The fire burns on and on
That drives me on till all is gone
Except the simple plans
Of mice and men

Back when I was just seventeen
I thought that I knew everything
I could make it in this scene
To be a rising star that only gleamed
But all the answers disagreed
With the questions held for me
I was legal now at twenty-one

I knew the way the world should run
My God just look what I had done
Simply drunk and having fun
Looked for friends, but I found none
All alone at twenty-one

The fire burns on and on
That drives me on till all is gone
Except the simple plans
Of mice and men

The fire burns on and on
That drives me on till all is gone
Except the simple plans
Of mice and men

At twenty-five I was surprised
That I was still even half alive
Somehow I managed to survive
I felt my body's doing time
And In my back a hundred knives
From friends at twenty-five

And now as Gabriel sounds my warning bell
I'd buy your life, if you would sell
A year or two, if less compelled
So live your life and live it well
There's not much left of me to tell
I just got back up each time I fell
The fire burns on and on

That drives me on till all is gone
Except the simple plans
Of mice and men
The fire burns on and on

That drives me on till all is gone
Except the simple plans
Of mice and men
The fire burns on and on

That drives me on till all is gone
Except the simple plans
Of mice and men
The fire burns on and on

That drives me on till all is gone
Except the simple plans
Of mice and men
The fire burns on and on

That drives me on till all is gone
Except the simple plans
Of mice and men
The fire burns on and on

That drives me on till all is gone
Except the simple plans
Of mice and men


Lyrics submitted by Charlie the man

Of Mice and Men Lyrics as written by Dave Mustaine

Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.

Lyrics powered by LyricFind

Of Mice And Men song meanings
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17 Comments

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  • +2
    General Comment

    Okay, the only thing I'm gonna add to this, since you guys nailed the meaning of the song right on target, is: You shouldn't cal people idiots for throwing out their interpretation of the song. Yes, it was the strory of Dave Mustaine's lyrics, so his guess wasn't correct, but he was just ASKING if it had anything to do with the book or poem "Of Mice And Men", because someone who hasn't read that book but has heard of it (because it is a very widely heard of book) has no clue what it's about. The only two types of people I hate on this website are the guys who put other people down for their interpretation of the song being different than theirs, and the type of people who put down other bands. Seriously, who gives a fuck. Metallica and Megadeth both write excellent music, they're both pretty much equal as my top 2 favorite bands and I enjoy listening to them both a lot. Relax, they're both great bands and you should stop being a fucking cockblaster by insulting everyone who doesn't agree with you or talking shit about bands you don't like.

    loudchildon February 05, 2007   Link
  • +2
    General Comment

    A very simple song both musically and lyrically but at the same time it's very deep and meaningful.

    Its basically about life and how life often doesn't go the way you want or planned it to but even though terrible stuff can happen it doesn't mean you can't have a life. Life is full of great challenges and hard lessons but you never fail until you give up. Keep fighting for your life and eventually you will find happiness and peace even though it may not be the life you pictured or hoped for when you were young, but you can still be satisfied and achieve things in this hard but great journey.

    svowheelson December 04, 2008   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    This is as cassius said, Dave's life in a song. djdude2828; No, it isn't. Since they're no history of copying. At least not if you're referring to The Mechanix, it was Dave's song, they booted him out, he took hissong with him. Get the story straight.

    Seelenschmerzon July 30, 2005   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    not the usual megadeth song, but still pretty good and the chorus is awesome

    Fotang_inAon May 04, 2006   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    I think everyone pretty much nailed it - this is Dave's retelling of his life through his music.

    I think what's really awesome, and I think what anyone can grasp listening to this song intently, is that Mustaine's desire to live has kept him going.

    "The fire burns on and on That drives me on until all is gone except The simple plans of mice and men."

    The simple plan of mice and men is to survive. A basic concept, Mustaine conveys this through a nostalgic but resolved idea of his past experiences with people and life situations. His message is to live life, and move on past the downfalls.

    "So live your life and live it well There's not much left for me to tell I just got back up each time I fell."

    Although his song has nothing to do with Steinbeck's novel, a comparison between the conclusion of George and Lennie's relationship and Mustaine's song can be drawn - Lennie had to die for George to live, survive and thrive. Lennie caused all his issues, and sadly with his death, George could survive. That's life.

    So, conclusively, either keep at it, keep pushing yourself and survive, or give into consequence and die. That's what Mustaine is trying to convey.

    Cyanraveon April 23, 2012   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    This song was written by Dave Mustaine..It is his autobiograhpy put into a song.

    cassiuson October 03, 2004   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    don't screw up like dave did basically what hes sayin

    blink182suxon May 22, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    one point, there is a song by metallica called "of wolf and men" but i no that has nothing to do with this, i just find that interesting. Anyways god this is a great song. Seriously its dave telling us not to screw up like he did with drugs and shit. And parents are worried about us listening to this?????? they should be happy, cause by listening to megadeth we ARE ACTUALLY LEARNING SOMETHING!!! unlike metallica's St Anger, with random, no-meaning lyrics. Seriously this song is brilliant and another reason why system has failed is better then St anger

    Metal_Up_Ya_Ass_Jayon August 27, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Ehhhhh Djdude your a freshie idiot, Its about Dave's LIfe dickweed

    Metal_Up_Ya_Ass_Jayon August 29, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    lol thats funny megadeth copying metallica your having a laugh. This is about mustaine dwelling on his life again and how he screwed up. its a bit depressing really...as his life is, but what the hell mustaine is a better musician when hes pissed off! Yeah its right hes saying lifes simple but he failed

    bleedingthroughsinon February 04, 2006   Link

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