ANTHRAX LYRICS

album: "Stomp 442" (1995)

1. Random Acts Of Senseless Vilence
2. Fueled
3. King Size
4. Riding Shotgun
5. Perpetual Motion
6. In A Zone
7. Nothing
8. American Pompeii
9. Drop The Ball
10. Tester
11. Bare

1. Random Acts Of Senseless Vilence

Shut up, don't pass the blame

The same god-damn thing just the name's have changed
On the day you were busted your forgot the line
Don't do the crime if you can't do the time
An animal's acting instinctively
Glorified murderer, insanity
Do you think I'd kill you just count to one
You're the coward, with the gun

Yeah, you thought you knew me

Yeah, you hardly knew me
You don't know me
I know I shouldn't care
My crazy senses of right and wrong that can't be made to break this,
break this, break this

I see something wrong and fix it with my hands

I walk a thin blue line, this cross I came to bear

So now you're dead well wha' dya know

And am I sorry no, I don't think so
They wanted sympathy now that's a bit much
How much did you show, how much
Take the value for one human life
And place it all right down on a roll of the dice
And a one, two, three for the pain you bring
I'm the bird without the left wing

Yeah, you thought you knew me

Yeah, you hardly knew me
You don't know me
I know I shouldn't care
My crazy sense of right and wrong that can't be made to break this,
break this, break this

I see something wrong and fix it with my hands

I walk a thing blue line, this cross I came to bear

Random acts of senseless, random acts of senseless

Random acts of senseless, random acts of senseless
Violence

I see something wrong and I fix it with my hands

I walk a thin blue line, this cross I came to bear
I see something wrong and I fix it with my hands
I walk a thin blue line and I'll be the one who laughs when,
You die

[Main Solo : Paul Crook]

[Morsecode Guitar : Charlie Benante]

2. Fueled

I'm out to mix it up and change my complexion

To coat the feelings and cure my depression
A shot of petrol is my bonafide method
To lose control and get thorougly distracted

I'm on the money, here I come

Fuel for my engine, and I'm gone

I like to forget why I feel this compulsive

As I toss tomorrow's dreams in the garbage
What's important is a mind that's sicker
Turning Jekyll into Hide much quicker

I'm on the money, here I come

Fuel for my engine, and I'm gone

1,2,3,4,1,2,3,4
Kickstart and turn me over
Punchdrunk, but I'm still sober
Fourteen years and a whole lot bolder
And I don't flinch
Hungry and I'll take the best
'Cause I never wanted anything less
What doesn't kill me makes me stronger

It's like a war inside me, I'm good, I'm evil

Two sides of the coin and I've been blessed with both
On one hand I am you, but I don't like you
I guess that's the nature of the way things work

I'm on the money, here I come

Fuel for my engine, and I'm gone

1,2,3,4,1,2,3,4
Kickstart and turn me over
Punchdrunk, but I'm still sober
Bukowski's on my shoulder
With much to think
Hungry and I'll take the best
'Cause I never wanted anything less
What doesn't kill makes me stronger
It's like a war inside me, action is all I know
Tell me it's suicide, tell me something I don't know

I don't know why I've been made some kind of hero

When I've done all I can do to prove I'm not
It's amazing to think someone could trust me
Tell me what do you know about me really ?
And I you make the mistake of getting close to,
Me, you'll just give me all that you've got
So I don't know why I've been made some kind of hero
When I've done all I can do to prove I'm not

1,2,3,4,1,2,3,4
Kickstart and turn me over
Punchdrunk, but I'm still sober
Fourteen years and a whole lot bolder
And I don't flinch
Hungry and I'll take the best
'Cause I never wanted anything less
What doesn't kill me makes me stronger

1,2,3,4,1 I can't close this broken door

It's just the nature of the way things work

You wanna be me, I don't give a damn
Anyone can do it but it takes a man not to
Try so hard to give me a real life
Anyone can do it but it takes a man not to
It's just the nature of the way things work

3. King Size

I want to be part of the program

I want to be part of the whole damn thing
I say, minimum effort, maximum gain
From the inside out it all looks the same
Making me feel stronger
Making me feel like The Hulk I'll be
King Size

Here it is,
I'll stake my claim and I'll be first to warn you
Here it is,
I think the devil lives in California

Check out the freak I'm laughing

Excuse me are you talking to me ?
I say, minimum effort, maximum gain
From the inside out it all looks the same
Making me feel harder
Making me feel like The Hulk I'll be
King Size

Here it is,
I'll stake my claim and I'll be first to warn you
Here it is,
I think the devil lives in California

I'm on a mission, I'm on a mission

For my survival, my king size position
I'm on a mission, in my condition
Outside my world I know there's
No place like home
I'm on a mission, my king size position
Outside my world I know there's
No place like home
I can't stop my life from crashing
Out of control, I'm out of control
Nothing to fear but fear itself and me

I, I'd never sell my soul

I never did a god-damn thing 'cause
I'd never sell my soul for something that's free
Minimum effort, maximum gain
From the inside out it all looks the same
Nothing to fear but fear itself and,
Nothing to fear but fear itself and,
Check out the freak and I'm still laughing
Nothing to fear but fear itself and me

Here it is,
I'll stake my claim and I'll be first to warn you
Here it is,
I think the devil lives in California

[Main Solo : Dimebag]

[Lyrical Assist : Rich Ross]

4. Riding Shotgun

Do it, drive it, drink it, smoke it,

Choke it

Two steps forward

One hundred steps back
We're going the wrong way
It's backwards, it's backwards
Cuffed and branded
I can't stand it

Give me the lane I'm gonna play it my way

when I want to
Charged by the pain
I'm gonna scream out my name if I want to

Live, it, be it, hold it, touch it

Kick it, beat it, love it, suck it

Two steps forward

One hundred steps back
We're going the wrong way
It's backwards, it's backwards
Cuffed and branded
I can't stand it

Give me the lane I'm gonna play it my way

when I want to
Charged by the pain
I'm gonna scream out my name if I want to

I feel like I'm riding shotgun

Not a roll I can play
I would never get on my knees
And walk the walk of the dead

I won't take a back up,

I'm gonna get my back up
I won't take a back up,
charged by life and nothing more

Do it, drive it, drink it, smoke it

Live it, be it, hold it, touch it
Kick it, beat it, love it, suck it !

Give me the lane I'm gonna play it my way

when I want to
Charged by the pain
I'm gonna scream out my name if I want to

I'm riding shotgun

[Intro Solo : Dimebag]

[Main Solo : Dimebag]
[Feedback : Dimebag and Scott]
[Cool Noise in Verse : Joe Nicolo]

5. Perpetual Motion

The cracks are showing, on my face

I didn't think that I was, that old my story is
I weathered every storm I, pulled it through
Falling by the wayside, I've seen a few
But I never went down, never went down
I never will
Taken every single blow and countered
Never went down, never went down,
and better still
Look at my face and see your father

I'm ready to take my turn

Taking the shot that I've earned
Chance is what keeps me rolling
Rolling

Diamonds in my eyes
Oceans full of pride
Can't you see I'm only human
I'm in perpetual motion I'm rolling, rolling
Can't you see I'm only human

The cracks are showing, on my face

The well ain't empty, never out of place
It seems to be harder, for some maybe
And I won't play, the game of wait and see
But I never went down, never went down
I never will
Taken every single blow and countered
Never went down, never went down,
and better still
Look at my face and see your father
I'm ready to take my turn
Taking the shot that I've earned
Chance is what keeps me rolling
Rolling

Diamonds in my eyes
Oceans full of pride
Can't you see I'm only human
I'm in perpetual motion I'm rolling, rolling
Can't you see I'm only human

I don't fight I win, underneath it I'm human

And my pride is not a sin,
underneath it I'm human
and I respect my mistakes,
and decisions that I make
In time I've earned my cake,
have my cake and then
I'll eat it

I'm ready to take my turn

Taking the shot that I've earned
Chance is what keeps me rolling
Rolling

Diamonds in my eyes
Oceans full of pride
Can't you see I'm only human
I'm in perpetual motion I'm rolling, rolling
Can't you see I'm only human

[Main Solo : Paul Crook]

6. In A Zone

I'm standing on a ledge cold and naked

Will someone come and offer me their help
Sometimes I forget my medication
Sometimes I forget to pray
I'll make it through this fuckin' day

I'm unconscious, drunk and blinded

Count to ten and then I unwind it
I'm unconscious, drunk and blinded
Take a deep breath and then I unwind it

I'm wearing out my skin I'm under pressure

Pressure makes me burn it makes me ache
Sometimes I want to burn the things that make me...
Sometimes I stop myself too late
It's written all cross my face

I'm unconscious, drunk and blinded

Count to ten and then I unwind it
I'm unconscious, drunk and blinded
Take a deep breath and then I unwind it

Wired, wired
I'm in a zone, I'm in a zone, I'm in a zone
This is how I live

I never have to justify my actions

Scathing rhetoric my saving grace
Sometimes I really think that it's too noisy
Sometimes I have to hit myself
Words can kill as well as help

I'm unconscious, drunk and blinded

Count to ten and then I unwind it
I'm unconscious, drunk and blinded
Take a deep breath and then I unwind it

Wired, wired
I'm in a zone, I'm in a zone, I'm in a zone
This is how I live

You can't touch me, ever

Fear burns at my touch

Standing on a ledge will you come and help

Will you burn yourself, would you help me then
Fear burns at my touch, in its wake
An ugly jagged scar across your face
I'm unconscious, I'm unconscious, I'm unconscious, I'm
unconscious
Count to ten, I'm unconscious
Take a deep breath and then I unwind it

Wired, wired
I'm in a zone, I'm in a zone, I'm in a zone, This is how I ...
How I live, how I live, how I live, how I live
I'm in a zone, I'm in a zone, I'm in a zone, this is how I live

[Main Solo : Paul Crook]

7. Nothing

It's difficult for me to get a grip on what you mean

When you stick your fingers in your ear and create another scene
You always step into the traps set perfect in your path
Busy going crazy over whose knife's in your back

Dive inside your blackest stare

The one that's saving do you date
Screaming that you're scared
You the tallest soul
With the shortest self-esteem
Painted as the victim
Who's split between the bearns

It doesn't seem to matter

It's nothing
Dead a dream is dying
It's nothing
Best friend I never had
Play me to the point of pushing me too far away
I can only say whatever, ambivalent to your game
You can pretend to the mirror, it's the lie you tell yourself
And I won't walk on eggshells that's a dance for someone else

Dive inside your blackest stare

The one that's saying do you dare
Screaming that you're scared
You the tallest soul
With the shortest self-esteem
Painted as the victim
Who's split between the bearns

It doesn't seem to matter

It's nothing
Dead a dream is dying
It's nothing
Best friend I never had

[Main Solo : Charlie]

8. American Pompeii

I try to imagine the best place I've been

Can I go back again ?
Open my eyes, what was no longer exists,
I can't go back again
I like to pretend that nothing has changed
And never went too far
But it started to lose me like a four-hour movie
I'd already seen
Holding onto my memory of what this used to be
Holding onto my memory of you

Sometimes I tell myself that things are O.K.

Another lie but it makes me feel better
Never as old as I was today
I'm gonna breakdown

In American Pompeii
In American Pompeii
Break myself just to live this way
Never as old, as I was today
American Pompeii

Look in my eyes and see how sick I feel

About what you've become
Filthy and twisted like you never existed
I know what you were
Your beaty forgotten under mountains of schism
I don't want to climb
Giving up my memory of what this used to be
Giving up my memory of you

Sometimes I tell myself that things are O.K.

Another lie but it makes me feel better
Never as old as I was today
I'm gonna breakdown
In American Pompeii
In American Pompeii
Break myself just to live this way
Never as old, as I was today
American Pompeii

Try to imagine the best place I've been

Can I go back again
Open my eyes it just no longer exists
I can't go back again
I'm giving up my memory of what this used to be
Giving up my memory of you

[Main Solo : Charlie]

[Solo Tag : Mike Tempesta]
[Shaker : Scott]
[Bongos : Charlie]

9. Drop The Ball

Killing myself
Someone said the fix is in
Killing myself
Once again, once again
Over easy
Burnt, my mind is overdone
Life's a jigsaw
Why can't I find the missing one

Even though I've felt I've proven what it is I'm worthy of

I can't exist inside the boundaries of the so-called world
of love

Someone rescue my downward virtue

I dropped the ball again

Hands that touch me

Take 'em all away
Patronizing
Will you hear what I say
Fuck your caring
No one knows what's in my heart
Bring it all down
Break it all down to parts

Everytime I have considered why it is I'm even here

Calm collected copasetic, no good reasons why I fear
No one rescue my downward virtue

Even though I've felt I've proven what it is I'm worthy of

I can't exist inside the boundaries of the so-called world
of love

No one rescue, no one rescue

I dropped the ball again

I never felt for you for anyone

I never ate off the same plate
Drop the ball I dropped the ball
I take from you, I rape from you
I kill myself when I think of you

Drop the ball I dropped the ball

I take from you, I break from you
I used to know how to be human
Drop the ball I dropped the ball
I take from you, I hate from you

No one rescue my downward virtue

No one rescue, no one rescue

[Main Solo : Paul Crook]

[Chime : Charlie]
[Floor Tom Hits : Charlie & Scott]

10. Tester

I've changed, by staying the same

What does it mean to be different ?
You've changed, faced from the start
Tell me, an alternative to what ?

How does it feel ?

How does it feel to be part of the picture you...
Paint me into a corner
Tearing my niche,
'Cause I'm the opposite of opposite

Test your new model and see

Test your new model against the original
I'm the man you wanna be
So test your new model and once again you fail me

Planted, I'm staying in touch

Driven, by something with substance
Plugging, away I'm O.K.
You'll be, here today, gone today

How does it feel ?

How does it feel to be part of the picture you...
Paint me into a corner

Tearing my niche
'Cause I'm the opposite of opposite

Test your new model and see

Test your new model against the original
I'm the man you wanna be
So test your new model and once again you fail me

For me, things are the same

I have no problem with fame
I can be everyman
'Cause my friends never shout my name
Test your new model and see
Test your new model against the original
I'm the man you wanna be
So test your new model and once again you fail me

[Main Solo : Charlie]

[End Solo : Scott]
[Talkbox : Charlie]
[Stomping! Scott, Charlie, Frank, John, Paul C., Mike M., Zach.]

11. Bare

Standing on some dotted line

Reacting to the hands of time
A circumstance that I've been fed
Leaving questions in my head

Find the space that was left bare

An empty space I'd gladly share

One must live while one must die

Combined paired up for so many years

Unsure if I really want to shed a tear
Signing off is always so clearly done
A number 2 is now reduced to one

Find the space that was left bare

An empty space I'd gladly share

When your clock is up

And you rest for good
I will cut off my armpiece
Just like we agreed we would

One must live while one must die

While the other argues that

The world ain't fair
But then who ever promised
Anybody equal share
You might as well forget
What you gambled on
'Cause plans never go by the way they're drawn

When your clock is up

And you rest for good
I will cut off my armpiece
Just like we agreed we would

One must live while one must die

I can't say goodbye

It's all I can do to get up every morning
And when all else fails I try
To face myself and everything else
But mostly I wonder why
[E-Bow Solo : Charlie]
[Acoustics : Charlie & Scott]
[Percussion : Charlie]

Total playing time : 50:58

(c) 1995 Elektra / Warner
Out on October 24 1995

Anthrax are :
Scott Ian : Rhythm guitars, assorted noises, vocals
Charlie Benante : Drums, guitars
Frank Bello : 4 and 12-string bass, vocals
John Bush : Vocals

Dimebag Darrel is the guitarist from Pantera

All music by Charlie Benante

All lyrics by Scott Ian and John Bush
Melody lines by Ian, Bush, Bello, and Benante
All songs arranged by Anthrax
All songs (c)1995 NFP Music, admin. by
Zomba Enterprises Inc., ASCAP
Produced and Mixed by The Butcher Brothers and Anthrax
Engineered by the Butcher Brothers,
Dirk Brobelny, and Ian Cross
Assistant Engineer and Key man : Mike Monterulo
Assistant Engineers : J.J. Bottari, Chris Gately & Phil Nowlan
Editing : Manny Lecuona
Recorded and Mixed at Studio 4, Conschohocken, PA
Mastered by Bob Ludwig at Gateway Mastering

Cover Design by Storm Thorgerson & Peter Curzon

Photography by Tony May & Rupert Truman
Band Photos by Kristin Callahan
Ball by James Payton. Artwork by Mark Fraser

Anthrax Fan Club (N.F.C) :

1375 Forty Foot Road,
P.O. Box 1418,
Kulpsville,
PA 19443
(215) 721-6461

Management : Hard To Handle

Agency Rep U.S. : William Morris Agency, Marsha Vlasic
Angecy Rep. everywhere else : Fair Warning, John Jackson
Legal Rep. : Bill Leibowitz for Mayer, Katz, Baker, Leibowitz and Roberts.
Accounting : Michael Mitnick and Radha Fronimakis for Robbins,
Spielman, Slayton and Halfon
Merchandising : Sony Signatures, Joseph Bongiovi
Travel Agency : Sue Harris, Revel Travel
Our man at Elektra : Ron Laffitte

Lyrics reprinted by permission.

All rights reserved.

TYPER OF THIS TEXT: Pierre-Jean Fontaine. December 11 1995.