Wake Up Dead

Album: Peace Sells... But Who's Buying? (1986)
Charted: 65
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This song is about a man who has been cheating on his wife (or girlfriend) and is sneaking into his house, knowing that if his wife finds out about his other lover, she'll kill him. >>
    Suggestion credit:
    Kyle - Montreal, Canada

Comments: 7

  • Jeff from Austin, Txone of the best beginnings of any song ever. And endings too for that matter.
  • Derek from Flin Flon, MbLyric wise this song lacks but...man...does it ever make up with it for the instruments. The riffs, and the last minute especially wow amazing!
  • Chris from Buffalo, NyThis song is about Dave Mustaine's personal life at the time. He was living with one girl while having a romance with another (his former fiancee Diana Aragon). The lyrics are about sneaking back into his apartment without the girl realizing he was cheating, or else she'd kill him in his sleep (hence, "Wake Up Dead"). The music is AMAZING, some of the best Megadeth ever made, especially the last minute of the song.
  • Luis from São Paulo, BrazilGreat music, crappy lyrics. Cheating is awful.
  • Josh from New London, MnA great song off of a great album. I saw them perform this live recently.
  • Chris from Yorktown, VaAn Excellent Song, One of the best of megadeths earlier stuff. Creepy Guitar riffs throughout the song. 9/10
  • Zac from Sydney, AustraliaExcellent song. Love the video
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Artis the Spoonman

Artis the SpoonmanSong Writing

Even before Soundgarden wrote a song about him, Artis was the most famous spoon player of all time. So why has he always been broke?

Tom Waits Lyrics Quiz

Tom Waits Lyrics QuizMusic Quiz

Pool balls, magpies and thorns without roses - how well do you know your Tom Waits lyrics?

N.W.A vs. the World

N.W.A vs. the WorldSong Writing

How the American gangsta rappers made history by getting banned in the UK.

Who Wrote That Song?

Who Wrote That Song?Music Quiz

Do you know who wrote Patti Smith's biggest hit? How about the Grease theme song? See if you can match the song to the writer.

Judas Priest

Judas PriestSongwriter Interviews

Rob Halford, Richie Faulkner and Glenn Tipton talk twin guitar harmonies and explain how they create songs in Judas Priest.

The End Of The Rock Era

The End Of The Rock EraSong Writing

There are no more rock stars - the last one died in 1994.