My Last Words (song) explained

My Last Words
Type:	song
Artist:	Megadeth
Album:	Peace Sells... but Who's Buying?
Recorded:	February–March 1986
Studio:	Music Grinder, Track, and Rock Steady, Los Angeles Maddog, Venice, California
Genre:	Thrash metal
Length:	4:57
Label:	Combat Capitol
Producer:	Dave Mustaine Randy Burns

"My Last Words" is a song by American thrash metal band Megadeth from their 1986 album Peace Sells... but Who's Buying?, written by Dave Mustaine.

Music and lyrics

"My Last Words" is about a game of Russian roulette and the fear one goes through when playing the game.^[1] Despite being one of the lesser known tracks on the record, music journalist Martin Popoff said that the song was an example of the band's "fast thrashers" and an evidence why Megadeth were dubbed as the "fearless speed progenitors".^[2] The end section features shouted gang vocals.

Live performance

"My Last Words" is rarely performed live by Megadeth nowadays. The song was a setlist staple through the eighties, having been played at many shows, including their first (where it appeared under the title "Next Victim").^[3] After Nick Menza and Marty Friedman joined the band, however, it was mostly dropped from setlists. It has popped up sporadically for the past three decades.

In 2010, Metallica drummer Lars Ulrich requested that the band played the song at a concert at the Cow Palace on August 31, 2010.^[4] The song is reportedly his favorite Megadeth song.^[5]

In June and July 2018, Megadeth played the song at a few shows in dedication to Pantera drummer Vinnie Paul, who died on June 22, 2018.^[6] The performance at Hellfest was professionally shot and later uploaded to YouTube.^[7] Mustaine announced the song by saying it was the first time the band played it in 20 years, although it had been played in 2005^[8] and 2010.^[9]

Accolades

Year	Publication	Country	Accolade	Rank
2022	Louder Sound	United States	The Top 20 Best Megadeth Songs Ranked^[10]	15
2018	Billboard	United Kingdom	The 15 Best Megadeth Songs: Critic’s Picks^[11]	10

Personnel

Production and performance credits are adapted from the album liner notes.^[12]

Megadeth

• Dave Mustaine – guitars, lead vocals
• David Ellefson – bass, backing vocals
• Chris Poland – guitars
• Gar Samuelson – drums

Additional personnel

• Casey McMackin - backing vocals^[13]

Production

• Dave Mustaine – production
• Randy Burns – production, engineering
• Casey McMackin – engineering
• Paul Lani – mixing
• Stan Katayama – mixing

2004 remix and remaster

• Dave Mustaine – production, mixing
• Ralph Patlan – engineering, mixing
• Lance Dean – engineering, editing
• Scott "Sarge" Harrison – editing
• Tom Baker – mastering

Notes and References

1. Web site: Ramirez. Carlos. 10 Most Underrated Megadeth Songs. Noisecreep. September 13, 2013. December 12, 2013.
2. Book: Popoff, Martin. Martin Popoff. 2002. The Top 500 Heavy Metal Songs of All Time. ECW Press. 978-1-55022-530-3 . 352.
3. Web site: The Scorpion . SCORPION Q+A . Megadeth.com . 14 December 2022 . 3 November 2008.
4. Web site: Metallica’s Lars Ulrich Pens Liner Notes for ‘Timeless’ Megadeth Album ‘Peace Sells’ . Ultimate Classic Rock . 14 December 2022.
5. Web site: Lars On His Favorite MEGADETH Song, Napster, Favorite New Metal Bands & Cutting His Hair; Highlights Of His Reddit AMA . Metal Injection . 14 December 2022 . 31 January 2014.
6. Web site: MEGADETH Dedicates 'My Last Words' To VINNIE PAUL (Video). Blabbermouth . 14 December 2022.
7. Web site: Camp . Zoe . SEE MEGADETH SALUTE VINNIE PAUL WITH RARE "MY LAST WORDS" PERFORMANCES . Revolver Mag . 25 June 2018.
8. Web site: Ustaer . Feyyaz . MEGADETH REMEMBERS VINNIE PAUL ON STAGE: HERE’S PERFORMANCE OF "MY LAST WORDS" . Metalhead Zone . 14 December 2022 . 25 June 2018.
9. Web site: Davino . Bianca . Watch Megadeth perform ‘My Last Words in honour of Vinnie Paul . Tone Deaf. The Brag . 14 December 2022 . 26 June 2018.
10. Web site: Stewart-Panko . Kevin . The top 20 best Megadeth songs ranked . Louder Sound . 29 August 2022.
11. Titus . Christina . The 15 Best Megadeth Songs: Critic's Picks . Billboard . 29 August 2022.
12. Book: Peace Sells... But Who's Buying? liner notes (2004 reissue). 2004. Capitol Records. 4–12.
13. Web site: Scorpion . The . SCORPION Q+A . Megadeth.com . 30 August 2022.