I'll Get Even

Album: Cryptic Writings (1997)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Revenge is a common theme in Megadeth songs, and "I'll Get Even" is another that takes on the topic. A group composition, the song looks at the emotional state of the one looking for vengeance; he's clearly unhinged:

    I'm like a bomb that's ticking
    I got voices in my head


    In a Songfacts interview with their bass player Dave Ellefson, he said the song is "speaking about a revengeful heart."
  • Brian Howe, former lead singer in Bad Company, contributed to this song and is credited as a writer along with Ellefson, group leader Dave Mustaine, and guitarist Marty Friedman. According to Mustaine, they had been working on the song for a while, and when they worked it up for the Cryptic Writings album, their manager Bud Prager brought in Howe.

    Mustaine was not impressed. In a chat with Metal Sludge, he said: "Bud Prager watered it down by having some old fart from Bad Company do something to it. I can't even remember what he did, but I sure didn't help make it any better, AND I had to pay him for it."

Comments: 1

  • Marco from NetherlandsThis song is co writen by Bryan Howe from Bad Company
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Meshell Ndegeocello

Meshell NdegeocelloSongwriter Interviews

Meshell Ndegeocello talks about recording "Wild Night" with John Mellencamp, and explains why she shied away from the spotlight.

Elton John

Elton JohnFact or Fiction

Does he have beef with Gaga? Is he Sean Lennon's godfather? See if you can tell fact from fiction in the Elton John edition.

Joe Ely

Joe ElySongwriter Interviews

The renown Texas songwriter has been at it for 40 years, with tales to tell about The Flatlanders and The Clash - that's Joe's Tex-Mex on "Should I Stay or Should I Go?"

Laura Nyro

Laura NyroSongwriting Legends

Laura Nyro talks about her complex, emotionally rich songwriting and how she supports women's culture through her art.

Classic Metal

Classic MetalFact or Fiction

Ozzy, Guns N' Roses, Judas Priest and even Michael Bolton show up in this Classic Metal quiz.

Ian Astbury of The Cult

Ian Astbury of The CultSongwriter Interviews

The Cult frontman tells who the "Fire Woman" is, and talks about performing with the new version of The Doors.