The song lyrics were written by the band Van Halen, as they were asked to write a song for the 1979 movie "Over the Edge" starring Matt Dillon. The movie (and the lyrics, although more obliquely) are about bored, rebellious youth with nothing better to do than get into trouble. If you see the movie, these lyrics will make more sense. It's a great movie if you grew up in the 70s/80s you'll definitely remember some of these characters from your own life. Fun fact, after writing the song, Van Halen decided not to let the movie use it.
I like the way that I make you itch
And all the reasons I give you to bitch
And how I make you wanna scream in pain
And feel your life is just a losing game
I like the way that you let me in
The way you look when the walls cave it
I like the way that your stomach knots
And how you cry for it all to stop
I like the way that you fool yourself
And make believe there's nobody else
I like the way that you stand in line
And beg salvation from the empty skies
Don't want no revenge
Ain't no pay back time
It ain't called getting even
Here comes the Reckoning Day
I like the things that you try to fake
And your face when I see you break
And that you say you will pray for me
You realize you are prey for me
I like the way you stay on attack
No matter what, I keep coming back
And how you try to hold me down
But you end up driven to the ground
Don't want no revenge
Ain't no pay back time
It ain't called getting even
Here comes the Reckoning
Don't want no revenge (don't want no revenge)
Ain't no pay back time (ain't no pay back time)
It ain't called getting even (it ain't called getting even)
Here comes the Reckoning (here comes the Reckoning)
Day, here comes the Reckoning
Here comes the Reckoning day
Here comes the Reckoning day
Here comes the Reckoning day
Here comes the Reckoning, here comes the Reckoning day
Here comes, is coming
And all the reasons I give you to bitch
And how I make you wanna scream in pain
And feel your life is just a losing game
I like the way that you let me in
The way you look when the walls cave it
I like the way that your stomach knots
And how you cry for it all to stop
I like the way that you fool yourself
And make believe there's nobody else
I like the way that you stand in line
And beg salvation from the empty skies
Don't want no revenge
Ain't no pay back time
It ain't called getting even
Here comes the Reckoning Day
I like the things that you try to fake
And your face when I see you break
And that you say you will pray for me
You realize you are prey for me
I like the way you stay on attack
No matter what, I keep coming back
And how you try to hold me down
But you end up driven to the ground
Don't want no revenge
Ain't no pay back time
It ain't called getting even
Here comes the Reckoning
Don't want no revenge (don't want no revenge)
Ain't no pay back time (ain't no pay back time)
It ain't called getting even (it ain't called getting even)
Here comes the Reckoning (here comes the Reckoning)
Day, here comes the Reckoning
Here comes the Reckoning day
Here comes the Reckoning day
Here comes the Reckoning day
Here comes the Reckoning, here comes the Reckoning day
Here comes, is coming
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I think this song is about drugs mainly heroin. Dave is talking from the drugs point of view. I like the way that you let me in The way you look when the walls cave in I like the way that your stomach knots And how you cry for it all to stop
anyway thats what I think its about. In any case MEGADETH RULES
Dave saw a lot of abuse growing up, some of it in a religious context. This song sounds like it's about one person who enjoys the power he gets from abusing a significant other. Sounds like domestic violence. The victim "prays for" the abuser, but the abuser's response is, "Don't you realize you're prey for me?" It's like Dave is observing this, and doesn't want to get into a cycle of revenge--that just tends to take the abusive dynamics down to the next generation. No, he just wants that abuse to end, and reminds the abuser that he'll have to stand before God one day to give account of his actions. There will come a reckoning day.
One of the best songs on youthanasia.
One of the best songs on youthanasia.
Natural law is: What goes around comes around. You only have to get up one more time than you fall.
This song is about Religion vs. Atheism or more specifically, Conservatism vs. Liberalism. All the things Dave says about the other side is consistent along with the things he says about himself. This could also be about Rock&Metal vs. Mainstream. After all, we don't want revenge, pay back or to get even. We just want a Reckoning.
This is a great song, cool album opener too.
To me it sounds like torture... Not like physical, but mental.. Like mind games of some sort. or something...
This song is amazing. Its like Dave reads my mind. If I were to write lyrics they would sound just like this. I think we think alike. Everything he says and every lyric he writes makes sense to me and touches the core of my soul. I understand the man.
to me. in my opinion. this song means that who ever she/he is speaking to. he/she DOES not like her. but uses her. i might be wrong, but tbh. thats what i think
Maybe it's the other way around?