MetalliNote

Mechanix/The Four Horsemen

Many people have also noticed the rather obvious similarities between the instrumental portion of this song and Megadeth's Mechanix. I think it has been widely believed that The Four Horsemen was the original song and that Megadeth's Dave Mustaine re-wrote it as Mechanix. It is interesting to note, however, that on the hard to find No Life 'Til Leather demo album (which was recorded PREVIOUS to Kill 'Em All), Mustaine seems to appear on VOCALS (either that, or an early Hetfield sounds like Mustaine) and the lyrics are most similar to that of Megadeth's Mechanix. After Mustaine left Metallica, Hetfield and Ulrich rewrote the lyrics of Mechanix to what we now know as The Four Horsmen. Then the song Mechanix with the original lyrics was then re-recorded in 1985 by Mustaine and his band Megadeth, on their album "Killing Is My Business... And Business Is Good."

MECHANIX
© 1985 Megadeth
(Mustaine, Hetfield, Ulrich)

Imagine you were at my station
And you brought your motor to me
You're a burner, yeah a real motor car
Said you wanna get your order filled
Made me shiver when I put it in
Pumping just won't do, ya know, lucky for you

Who ever thought you'd be better
At turning a screw than me
I do it for my life
Made my drive shaft crank
Made by pistons buldge
Made my bearings melt from the heat

We were shifting hard when we took off
Put, tonight, all four on the floor
When we hit top end ya know it feels too slow
Said you wanna get your order filled
Made me shiver when I put it in
Pumping just won't do, ya know, lucky for you

Who ever thought you'd be better
At turning a screw than me
I do it for my life
Made my drive shaft crank
Made by pistons buldge
Made my bearings melt from the heat

I'm giving you my room service
And ya know it's more than enough
Oh more more time ya know I'm in love
Said you wanna get your order filled
Made me shiver when I put it in
Pumping just won't do, ya know, lucky for you

Who ever thought you'd be better
At turning a screw than me
I do it for my life
Made my drive shaft crank
Made by pistons buldge
Made my bearings melt from the heat

THE FOUR HORSEMEN
© 1983 Metallica
(Hetfield, Ulrich, Mustaine)

By the last breath of the fourth winds blow
Better raise your ears
The sound of hooves knocks at your door
Lock up your wife and children now
It's time to wield the blade
For now you have got some company

The Horsemen are drawing nearer
On the leather steeds they ride
They have come to take your life
On through the dead of night
With the four Horsemen ride
Or choose your fate and die

You have been dying since the day
You were born
You know it has all been planned
The quartet of deliverance rides
A sinner once a sinner twice
No need for confession now
Cause now you have got the fight of your life

The Horsemen are drawing nearer
On the leather steeds they ride
They have come to take your life
On through the dead of night
With the four Horsemen ride
Or choose your fate and die

Time
Has taken its toll on you
The lines that crack your face
Famine
Your body it has torn through
Withered in every place
Pestilence
For what you have had to endure
And what you have put others through
Death
Deliverance for you for sure
There is nothing you can do

So gather round young warriors now
And saddle up your steeds
Killing scores with demon swords
Now is the death of doers of wrong
Swing the judgment hammer down
Safely inside armor blood guts and sweat

The Horsemen are drawing nearer
On the leather steeds they ride
They have come to take your life
On through the dead of night
With the four Horsemen ride
Or choose your fate and die