You take a mortal man
And put him in control
Watch him become a god
Watch people's heads a-roll
A-roll, 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
Explodes, explodes

Just like the Pied Piper
Led rats through the streets
We dance like marionettes
Swaying to the symphony

Just like the Pied Piper
Led rats through the streets
We dance like marionettes
Swaying to the symphony
Swaying to the symphony
Of destruction

The earth starts to rumble
World powers fall
A-warring for the heavens
A peaceful man stands tall
Tall, tall

Just like the Pied Piper
Led rats through the streets
We dance like marionettes
Swaying to the symphony

Just like the Pied Piper
Led rats through the streets
We dance like marionettes
Swaying to the symphony
Swaying to the symphony
Of destruction


Lyrics submitted by Boonechic_21

Symphony of Destruction Lyrics as written by Dave Mustaine

Lyrics © Word Collections Publishing, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.

Lyrics powered by LyricFind

Symphony of Destruction song meanings
Add Your Thoughts

60 Comments

sort form View by:
  • +8
    General Comment

    This is one of Megadeth famous songs with political meanings..it talks about how political leaders exploit the general people in their country and leads them to havoc and distruction for their own selfish purposes..which can be seen in the first 2 paras.. You take a mortal man, And put him in control Watch him become a god, Watch peoples heads a'roll A'roll... Just like the Pied Piper Led rats through the streets We dance like marionettes, Swaying to the Symphony... Of Destruction

    In the second verse talks about what happens when the general people tries to protest against this so called leaders... Acting like a robot, Its metal brain corrodes.

    they starts to act like emoitonless robots and take heartless measures to stop their protest/movement.. You try to take its pulse, Before the head explodes. Explodes...

    they starts to put military laws and riot polices and tear gas and rubber bullets on those protesting people..

    But in the last para megadesht seems to be optimistic by saying that those leaders dont last in the end..they fall..and they had to resign in the face of movement of the general people..

    The earth starts to rumble World powers fall A'warring for the heavens, A peaceful man stands tall Tall...

    DeepMeaningson September 04, 2002   Link
  • +3
    General Comment

    I'm no fan of megadeth but I luv this song, it's too true and wow...amazing.

    dark_eyez_666on June 16, 2009   Link
  • +2
    General Comment

    i think its all about the world leader stuff for the first two verses and chorus but for the last verse i think its about ghandi because he made the powers crumble by being peaceful and at the end he stood tall

    dark_maidenon June 11, 2007   Link
  • +2
    General Comment

    I love how political the lyrics are but whats makes this song for me is simply how aggressive the riff is. One of Megadeth's best songs

    thrashgrunge4lifeon February 17, 2013   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    sallut deepmeaning,thanxo . Ur comments r nice.

    One_Winged_Angelon September 05, 2002   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    guitar solo is amazing so fast so well placed and over so quickly amazing talent

    tommy321on January 25, 2006   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    Whatever the true meaning is, it's still a sweet fucking song!!!

    SwiftImmortal_1on September 04, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I ocnsider this to be the best song that the band has every made

    SuperGoku82on March 06, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    its about nuclear war.

    Ben2k9on September 25, 2004   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    AMAZING SONG

    GODDon November 12, 2004   Link

Add your thoughts

Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.

Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!

More Featured Meanings

Album art
Dreamwalker
Silent Planet
I think much like another song “Anti-Matter” (that's also on the same album as this song), this one is also is inspired by a horrifying van crash the band experienced on Nov 3, 2022. This, much like the other track, sounds like it's an extension what they shared while huddled in the wreckage, as they helped frontman Garrett Russell stem the bleeding from his head wound while he was under the temporary effects of a concussion. The track speaks of where the mind goes at the most desperate & desolate of times, when it just about slips away to all but disconnect itself, and the aftermath.
Album art
Mountain Song
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction vocalist Perry Farrell gives Adam Reader some heartfelt insight into Jane’s Addiction's hard rock manifesto "Mountain Song", which was the second single from their revolutionary album Nothing's Shocking. Mountain song was first recorded in 1986 and appeared on the soundtrack to the film Dudes starring Jon Cryer. The version on Nothing's Shocking was re-recorded in 1988. "'Mountain Song' was actually about... I hate to say it but... drugs. Climbing this mountain and getting as high as you can, and then coming down that mountain," reveals Farrell. "What it feels to descend from the mountain top... not easy at all. The ascension is tough but exhilarating. Getting down is... it's a real bummer. Drugs is not for everybody obviously. For me, I wanted to experience the heights, and the lows come along with it." "There's a part - 'Cash in now honey, cash in Miss Smith.' Miss Smith is my Mother; our last name was Smith. Cashing in when she cashed in her life. So... she decided that, to her... at that time, she was desperate. Life wasn't worth it for her, that was her opinion. Some people think, never take your life, and some people find that their life isn't worth living. She was in love with my Dad, and my Dad was not faithful to her, and it broke her heart. She was very desperate and she did something that I know she regrets."
Album art
When We Were Young
Blink-182
This is a sequel to 2001's "Reckless Abandon", and features the band looking back on their clumsy youth fondly.
Album art
Amazing
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran tells a story of unsuccessfully trying to feel “Amazing.” This track is about the being weighed down by emotional stress despite valiant attempts to find some positivity in the situation. This track was written by Ed Sheeran from the perspective of his friend. From the track, we see this person fall deeper into the negative thoughts and slide further down the path of mental torment with every lyric.
Album art
Page
Ed Sheeran
There aren’t many things that’ll hurt more than giving love a chance against your better judgement only to have your heart crushed yet again. Ed Sheeran tells such a story on “Page.” On this track, he is devastated to have lost his lover and even more saddened by the feeling that he may never move on from this.