Guilty as charged
But damn it, it ain't right
There's someone else controlling me

Death in the air
Strapped in the electric chair
This can't be happening to me

Who made you God to say
"I'll take your life from you"

Flash before my eyes
Now it's time to die
Burning in my brain
I can feel the flames

Wait for the sign
To flick the switch of death
It's the beginning of the end

Sweat, chilling cold
As I watch death unfold
Consciousness my only friend

My fingers grip with fear
What I am doing here?

Flash before my eyes
Now it's time to die
Burning in my brain
I can feel the flames

Someone help me
Oh please, God, help me
They are trying to take it all away
I don't want to die

Someone help me
Oh please God help me
They are trying to take it all away
I don't want to die

Time moving slow
The minutes seem like hours
The final curtain call I see

How true is this?
Just get it over with
If this is true, just let it be

Wakened by the horrid scream
Freed from the frightening dream

Flash before my eyes
Now it's time to die
Burning in my brain
I can feel the flames


Lyrics submitted by elmoz, edited by RyanWolfeh

Ride The Lightning Lyrics as written by Dave Mustaine Clifford Lee Burton

Lyrics © Word Collections Publishing

Lyrics powered by LyricFind

Ride The Lightning song meanings
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93 Comments

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  • +2
    General Comment

    the song is self explanatory, its about a man who is being killed for a crime he did not commit

    metallicaman123on August 15, 2002   Link
  • +2
    General Comment

    It is important wheater the guy did or did not commit the crime. The man is going to die for commiting a crime he didn't commit. Hetfield said that he believes in capital punishment, and the song is more about the idea of being strapped to the electric chair even though you didn't commit the crime, and it is about, like others on the album "Ride the Lighting," are about not being able to escape a situation.

    Satans Angel 666on April 08, 2003   Link
  • +2
    General Comment

    GREATEST METALLICA SONG EVER!!! Nothing more is needed, forget your ...And Justice For Alls and Master of Puppets, this title song is the song to end all! The second guitar solo is phenominal. Saw a tribute band of them last week, this was their second song! outstanding!

    Crazy Steve FMon May 12, 2006   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    This is about the electric chair execution and how it's wrong. After all, "who made you God to say 'I'll take your life from you!'?".

    Debbie65on July 03, 2002   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    oh yeah, Mustaine is bad ass too!! Megadeth rocks!!!!

    ThE $aNdMaNon January 24, 2006   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    That guitar solo - you can feel the electricity.

    Terquoiseon November 06, 2015   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    This one is all too easy to figure out. "The death penality is wrong".

    Jigokusabreon April 12, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Anti-capital-punishment song

    noisicuson May 20, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Nope, he committed the crime.

    "Guilty as charged But damn it, it ain't right There is someone else controlling me"

    TwistedBon August 26, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    dude yes he is, The guy really did committ the crime because he's admitting he's "gulity as charged" but he still don't think he should die for it, if you can't see that your stupid

    paintballinpsychoon September 02, 2002   Link

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