Megadeth: Symphony of Destruction Meaning

Song Released: 1992

Symphony of Destruction Lyrics

You take a mortal man,
And put him in control
Watch him become a god,
Watch peoples heads a'roll
A'roll...


(Chorus)
Just like the Pied Piper
Led rats through the streets
Dance like marionettes,
Swaying to the Symphony...
Of...

1. 1TOP RATED

   #1 top rated interpretation:
   anonymous

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   Sep 19th 2012 !⃝

   I think he is talking about what happens to someone who is put in power, how it goes to their head, and the quest for more power over others; how one in power uses their charisma to fool the sheep (people they can sway)and leads them like foolish sheep to do their bidding and follow them in whatever they wish; corruption and corrosion of the system, war and degradation of the population. I believe the one who stands tall is Jesus himself, the Prince of Peace amidst the warring, perhaps he is talking about Armageddon and the second coming, when Jesus returns and brings peace, and his followers will remain. Dave is a Christian.

2. 2TOP RATED

   #2 top rated interpretation:
   JasmineStar

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   Aug 11th 2009 !⃝

   This is to me a great anti war song. It is about how world powers fall when peaceful people take back control by 'standing tall', it is to me about getting informed and not giving away our power to people with agendas of destruction. To me by standing tall on issues like pollution, health, education, conservation we can help avoid the destruction that could occur on our planet if the forces of war and destruction are not stood up to. I love this song, because it gives me hope that our planet can survive the power battles ahead.
3. anonymous

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   May 15th 2024 !⃝

   Power corrupts.We fail to see it because we elect our leaders based on a belief that they will serve us. Thus, the Pied Piper Reference. The robot is our democracy, rusting due to corruption and apathy.
4. anonymous

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   Oct 26th 2021 !⃝

   From the first line you know a mortal man is worshiped as a god. Those who oppose are relinquished, killed.
   
   Next is a parable of government & mainstream media formulating a lie which the uninformed believe unconditionally.
   
   The apparent "powers that be" are falling apart. Uninformed believers search to resuscitate. To no avail, the head explodes.
   
   Chaos is released upon the world. Natural disasters, social unrest, governments toppled with no clear direction.
   
   but ONE peaceful man stands tall.
   
   I know who it is.
5. anonymous

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   Dec 12th 2020 !⃝

   A bunch of us nurses in a covid unit started talking about this song and we listened to it over and over. The last verse is clearly about Jesus coming to save us from the megadeath of Covid.
   
6. anonymous

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   May 2nd 2019 !⃝

   The pied piper is like a person in power and controlling the people(the rats) the people danced like marionettes because they are being taken over and the people in power are swaying to the symphony of destruction.
7. anonymous

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   Mar 31st 2018 !⃝

   Does the meaning have much value if the song is brilliant?
8. anonymous

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   Nov 19th 2017 !⃝

   My interpretation is that it’s just a great song all you need to know
9. anonymous

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   Nov 30th 2012 !⃝

   Symphony of destruction is a song about a corrupt politicion nominating and convincing people to vote for a man that the politicion can control. "you take a mortal man, put him in control... acting like a robot, his metal brain corrodes" If you've seen "the manchurian canidate" you know what i'm talking about.

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