The Sick, The Dying... And The Dead!

Megadeth's song 'The Sick, The Dying... And The Dead!' is a grim narrative that draws upon historical events to paint a picture of devastation and death. The lyrics evoke the horror of the Black Death, a pandemic that ravaged Europe in the 14th century, and the sense of helplessness that people must have felt in the face of such an unstoppable force. The repeated phrase 'Bring out your dead' is a chilling reminder of the mass mortality that occurred, as bodies were collected for burial.

The song describes the arrival of 'invaders' on 'phantom ships,' which metaphorically represents the disease itself coming from afar, with 'the sick, the dying, and the dead' being all that remained. The mention of fleas and rats alludes to the way the plague was transmitted, with the fleas biting infected rats and then humans, spreading the disease. The 'ghost ships' tying up to the docks symbolize the arrival of the plague to new shores, sealing the fate of the population.

Megadeth, known for their thrash metal style, often incorporates historical and political themes into their music. This song is no exception, as it uses vivid imagery and a relentless musical backdrop to convey the terror and despair of a pandemic. The references to 'the sweet smell of roses' and 'a pocketful of posies' are drawn from folklore, believed to be about attempts to ward off the smell of death during the plague. The song serves as a reminder of the fragility of human life and the indiscriminate nature of disease, which can affect 'rich or poor' alike.