Megadeth – Sweating Bullets

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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 fro the things
I haven't got to yet
I'm sharpening the axe and my
Palms are getting wet, sweating bullets

Well, me, it's nice talking to myself
A credit to dementia
Some day you too will know my pain
And smile its blacktooth 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, whoa!
Sweating bullets

Send "Sweating Bullets" Ringtone to Cell


Lyrics submitted by Boonechic_21

Track duration: 05:27

"Sweating Bullets" as written by Dave Mustaine

Lyrics © EMI Music Publishing

Lyrics powered by LyricFind


Sweating Bullets song meanings
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67 Comments

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  • 0
    General Comment:Schizophrenia is different than split personalities.
    Flag averagejoey2000on February 01, 2013   Link
  • +1
    General Comment:I agree with everyone who says its about having schizophrenia but it goes a little more in depth. Its about a guy who has schizophrenia and takes an overdose on aspirin to get rid of his dark side, goes to sleep, and wakes up in prison with bloodstains on his hands but doesn't remember a thing. Great song, I think its one of the most clever if not the most clever song in heavy metal. And a cool fact about the song, Dave got the name Sweating Bullets when reading an article in Reader's Digest.
    Flag rattlehead777on August 17, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Don't mean to , uh , shoot you all down (note the pun) , It's known to many as Dave ' s song empathizing other heroin addicts . I ' m a bit of a dork about it :) I ' m actually attempting a music video that will more than likely take ... oh ... 2 years considering I need all equipment , measurements , CG Equipment ... oh boy ...
    I agree with anyone who says Megadeth is kick-ass , btw .
    Flag SaerBearon April 27, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:This song is about having a duality --
    extreme cognitive dissonance.

    Sometimes it happens to amphetamine users, which is what Dave Mustaine was if I'm not mistaken
    Flag SpunkySkunk347on January 22, 2010   Link
  • -3
    General Comment:In my opinion this song is about Dave`s success with his band (Megadeth), but he does`nt forgets his earlier band - Metallica.
    Flagged ViolentAndFunkyon September 02, 2009   Link
    • 1 Reply
  • 0
    My Opinion:This is another example of how quirky and clever Mustaine is as a lyricist. He takes an idea (schizophrenia)that is already very open to having quirky lyrics written about it and he runs with it. "True enemy or false friend" is a clever phrase. "Blood stains on my hands and I don't know where I've been" is another winner. He's committing atrocities but he's so far gone that he can't even remember what he's done. "Hindsight is always 20/20 but looking back, it's still a bit fuzzy" is likewise great. He's lost it so badly that he can't even learn from his own past. This is a rhyme that you can tell that Mustaine really had to think about, too. "Twenty" with "fuzzy" is an imperfect rhyme so it's not like he could have just plucked it out of a rhyming dictionary. He's also great at summing up the war between he and the other voice within: "Just keep on thinking it's my fault and stay an inch or two out of kicking distance." Finally, the perfect sarcastic closing, "Once you've committed me. Now you've acquitted me. Claiming validity for your stupidity." This shoves it right in the face of the judge and/or system that let this psychopath run free. This song is one of the best examples you'll ever see of blending aggression and humor. For those wondering about the phrase "Sweating Bullets," it's a saying used to convey that someone is really nervous. A relief pitcher who is on the mound with the bases loaded in the ninth inning, for example, may be said to be "sweating bullets." What great lyrics and what a great song!
    Flag ScreenNameNeededon January 17, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I thought this was about a schizophrenic/paranoid person and the title makes me think that he went crazy enough to kill. Sweating Bullets?
    Flag dukesixon December 23, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:i think this song could be about having multiple personalities or something, like in the movie "Identity"
    -Multiple personality disorder (MPD) is a psychiatric disorder characterized by having at least one "alter" personality that controls behavior. The "alters" are said to occur spontaneously and involuntarily, and function more or less independently of each other. The unity of consciousness, by which we identify our selves, is said to be absent in MPD. Another symptom of MPD is significant amnesia which can't be explained by ordinary forgetfulness.
    Flag cyco86on September 24, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:also note how much is does point to addictions to drugs or achohol. "hindsight is always 20-20 but looking back its still a bit fuzzy" waking up the next day from a hangover not rememebering what happened needing the drug to stay sane and calm and feeling good and to get through the day but being addicted not always making the best choices when on it or off "true enemy or false friend" "anxietys attaking my and my air is get thin"" feeling claustraphobic....feeling paraniod..." needing it but not having it or trying to stay away from it and feeling insane
    Flag cyanide deathon January 29, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:well first off to all the people that dont like his voice well fine thats your opinion and shit in my opinion it works and i like it its fits the song well i love megadeth and lots of other bands people have mentioned on this song. to me its mostly about having multiple personalities each one trying to take over"war inside my head" "well me it was nice talking to myself" "bloodstains on my hands and i dont know where ive been" alos could refer to a relationship (such as someone who you love but abuses you) or an addiction to drugs where 1 side majorly controls the other wondering whether there good for you or bad "true enemy or false friend?"
    to any one whos loves this song as much as i do and hasnt watched the video or anyone who doesnt understand the song go to youtube=]
    Flag cyanide deathon January 29, 2008   Link

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