
Another truth bends,
I must confess
I try to let go, but I know
We'll never end 'til we're dust
We lied to each other again
But I wish I could trust
My body aches from mistakes
Betrayed by lust
We lied to each other so much
That in nothing we trust
God help me please, on my knees, on my knees
Betrayed by lust, by lust
We lied to each other so much, so much
That in nothing we trust
How could this be happening to me
I'm lying when I say, "Trust me"
I can't believe this is true
Trust hurts
Why does trust equal suffering?
Solo - Friedman
My body aches from mistakes
Betrayed by lust
We lied to each other so much
That in nothing we trust, in nothing we trust
God help me please, on my knees
Betrayed by lust
We lied to each other so much, so much
That in nothing we trust
Absolutely nothing we trust
Music - Mustaine/Friedman
Lyrics - Mustaine -
A TOUT LE MONDE
A TOUT LE MONDE
Don't remember where I was
I realized life was a game
The more seriously I took things
The harder the rules became
I had no idea what it'd cost
My life passed before my eyes
I found out how little I accomplished
All my plans denied
So as you read this know my friends
I'd love to stay with you all
Please smile when you think of me
My body's gone that's all
A tout le monde
A tout mes amis
Je vous aime
Je dois partir
These are the last words
I'll ever speak
And they'll set me free
If my heart was still alive
I know it would surely break
And my memories left with you
There's nothing more to say
Moving on is a simple thing
What it leaves behind is hard
You know the sleeping feel no more pain
And the living all are scarred
A tout le monde
A tout mes amis
Je vous aime
Je dois partir
These are the last words
I'll ever speak
And they'll set me free
Solo - Friedman
So as you read, know my friends
I'd love to stay with you all
Please smile, smile when you think about me
My body's gone that's all
A tout le monde
A tout mes amis
Je vous aime
Je dois partir
These are the last words
I'll ever speak
And they'll set me free
Solo - Mustaine & Friedman
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TRAIN OF CONSEQUENCES
TRAIN OF CONSEQUENCES
I'm doing you a favor
As I'm taking all your money
I guess I should feel sorry
But I don't even trust me
There's bad news creeping up
And you feel a sudden chill
How do you do? My name is 'Trouble'
I'm coming in for the kill
And you know I will
Set the ball a-rolling
I'll be clicking off the miles
On the train of consequences
My boxcar life of style
My thinking is derailed
I'm tied up to the tracks
The train of consequences
There ain't no turning back
No horse ever ran as fast
As the money that you bet
I'm blowing on my cards
And play them to my chest
Life's fabric is corrupt
Shot through with corroded thread
As for me I hocked my brains
Packed my bags and headed west
I hocked my brains, headed west
Set the ball a-rolling
I'll be clicking off the miles
On the train of consequences
My boxcar life of style
My thinking is derailed
I'm tied up to the tracks
The train of consequences
There ain't no turning back
Solo - Friedman
Set the ball a-rolling
I'll be clicking off the miles
On the train of consequences
My boxcar life of style
My thinking is derailed
I'm tied up to the tracks
The train of consequences
There ain't no turning back
Solo - Mustaine
Harmonica Solo - Jimmie Wood
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SWEATING BULLETS
SWEATING BULLETS
Hello me, meet the real me
And my misfit's 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 migraine headache
Sinking down to your level
Yea, just keep on thinking it's my fault
And stay an inch or two outta kicking distance
Mankind has got to know
His limitations
Feeling claustrophobic
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 palms are getting wet
Sweating bullets
Solo - Mustaine
I hear it in hear...
Blood stains on my...hands
The big axe...
Sweating...
Well, me, it's nice talking to myself
A credit to dementia
Some day you too will know my pain
And smile its "black-tooth grin"
If the war inside my head
Won't take a day off 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 claustrophobic
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 acquitted me
Claiming validity
For your stupidity
I'm chomping at the bit
I'm sharpening the axe
Here I come again
Sweating bullets
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SYMPHONY OF DESTRUCTION
SYMPHONY OF DESTRUCTION
You take a mortal man
And put him in control
Watch him become a god
Watch people's heads a-roll
Just like the Pied Piper
Led rats through the streets
We dance like marionettes
Swaying to the Symphony of Destruction
Acting like a robot
Its metal brain corrodes
You try to take its pulse
Before the head explodes
Just like the Pied Piper
Led rats through the streets
We dance like marionettes
Swaying to the Symphony of Destruction
Solo - Friedman
The earth starts to rumble
World powers fall
A-warring for the heavens
A peaceful man stands tall
Just like the Pied Piper
Led rats through the streets
We dance like marionettes
Swaying to the Symphony of Destruction
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HANGAR 18
HANGAR 18
Welcome to our fortress tall
I'll take some time to show you around
Impossible to break these walls
For you see the steel is much too strong
Computer banks to rule the world
Instruments to sight the stars
Possibly I've seen to much
Hangar 18 I know too much
Solo - Friedman
Foreign life forms inventory
Suspended state of cryogenics
Selective amnesia's the story
Believed foretold but who'd suspect
Military intelligence
Two words combined that can't make sense
Possibly I've seen to much
Hangar 18 I know too much
Solo - Friedman
Solo - Friedman
Solo - Mustaine
Solo - Friedman
Solo - Mustaine
Solo - Friedman
Solo - Mustaine
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HOLY WARS...THE PUNISHMENT DUE
HOLY WARS...THE PUNISHMENT DUE
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
Solo - Friedman
Up on 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, rappel down the rocks
Behind the lines
Some people risk to employ me
Some people live to destroy me
Either way they die, they die
Solo - Friedman
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
Solo - Friedman
Solo - Mustaine
Fill the cracks in with judicial granite
Because I don't say it, don't mean I ain't thinking 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
Next thing you know they'll take my thoughts away
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IN MY DARKEST HOUR
IN MY DARKEST HOUR
Solo - Mustaine
In my hour of need,
Ha, no, you're not there
And though I reached out for you,
Wouldn't lend a hand
Through the darkest hour,
Your grace did not shine on me
Feels so cold, very cold,
No one cares for me
Did you ever think I get lonely?
Did you ever think that I needed love?
Did you ever think, stop thinking
You're the only one that I'm thinking of?
You'll never know how hard I tried
To find my space and satisfy you too
Things will be better when I'm dead and gone
Don't try to understand, knowing you, I'm probably wrong
But, oh how I lived my life for you,
Till you'd turn away
Now, as I die for you,
My flesh still crawls as I breathe your name
All these years, thought I was wrong,
Now I know it was you
Raise you head, raise your face, your eyes,
Tell me who you think you are?
I walk, I walk alone
To the promised land
There's a better place for me
But it's far, far away
Everlasting life for me
In a perfect world
But I got to die first,
Please God send me on my way
Solo - Mustaine
Time has a way of taking time
Loneliness is not only felt be fools
Alone, I call to ease the pain,
Yearning to be held by you
Alone, so alone, I'm lost,
Consumed by the pain
The pain, the pain, the pain
Won't you hold me again
You just laughed, ha-ha, you bitch
Solo - Mustaine
My whole life is work built on the past,
The time has come when all things shall pass,
This good thing passed away
Solo - Young
Solo - Mustaine
Music - Mustaine
Lyrics - Mustaine/Ellefson -
PEACE SELLS
PEACE SELLS
Solo - Mustaine
What do you mean I don't believe in God?
Talk to him every day
What do you mean I don't support your system?
I go to court when I have to
What do you mean I can't get to work on time?
Got nothing better to do
What do you mean I don't pay my bills?
Why do you think I'm broke? Huh?
If there's a new way
I'll be the first in line
But, it better work this time
Solo - Poland
What do you mean I hurt your feelings?
I didn't know you had any feelings
Solo - Poland
What do you mean I ain't kind?
Just not your kind
Solo - Poland
What do you mean I couldn't be President Of the United States of America?
Solo - Poland
Tell me something, it's still 'We the people', right?
Solo - Poland
If there's a new way
I'll be the first in line
But, it better work this time
Solo - Poland
Solo - Mustaine
Solo - Poland
Solo - Mustaine
Can you put a price on peace?
Peace, peace sells, peace, peace sells
Peace sells, but who's buying?
Solo - Poland
Peace sells, but who's buying?
No, no, no, no, no!
Solo - Poland
Peace sells
Solo - Poland
Peace sells
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CAPITOL PUNISHMENT