Rust In Peace... Polaris – English Lyrics

• By: Megadeth
• Album: Rust In Peace

Lyrics & Translation

To truly appreciate the language of thrash metal, dive into "Rust In Peace... Polaris." This song is a masterclass in aggressive, narrative-driven lyricism, where you can learn vocabulary related to war and political commentary. What makes it special is the literary device of **personification**, presenting the nuclear missile as a taunting, sentient being—a unique linguistic challenge and payoff for any metal fan or language learner.

[English]

Tremble you weaklings, cower in fear

I am your ruler, land, sea and air

Immense in my girth, erect I stand tall

I am a nuclear murderer, I am Polaris

Ready to pounce at the touch of a button

My system locked in on military gluttons

I rule on land, air and sea

I pass judgment on humanity

Winds blow from the bowels of hell

Will we give warning? Only time will tell

Satan rears his ugly head

To spit into the wind

I spread disease like a dog, discharge my payload a mile high

Rotten egg air of death wrestles your nostrils

I spread disease like a dog, discharge my payload a mile high

Rotten egg air of death wrestles your nostrils

Launch the Polaris

The end doesn't scare us

When will this cease?

The warheads will all rust in peace

Bomb shelters filled to the brim

Survival, such a silly whim

World leaders sell missiles cheap

Your stomach turns, your flesh creeps

I rule on land, air and sea

Pass judgement on humanity

Winds blow from the bowels of hell

Will we give warning? Only time will tell

I spread disease like a dog, discharge my payload a mile high

Rotten egg air of death wrestles your nostrils

I spread disease like a dog, discharge my payload a mile high

Rotten egg air of death wrestles your nostrils

Launch the Polaris

The end doesn't scare us

When will this cease?

The warheads will all rust in peace

High priest of Holocaust, fire from the sea

Nuclear winter spreading disease

The day of final conflict, all pay the price

The Third World War, rapes peace, takes life

Back to the start, talk of the part

When the Earth was cold as ice

Total dismay as the sun passed away

And the days where black as night

I spread disease like a dog, discharge my payload a mile high

Rotten egg air of death wrestles your nostrils

I spread disease like a dog, discharge my payload a mile high

Rotten egg air of death wrestles your nostrils

Launch the Polaris

The end doesn't scare us

When will this cease?

The warheads will all rust in peace

Eradication of Earth's population loves Polaris

Eradication of Earth's population loves Polaris

Eradication of Earth's population loves Polaris

Eradication of Earth's population loves Polaris

...

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
tremble /ˈtrɛmbl/ B2	verb - to shake involuntarily, typically as a result of anxiety, excitement, or cold
weakling /ˈwiklɪŋ/ C1	noun - a person who is physically weak
ruler /ˈruːlər/ B1	noun - a person who governs or reigns
immense /ɪˈmɛns/ B2	adjective - extremely large or great
nuclear /ˈnuːkliər/ B2	adjective - relating to the nucleus of an atom or weapons using atomic energy
murderer /ˈmɜːrdərər/ B2	noun - a person who kills another intentionally
ready /ˈrɛdi/ A2	adjective - prepared to do something
pounce /paʊns/ C1	verb - to jump or swoop suddenly to catch prey or take advantage
button /ˈbʌtən/ A2	noun - a small device pressed to operate or control something
system /ˈsɪstəm/ B1	noun - a set of connected parts forming a whole
military /ˈmɪləˌtɛri/ B2	adjective - relating to the armed forces
glutton /ˈɡlʌtən/ C1	noun - a person who eats or consumes excessively
judgment /ˈdʒʌdʒmənt/ B2	noun - the ability to make considered decisions or come to sensible conclusions
disease /dɪˈziːz/ B1	noun - an illness or disorder affecting the body or mind
payload /ˈpeɪˌloʊd/ C1	noun - the cargo or weapons carried by a vehicle or missile
rust /rʌst/ B2	noun - a reddish-brown coating on iron or steel caused by oxidation verb - to become covered with rust
holocaust /ˈhɒləˌkɔːst/ C2	noun - massive destruction or slaughter, especially by fire or nuclear war
conflict /ˈkɒnflɪkt/ B2	noun - a serious disagreement or argument, typically a protracted one
population /ˌpɒpjʊˈleɪʃən/ B1	noun - all the inhabitants of a particular place

Key Grammar Structures

• I am your ruler, land, sea and air

  ➔ Apposition

  ➔ 'Land, sea and air' is in apposition, renaming or explaining 'ruler'.

• I am a nuclear murderer, I am Polaris

  ➔ Cleft sentence

  ➔ The sentence emphasizes 'I am' by splitting the structure.

• Ready to pounce at the touch of a button

  ➔ Prepositional phrase

  ➔ 'At the touch of a button' is a prepositional phrase indicating time.

• Will we give warning? Only time will tell

  ➔ Future tense with 'will'

  ➔ 'Will we give warning?' and 'Only time will tell' use 'will' for future actions.

• I spread disease like a dog, discharge my payload a mile high

  ➔ Simile

  ➔ 'Like a dog' is a simile comparing the subject to a dog.

• The warheads will all rust in peace

  ➔ Future tense with 'will'

  ➔ 'Will all rust' uses 'will' to indicate a future state.

• Eradication of Earth's population loves Polaris

  ➔ Personification

  ➔ 'Eradication loves Polaris' personifies eradication as a living being.