The song Symphony of Destruction by the band Megadeth, released in 1992 on the album Countdown to Extinction, is a powerful critique of violence, political manipulation and the destructive effects of war. It addresses the idea that people can be used as pawns in a power game, where rulers or leaders instigate conflict and destruction in the name of their own interests.
The lyrics describe the figure of a leader who leads a “destructive symphony”, referring to the way in which the system of power leads humanity into a spiral of violence, without the majority realizing it or being able to escape. The “symphony” metaphor suggests that, even though something is apparently ordered, the end result is a chaotic and devastating destruction. On a broader level, the song also criticizes how the masses can be manipulated into blindly following these leaders.
Overall, Symphony of Destruction is a reflection on the negative impact of politics, power and war on society, showing the vicious cycle that repeats itself throughout history.
Lyrics:
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
It’s metal brain corrodes
You try to take its pulse
Before the head explodes
Explodes
Explodes
Argh
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
A-tall
A-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
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