Black Curtains

Album: Youthanasia (1994)
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Songfacts®:

  • This song is about death and destruction, evoking a nuclear armageddon. Megadeth frontman Dave Mustaine paints a picture of a fiery hell as the black curtains of death close in around him. It's a topic he's covered in other Megadeth songs as well, including "Rust in Peace... Polaris" and "Ashes In Your Mouth."
  • The song opens with a reference to Charles Manson:

    Hey, look around you
    Everything's helter skelter


    Manson was the deranged leader of a group that killed nine people in 1969. The story was big news, shocking in how seemingly normal people could be compelled to murder by a madman. Manson heard the phrase helter skelter from a "Beatles song of that name" and appropriated it, having his followers write it on the walls of one of their crime scenes.
  • "Black Curtains" is from Megadeth's Youthanasia album, one of their most popular. Dave Mustaine formed the group in 1983 after he was kicked out of Metallica. A talented songwriter, he proved to be a compelling frontman as well, and Megadeth earned their place as one of the "Big Four" of thrash metal, along with Slayer, Anthrax, and of course, Metallica.

Comments: 1

  • Cody from Kansas City, MoThe song is about destruction and the pain of nuclear warfare. Like when Dave talks about boiling skin or whatever.
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