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Public Enemy No. 1 Lyrics
Public enemy number one
Jail break and a smoking gun
You won't believe the things I've done
And the killing was just for fun
Public enemy number one
A stolen car and I'm on the run
Through the night through the rising sun
And the trouble has just begun
Roses on your grave
I'll be on my way
There's no time to stay
With the enemies I've made
I'm invincible
You might say despicable
Punishments reciprocal
Public enemy number one
I'm unbeatable
My mind is untreatable
Crimes repeatable
Public enemy number one
Public enemy number one
Watch the authorities come undone
With every standoff that I've won
Flirting death just for fun
Public enemy number one
Born a fugitives fathers son
Another heist of a bank is done
And the trouble has just begun
Roses on your grave
I'll be on my way
There's no time to stay
With the enemies I've made
I'm invincible
You might say despicable
Punishments reciprocal
Public enemy number one
I'm unbeatable
My mind's untreatable
Crimes unrepeatable
Public enemy number one
They say that I'm wanted
dead or dead
But everyone who's tried
Got a bullet to their head
I'm invincible
You might say despicable
Punishments reciprocal
Public enemy number one
I'm unbeatable
My mind's untreatable
Crimes, unrepeatable
Public enemy number one
Public enemy!
Public enemy!
Public enemy!
Public enemy!
Jail break and a smoking gun
You won't believe the things I've done
And the killing was just for fun
A stolen car and I'm on the run
Through the night through the rising sun
And the trouble has just begun
I'll be on my way
There's no time to stay
With the enemies I've made
You might say despicable
Punishments reciprocal
Public enemy number one
My mind is untreatable
Crimes repeatable
Public enemy number one
Watch the authorities come undone
With every standoff that I've won
Flirting death just for fun
Born a fugitives fathers son
Another heist of a bank is done
And the trouble has just begun
I'll be on my way
There's no time to stay
With the enemies I've made
You might say despicable
Punishments reciprocal
Public enemy number one
My mind's untreatable
Crimes unrepeatable
Public enemy number one
dead or dead
But everyone who's tried
Got a bullet to their head
You might say despicable
Punishments reciprocal
Public enemy number one
My mind's untreatable
Crimes, unrepeatable
Public enemy number one
Public enemy!
Public enemy!
Public enemy!
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This song is about American gangster Al Capone.
Definitely, the inspiration are from Al Capone. Apparently he was in Al Capone's hideout record some music and those poor ghost victim just haunt the band during the whole session. Dave was scared obviously and write down those experience and turn into the music and lyrics.
Definitely, the inspiration are from Al Capone. Apparently he was in Al Capone's hideout record some music and those poor ghost victim just haunt the band during the whole session. Dave was scared obviously and write down those experience and turn into the music and lyrics.
On second interpretation it's about Gun control, policy and criticism.
On second interpretation it's about Gun control, policy and criticism.
Such a powerful song!!!
Great song. If the song is chronological, the anti-hero breaks out from jail, fires a gun, and makes his getaway in a stolen car at night. He stops to place roses on a grave (the song addresses a dead loved one?) but can't linger because the authorities and his enemies are after him.
I draw a parallel between his opinion of himself as being invincible and others viewing him as dispicable to the punishment being reciprocal. Maybe he lives a violent life of crime as a mob boss and his punishment is solitary confinement.
My favorite lines are "I'm unbeatable, my mind is untreatable, crimes unrepeatable, public enemy number one." It mirror's the "invincible" lines. His view of himself, other's view of him, and crime/punishment. I don't know that there is a treatment for psychopathy or sociopathy, if he is one. I view "crimes unrepeatable" as having a double meaning. He commits crimes that others could not repeat and crimes that are unspeakable.
A criminal who repeatedly thwarts the authorities in stand-offs makes the authorities crazy, come undone. He may be a thrill-seeker, flirting with death just for fun.
I read that Dave Mustaine said this song is about Al Capone. I don't think Al Capone's father was a fugitive, but maybe the line means he was born a fugitive and also born his father's son. I also take the next line to have double meanings. A criminal committing a crime brings trouble upon himself in the form of the law coming after him, but this criminal is likely to keep committing crimes until he's caught or dies, so he is going to continue to cause trouble for the law.
Some historical Wanted posters used the phrase "Wanted dead or alive". This public enemy number one is so dangerous that he is wanted dead or dead and is so dangerous that those have tried have themselves ended up dead with a bullet in their head.
Killer shit!!