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Use The Man Lyrics
I heard somebody fixed today
There was no last goodbyes to say
His will to live ran out
I heard somebody turned to dust
Looking back at what he left
A list of plans and photographs
Songs that never will be sung
These are the thinge he won't get done
I've seen the man use the needle, seen the needle use the man
I've seen them crawl from the cradle to the gutter on their hands
The fight a war but it's fatal, it's so hard to understand
I've seen the man use the needle, seen the needle use the man
Just one shot to say goodbye
One last taste to mourn and cry
Scores and shoots, the lights go dim
Just one shot to do him in
He hangs his head and wonders why
Why the monkey only lies
But pay the pauper, he did choose
He hung his head inside the noose
I've seen the man use the needle, seen the needle use that man
I've seen them crawl from the cradle to the coffin on their hands
They fight a war but it's fatal, it's so hard to understand
I've seen the man use the needle, seen the needle in his hand
Cryptic writing on the wall, the beginning of the end
I've seen myself use the needle, seen the needle in my hand
There was no last goodbyes to say
His will to live ran out
I heard somebody turned to dust
A list of plans and photographs
Songs that never will be sung
These are the thinge he won't get done
I've seen them crawl from the cradle to the gutter on their hands
The fight a war but it's fatal, it's so hard to understand
I've seen the man use the needle, seen the needle use the man
One last taste to mourn and cry
Scores and shoots, the lights go dim
Just one shot to do him in
Why the monkey only lies
But pay the pauper, he did choose
He hung his head inside the noose
I've seen them crawl from the cradle to the coffin on their hands
They fight a war but it's fatal, it's so hard to understand
I've seen the man use the needle, seen the needle in his hand
Cryptic writing on the wall, the beginning of the end
I've seen myself use the needle, seen the needle in my hand
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In an old magazine Dave talked about the song. He and a friend were going over a box of belongings of some other guy ("list of plans and photographs") who wanted to check into rehab the following day but decided to shoot heroin one last time, and ended up OD'ing. I remember Dave saying that even though the song isn't about himself when he sings "I've seen the needle on my own hand".. well he has.
@headcreeps Dave says in his bio that he shot up heroin only one time in his life and never ever after that.
@headcreeps Dave says in his bio that he shot up heroin only one time in his life and never ever after that.
This song is great, and talks about Kurt Cobain and how he died because he had no other way out, it could also be about dave himself but it reminds me so much of kurt.
Kcobain1257 makes a pretty good point, but i think this song is about Dave and his addiction.
This song isn't really about Kurt Kobain. It is about how Dave tried ending his own life. He dried to OD on heroine. Poor Dave. The entire second paragraph is him being the narrator, telling the story through his own eyes in third person. The whole song is that actually, but what the second paragraph basically is saying is if he was successful in killing himself, he would never finish his career, other plans, and all he would leave behind are photographs, songs etc;
I think it's about Dave, but I think he's jsut telling it how it is, being a addict, ain't no fun, do everything to get that one fix, and that one fix could be the fatal one.
Obviously time in rehab made Dave reflect on his life and enable him to see his addiction in a new light. One thing I love about Dave is that he is brutally honest. I don't think Dave wanted to OD, the lyrics "one last shot" refer to the junkies eternal line one last shot and I will get help...I always thought that the line was morphine only lies, monkey sounds a bit strange?
it's monkey...when you're addicted to something it's reffered to as having a monkey on your back, so it's saying that his addiction only lies
This song is about a guy shooting heroine for the last time, not about Dave.
The first time that I heard this song live at Nottingham Rock City, the album had only been released 2 days before, Dave spoke about this song - it's not about him, but about a guy who could have been him. There but for the grace of God etc...
This song is amazing, maybe my favorite off Cryptic Writings 'yet its hard to choose since that album contains mostly all flawless tracks. This song I love , I like how Dave integrates the old school music with his vocals. Its chilling, melodic and perfect song. Kudos to Mustaine.