Set the World Afire

"Set the World Afire" was the first song frontman Dave Mustaine wrote after being kicked out of Metallica. Mustaine recounted in a 2009 interview that "The first song that I wrote on my way back from New York was written on the back of a cupcake wrapper, if you can believe that." Though some fans have called it "the cupcake song" in concert, in reference to its perceived origin,{{Cite web|url=https://www.revolvermag.com/music/5-things-you-didnt-know-about-megadeths-so-far-so-good-so-what|title=5 Things You Didn't Know About Megadeth' 'So Far, So Good ... So What!'|date=January 18, 2018|access-date=January 24, 2024|website=Revolver|last=Bienstock|first=Richard}} Mustaine has clarified that the lyrics were written on the backing of a Sno Balls cake.{{cite web|url=https://www.nme.com/features/music-interviews/rock-n-roll-kill-braincells-dave-mustaine-megadeth-2467827|title=Does Rock ‘N’ Roll Kill Braincells?! – Dave Mustaine, Megadeth|last1=Ryan|first1=Gary|work=NME|date=March 30, 2019|accessdate=January 27, 2024}}

The song was originally titled "Megadeath", inspired by a political pamphlet written by Senator Alan Cranston that Mustaine had read on the bus ride home after being kicked out.{{cite web|url=https://www.megadeth.com/blogs/news/439795|title=Scorpion Q+A 273|date=March 14, 2017|accessdate=December 27, 2023}} After Fallen Angels decided to use the song title for the name of their band, at the suggestion of singer Lor Kane,{{cite web|url=https://loudwire.com/how-did-megadeth-get-band-name/|title=How Did Megadeth Get Their Band Name?|date=August 23, 2023|accessdate=June 5, 2024|work=Loudwire|last=DiVita|first=Joe}} the song was known as "No Time"{{cite journal|url=https://thecorroseum.org/fanzines/whiplash-usa-01.php|work=Whiplash|date=1983|title=Megadeath|volume=1|accessdate=June 7, 2024|archive-date=December 24, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221224213233/https://thecorroseum.org/fanzines/whiplash-usa-01.php|url-status=live}} and was included on a 1983 demo tape.{{cite web |title=Megadeath (lost Megadeth demo tape; 1983)|url=https://lostmediawiki.com/Megadeath_(lost_Megadeth_demo_tape;_1983) |website=Lost Media Wiki |access-date=December 26, 2023}} It was later renamed "Burnt Offerings"{{cite web|url=https://www.megadeth.com/blogs/news/first-show-played-37-years-ago-today|title=First Show Played 37 Years Ago Today|work=Megadeth.com|accessdate=April 18, 2024|date=February 18, 2021}} and was ultimately retitled to "Set the World Afire" when it was released in 1988.{{cite web|last1=Dome |first1=Malcolm |title=Megadeth's So Far, So Good… So What!: the chaotic story of thrash's most f**ked-up album|url=https://www.loudersound.com/features/megadeth-so-far-so-good-so-what-story-behind-album |website=Louder Sound|publisher=Metal Hammer |access-date=December 26, 2023|date=September 30, 2022}}

{{Blockquote|text=It said, ‘The arsenal of Megadeath can’t be rid.’ I thought, ‘What a fantastic song title.’ That song later became ‘Set the World Afire.’ So, in the midst of having a problem naming the band, it was suggested that we call ourselves Megadeth instead of the song. With extreme lack of foresight, I decided to go with that, not knowing what a professional setback the name would be for us. No one imagined this band would become this successful at the level where the name would affect us. When you’re thinking about ruling the club circuit and playing the arenas, and unsafe sex and drugs and alcohol and parties and fighting and speeding down the roads, the thought of someone not liking your band because the name’s “Megadeth’—it’s like, ‘Fuck you, it’s your loss.’ But when you’re trying to get on the radio that’s something else entirely.|author=Dave Mustaine{{cite web |last1=Wiederhorn |first1=Jon |title=34 Years Ago: Megadeth Release 'So Far, So Good... So What!'|url=https://loudwire.com/megadeth-so-far-so-good-so-what-album-anniversary/ |website=Loudwire|access-date=December 26, 2023|date=January 19, 2023}}}}

The lyrics of the song are about nuclear holocaust.{{cite news |last1=Hunt |first1=Dennis |title=Meeting Mr. Megadeth, Dave Mustaine|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1988-03-06-ca-1027-story.html |access-date=December 26, 2023 |date=March 6, 1988}}

The beginning of the song features a quiet sample of "I Don't Want to Set the World on Fire", a 1941 song by The Ink Spots.{{cite web|url=http://ultimateclassicrock.com/megadeth-so-far-so-good-so-what/|title=30 Years Ago: Megadeth Struggle Through 'So Far, So Good ... So What!|work=Ultimate Classic Rock|accessdate=December 26, 2023|date=January 19, 2018|last=Christopher|first=Michael}}

The song (known as "Burnt Offerings" at the time) was played at the first Megadeth concert, which took place on February 17, 1984, in Berkeley at Ruthie's Inn, with Mustaine on vocals, lead and rhythm guitar, Kerry King on guitar, David Ellefson on bass and backing vocals and Lee Rauch on drums. A live performance of the track on October 9, 2005, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, was included on the live album That One Night: Live in Buenos Aires.{{cite web|last=Pratio|first=Greg|title=That One Night: Live in Buenos Aires|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/that-one-night-live-in-buenos-aires-mw0000487698|work=AllMusic|publisher=AllMusic|accessdate=January 24, 2024}}

• Produced by Paul Lani and Dave Mustaine
• Engineered by Paul Lani with Matt Freeman
• Mixed by Michael Wagener
• Executive produced by Tim Carr
• Mastered by Stephen Marcussen

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Category:1988 songs

Category:Megadeth songs

Category:Songs written by Dave Mustaine

Category:Songs about nuclear war and weapons