Rust In Peace Polaris

Megadeth's 'Rust In Peace Polaris' is a song that delves into the horrors of nuclear warfare and the potential for global annihilation. The lyrics personify the intercontinental ballistic missile, Polaris, as a sentient being, boasting about its power over humanity and its ability to spread destruction. The song's title, 'Rust In Peace,' is a play on the phrase 'rest in peace,' suggesting that the ultimate fate of these weapons of mass destruction is to become obsolete and decay, a grim pun on the cessation of life due to nuclear war.

The song's narrative voice, which takes on the persona of Polaris, describes the missile's readiness to launch and its indifference to the consequences of its actions. The repeated lines 'I spread disease like a dog / Discharge my payload' evoke the image of a disease spreading uncontrollably, with 'payload' referring to the nuclear warhead. The 'rotten egg air of death' is a graphic depiction of the aftermath of a nuclear explosion. The song's chorus, 'Launch the Polaris / The end doesn't scare us / When will this cease? / The warheads will all rust in peace,' reflects a fatalistic view of the Cold War era, where the threat of nuclear conflict was a constant presence.

The song also touches on the futility of human actions in the face of such overwhelming destructive power. The lines 'Bomb shelters filled to the brim / Survival, such a silly whim' suggest that efforts to protect oneself from a nuclear blast are ultimately pointless. The song ends with a stark reminder of the potential for human extinction, with the repeated phrase 'Eradication of earth / As population loves / Polaris,' highlighting the absurdity of humanity's affection for the very weapons that could lead to its downfall. Megadeth, known for their complex guitar work and politically charged lyrics, uses this song to critique the arms race and the precarious balance of power during the Cold War.