Reckoning Day

Album: Youthanasia (1994)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • "Reckoning Day," or the "Day of Reckoning," is the biblical prediction of the apocalypse, when God will judge us for our sins. In this song, Dave Mustaine is warning his enemy that he's due for a reckoning, meaning all this person's misdeeds will come back to haunt him.
  • Megadeth frontman Dave Mustaine got the idea for the song after watching the 1993 movie Tombstone, where Val Kilmer's character (Doc Holliday) says: "Make no mistake. It's not revenge he's after. It's a reckoning."
  • Dave Mustaine takes the reins when it comes to songwriting in Megadeth, but other band members contribute here and there. On this song, guitarist Marty Friedman helped with the music and bass player Dave Ellefson worked on the lyrics.

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Barney Hoskyns Explores The Forgotten History Of Woodstock, New York

Barney Hoskyns Explores The Forgotten History Of Woodstock, New YorkSong Writing

Our chat with Barney Hoskyns, who covers the wild years of Woodstock - the town, not the festival - in his book Small Town Talk.

Boz Scaggs

Boz ScaggsSongwriter Interviews

The "Lowdown" and "Lido Shuffle" singer makes a habit of playing with the best in the business.

Dennis DeYoung

Dennis DeYoungSongwriter Interviews

Dennis DeYoung explains why "Mr. Roboto" is the defining Styx song, and what the "gathering of angels" represents in "Come Sail Away."

Philip Cody

Philip CodySongwriter Interviews

A talented lyricist, Philip helped revive Neil Sedaka's career with the words to "Laughter In The Rain" and "Bad Blood."

Neal Smith - "I'm Eighteen"

Neal Smith - "I'm Eighteen"They're Playing My Song

With the band in danger of being dropped from their label, Alice Cooper drummer Neal Smith co-wrote the song that started their trek from horror show curiosity to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Supertramp founder Roger Hodgson

Supertramp founder Roger HodgsonSongwriter Interviews

Roger tells the stories behind some of his biggest hits, including "Give a Little Bit," "Take the Long Way Home" and "The Logical Song."