Four Horsemen

Metallica-The Four Horsemen

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• published: 24 Jun 2008
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"The Four Horsemen" is the second track on Metallica's 1983 album Kill 'Em All. The original song, called "The Mechanix", had different lyrics, and was written during the time when Dave Mustaine was Metallica's guitarist. After Dave Mustaine was ejected from the band, he included it on Megadeth's first album, Killing Is My Business... And Business Is Good!, with the title slightly shortened to just "Mechanix", with the original lyrics, and a much faster tempo. After he left, James Hetfield rewrote the lyrics and Kirk Hammett added a new, melodic guitar solo in the middle of the song. This section is not played when Metallica performs this song live. "The Four Horsemen" is a definite fan-favorite song of Metallica, and is commonly played live by the band. The title also served as a source for one of the band's nicknames. The lyrics, as the title suggests, are about the end of the world and the apocalypse. Referring to the biblical text about the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. However, many believe the song is about Metallica themselves as the "horsemen." Lyrical Mistake The lyrics (below) refer to the horsemen as Time, Famine, Pestilence and Death, however Time is not a horseman - however, [War] is. Lyrics: Time, has taken its toll on you The lines that crack your face Famine, your body it has torn through Withered in every place Pestilence, for what you had to endure And what you have put others through Death, deliverance for you for sure Now there's nothing you can do THE FOUR HORSEMEN By the last breath the fourth winds blow Better raise your ears The sound of hooves knock at your door Lock up your wife and children now It's time to wield the blade For now you've got some company The Horsemen are drawing nearer On leather steeds they ride They've come to take your life On through the dead of night With the Four Horsemen ride Or choose your fate and die You have been dying since the day you were born You know it's all been planned The quartet of deliverance rides A sinner once, a sinner twice No need for confessions now 'Cause now you've got the fight of your life The Horsemen are drawing nearer On leather steeds they ride They've come to take your life On through the dead of night With the Four Horsemen ride Or choose your fate and die Time has taken its toll on you The lines that crack your face Famine, your body it has torn through Withered in every place Pestilence, for what you had to endure And what you have put others through Death, deliverance for you for sure Now there's nothing you can do So gather 'round young warriors now And saddle up your steeds Killing scores with demon swords Now is the death of doers of wrong Swing the judgement hammer down Safely inside armor blood guts and sweat The Horsemen are drawing nearer On leather steeds they ride They've come to take your life On through the dead of night With the Four Horsemen ride Or choose your fate and die