"Use the Man" is a song by American thrash metal band Megadeth. It was released as the third single from their seventh studio album, Cryptic Writings (1997). The song was one of the band's biggest hits, at #15 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks chart.[1]
| "Use the Man" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by Megadeth | ||||
| from the album Cryptic Writings | ||||
| Released | December 1997 | |||
| Recorded | September 1996 | |||
| Studio | The Tracking Room (Nashville, Tennessee), The Castle (Franklin, Tennessee) | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 4:35 (4:03 on reissue) | |||
| Label | Capitol | |||
| Songwriter(s) | Dave Mustaine, Marty Friedman | |||
| Producer(s) | ||||
| Megadeth singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
Background
editMusic
editThe first half of "Use the Man" contains a rock-oriented sound,[2] while the second half transitions into a faster tempo, more in line with the thrash metal sound the band usually play.[3] The first half features prominent use of acoustic guitars and strings.[4][5]
The song begins with a sample of Needles and Pins by The Searchers, which was removed for the radio edit and remaster.[6][7]
Lyrics
editThe lyrics for "Use the Man" were inspired by a recovering addict who went to a halfway house, used heroin, and died.[8]
“When I was working on (Cryptic Writings), I went to a 12-step meeting in a place right next to the studio. The guy who runs it told me he had something to show me, and he had this box and goes, "Check this out... That's Bob"... Then he told me that earlier in the day, a guy had gone to a meeting and then shot up and died at the halfway house and that this box was all his stuff... I wrote the lyrics to "Use the Man" immediately. There's a proverb in China or Japan that goes, "First the man takes a drink, then the drink takes the drink, then the drink takes the man." I thought, "The same thing could be said about the needle." First the man uses the needle, then the needle uses the needle, then the needle uses the man. And that's where the title came from. These guys come out of prison, go to a halfway house, their systems have cleaned out, but they think they can use half as much and get twice as high. They don't realize that their systems have cleaned out, and they O.D. So that's what "Use the Man" was about. It's a very, very sad song about people overdosing on drugs.”
— Dave Mustaine, 2017[8]
Live
edit"Use the Man" has been performed 194 times by Megadeth, as well as once by both Mustaine and David Ellefson.[9] Since the band reformed in 2004, it has been played only a handful of times, and exclusively at acoustic concerts.[9][10][11] The song was among the first Mustaine played live after his arm injury which caused him to be unable to play guitar.[12]
Track listing
edit| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Use The Man (Edit)" | 4:02 |
| 2. | "Use The Man (Album Version)" | 4:36 |
Chart performance
edit| Chart (1998) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| US Mainstream Rock (Billboard)[14] | 15 |
Personnel
editMegadeth
- Dave Mustaine – guitars, lead vocals
- David Ellefson – bass, backing vocals
- Marty Friedman – guitars, backing vocals, acoustic guitar
- Nick Menza – drums, backing vocals
Production
- Dann Huff – production
- Dave Mustaine – co-production
- Jeff Balding – recording, mixing
- Mark Hagen – recording assistant, mixing assistant
- Bob Ludwig – mastering
- Bud Prager – A & R direction, E.S.P. management
- Mike Renault – E.S.P. management
- Giles Martin – producer (remaster)
2004 remaster/remix
- Produced by Dave Mustaine
- Mixed by Ralph Patlan and Dave Mustaine
- Engineered by Ralph Patlan with Lance Dean
- Edited by Lance Dean, Scott "Sarge" Harrison, and Keith Schreiber with Bo Caldwell
- Mastered by Tom Baker
References
edit- ^ Mosqueda, Ruben (June 17, 2017). "Megadeth: 'Cryptic Writings'". Sleaze Roxx. Retrieved December 8, 2022.
- ^ Golemis, Dean (July 4, 1997). "Megadeth: Cryptic Writings (Capitol)". Chicago Tribune. Archived from the original on December 3, 2013. Retrieved October 23, 2013.
- ^ ""Cryptic Writings" Megadeth Review". The Top Lister. Word Press. July 23, 2013. Retrieved December 8, 2022.
"Use the man" was an ugly song to listen to. It starts way to slow but towards the end the song picks up pace and reminds use that this is trash metal
- ^ "'Cryptic Writings' Coming Soon From Megadeth". MTV News. MTV. April 16, 1997. Archived from the original on November 1, 2023. Retrieved December 8, 2022.
- ^ Gibson, Caren (June 17, 2022). "'Cryptic Writings': Deciphering Megadeth's Shift To Radio-Ready Metal". U Discover Music. Retrieved December 8, 2022.
- ^ Freidman, Marty (September 23, 2002). "Story Behind The Song - Megadeth's Cryptic Writings". MartyFriedman.com. Retrieved December 8, 2022.
- ^ The Scorpion (May 3, 2006). "SCORPION Q+A". Megadeth.com. Retrieved December 8, 2022.
- ^ a b Grow, Kory. "Megadeth's Dave Mustaine: My Life in 15 Songs". Rolling Stone. Retrieved December 8, 2022.
- ^ a b "Use the Man performed by Megadeth". Setlist.FM. Retrieved December 8, 2022.
- ^ "MEGADETH - AUDIO OF 'USE THE MAN' PERFORMED ACOUSTICALLY AVAILABLE". Brave Words. February 9, 2012. Retrieved December 8, 2022.
- ^ Drew (August 24, 2021). "Album Review: Megadeth – Unplugged in Boston". Drews Reviews. Retrieved December 8, 2022.
- ^ "APR 9 2003 Dave Mustaine Setlist at Nita's Hideaway, Tempe, AZ, USA". Setlist.FM. Retrieved December 8, 2022.
- ^ "Megadeth - Use The Man". Discogs. Retrieved December 8, 2022.
- ^ "Megadeth Chart History (Mainstream Rock)". Billboard.