Devil's Island

Album: Peace Sells... But Who's Buying? (1986)
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Songfacts®:

  • Devil's Island was a penal colony in French Guiana active from 1852-1946. Even by island prison standards, it was notoriously brutal, and most inmates died there (the book Papillon, made into a movie in 1973, is written by Henri Charrière, who escaped from the island and told his story).

    Dave Mustaine of Megadeth wrote this song from the perspective of a prisoner on the island, hopeless and confronting his inevitable death there.

Comments: 10

  • Nathan By looking at the lyrics I thought it was about a prisoners condemned to death penalty and about to go to hell.
  • Jasle from PennsylvaniaRE:Joern from Bergen and Papillion is about the Island in France, Called Devils Island.
  • Shannon from Pheonix, AzIm not positive but...Devils island is a place in Arizona
  • Carmen Lopez from Santa Ana, CaHaha. The Song is about Devil's Island on the side of France. Haha Duh! Hence the name Devil's Island. Hahaha "It's about Alcatraz."
  • Stephen from Dublin, IrelandOh, Alcatraz is located on and island? Never! Get out of here... And what's that island called? Learn something new every day.

    Thanks a million, Colin from Canada... you truly are a sage of epic proportions.
  • Omar from Sylmar, CaI think that this song is the best song on the peace sells but who's buying album.
  • Andrew from Columbus, OhThe song is a description of a French New Guinea prison island from the movie Papillon.
  • Devon from Westerville, Ohthe intro tapped solo is freakin' awesome.
  • Dave from Richland, CanadaAlso could be interpreted as the group of islands in Guiana, France that was home to one of France's most notorious and dangerous prisons.
  • Joern from BergenClose but wrong. It's about a movie called Papillon.Is THIS Songfacts ?
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