Set the World Afire
| "Set the World Afire" | |
|---|---|
| Song by Megadeth | |
| from the album So Far, So Good... So What! | |
| Released | January 19, 1988 |
| Recorded | 1987 |
| Studio | Music Grinder, Los Angeles |
| Genre | Thrash metal |
| Length | 5:48 |
| Label | Capitol |
| Songwriter(s) | Dave Mustaine[1] |
| Producer(s) |
|
"Set the World Afire" is a song by the American thrash metal band Megadeth. It is the second track from their third studio album, So Far, So Good... So What!, which was released in 1988 by Capitol Records.
Development
"Set the World Afire" was the first song frontman Dave Mustaine wrote after being kicked out of Metallica. On the topic, Dave Mustaine said "The first song that I wrote on my way back from New York was written on the back of a cupcake wrapper, if you can believe that."[2]
The song was originally titled "Megadeath", inspired by a political pamphlet written by Senator Alan Cranston that Mustaine had read on the bus ride home after being kicked out.[3] After the band decided to use the song title for the name of the band, they eventually retitled the song to "Set the World Afire".[4]
It said, ‘The arsenal of Megadeath can’t be rid.’ I thought, ‘What a fantastic song title.’ That song later became ‘Set the World Afire.’ So, in the midst of having a problem naming the band, it was suggested that we call ourselves Megadeth instead of the song. With extreme lack of foresight, I decided to go with that, not knowing what a professional setback the name would be for us. No one imagined this band would become this successful at the level where the name would affect us. When you’re thinking about ruling the club circuit and playing the arenas, and unsafe sex and drugs and alcohol and parties and fighting and speeding down the roads, the thought of someone not liking your band because the name’s “Megadeth’—it’s like, ‘Fuck you, it’s your loss.’ But when you’re trying to get on the radio that’s something else entirely.
— Dave Mustaine[5]
After the band changed their name, the song was possibly known as "No Time" and was included on a 1983 demo tape[6] and was later renamed "Burnt Offerings".[7]
Music and lyrics
The lyrics of the song are about nuclear holocaust.[8] The beginning of the song features a quiet sample of "I Don't Want to Set the World on Fire", a 1941 song by The Ink Spots.[9]
Live
"Set the World Afire" was played at the first ever Megadeth concert, which took place in February 1984, in Berkeley, with Kerry King on guitar.[10][7] A bootleg CD-R of their first show was also named Burnt Offerings, after the early title.[citation needed] A live performance on September 7, 2005, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, was included as track 3 on That One Night: Live in Buenos Aires. When played, some fans yell about it being "the cupcake song!".[citation needed]
Personnel
|
Megadeth
Production
|
2004 remix and remaster
|
Production
- Produced by Paul Lani and Dave Mustaine
- Engineered by Paul Lani with Matt Freeman
- Mixed by Michael Wagener
- Executive produced by Tim Carr
- Mastered by Stephen Marcussen
References
- ^ So Far, So Good... So What! (reissue liner notes). Capitol Records. 2004. pp. 4, 6–9.
- ^ Bienstock, Richard (January 18, 2018). "5 Things You Didn't Know About Megadeth' 'So Far, So Good ... So What!'". Revolver. Retrieved December 26, 2023.
- ^ "Scorpion Q+A 273". March 14, 2017. Retrieved December 27, 2023.
- ^ Dome, Malcolm (September 30, 2022). "Megadeth's So Far, So Good… So What!: the chaotic story of thrash's most f**ked-up album". Louder Sound. Metal Hammer. Retrieved December 26, 2023.
- ^ Wiederhorn, Jon (January 19, 2023). "34 Years Ago: Megadeth Release 'So Far, So Good... So What!'". Loudwire. Retrieved December 26, 2023.
- ^ "Megadeath (lost Megadeth demo tape; 1983)". Lost Media Wiki. Retrieved December 26, 2023.
- ^ a b "Megadeth First Show". Megadeth.com. Archived from the original on May 1, 2022. Retrieved December 26, 2023.
- ^ Hunt, Dennis (March 6, 1988). "Meeting Mr. Megadeth, Dave Mustaine". Retrieved December 26, 2023.
- ^ Christopher, Michael (January 19, 2018). "30 Years Ago: Megadeth Struggle Through 'So Far, So Good ... So What!". Ultimate Classic Rock. Retrieved December 26, 2023.
- ^ Scorpion, The (March 14, 2017). "SCORPION Q+A 12". Megadeth.com. Retrieved December 26, 2023.
