
these are the songs that provide the soundtrack to the apocalypse
welcome to watchmojo.com and today we’ll
welcome to watchmojo.com and today we’ll be counting down our picks for the top
be counting down our picks for the top
be counting down our picks for the top ten doomsday songs for this list we’ll
ten doomsday songs for this list we’ll
ten doomsday songs for this list we’ll be taking a look at songs that are about
be taking a look at songs that are about
be taking a look at songs that are about the end of the world or have apocalyptic
the end of the world or have apocalyptic
the end of the world or have apocalyptic feet however we won’t be including songs
feet however we won’t be including songs
feet however we won’t be including songs that are more focused on death such as
that are more focused on death such as
that are more focused on death such as Blue Oyster cult’s don’t fear the reaper
number 10 the man comes around Johnny
number 10 the man comes around Johnny Cash there’s a man going round taking
Cash there’s a man going round taking
Cash there’s a man going round taking names and he decides who to free and who
names and he decides who to free and who
names and he decides who to free and who to blame the title track off the man in
to blame the title track off the man in
to blame the title track off the man in blacks American for the man comes around
blacks American for the man comes around
blacks American for the man comes around album this doomsday song draws heavily
album this doomsday song draws heavily
album this doomsday song draws heavily from the Biblical Book of Revelations
from the Biblical Book of Revelations
from the Biblical Book of Revelations for its lyrical content his in the thorn
for its lyrical content his in the thorn
for its lyrical content his in the thorn tree
tree
tree it’s hard for thee to kick against the
it’s hard for thee to kick against the
it’s hard for thee to kick against the pricks inspired by a dream cash hat in
pricks inspired by a dream cash hat in
pricks inspired by a dream cash hat in which queen elizabeth ii compared him to
which queen elizabeth ii compared him to
which queen elizabeth ii compared him to a thorn tree in a whirlwind Cash’s own
a thorn tree in a whirlwind Cash’s own
a thorn tree in a whirlwind Cash’s own research discovered a similar phrase in
research discovered a similar phrase in
research discovered a similar phrase in the book of Job which led him to pen the
the book of Job which led him to pen the
the book of Job which led him to pen the man comes around
evoking imagery of the judgment of a man
evoking imagery of the judgment of a man 4 Horsemen of the Apocalypse
4 Horsemen of the Apocalypse
4 Horsemen of the Apocalypse and imminent Armageddon the religious
and imminent Armageddon the religious
and imminent Armageddon the religious warnings of the song are made even more
warnings of the song are made even more
warnings of the song are made even more unsettling when delivered by Johnny
unsettling when delivered by Johnny
unsettling when delivered by Johnny Cash’s calm soothing voice
Cash’s calm soothing voice
Cash’s calm soothing voice it’s Alpha and Omega stings
number nine until the end of the world
number nine until the end of the world you too
conceived by bono as a conversation
conceived by bono as a conversation between Jesus Christ and Jews as
between Jesus Christ and Jews as
between Jesus Christ and Jews as Iscariot this doomsday song has a more
Iscariot this doomsday song has a more
Iscariot this doomsday song has a more romantic quality to it which masks the
romantic quality to it which masks the
romantic quality to it which masks the darker nature of its lyrics
you
you spoken primarily from the perspective of
spoken primarily from the perspective of
spoken primarily from the perspective of a remorseful Judas it emphasizes a bleak
a remorseful Judas it emphasizes a bleak
a remorseful Judas it emphasizes a bleak dwelling on the inevitable end of times
dwelling on the inevitable end of times
dwelling on the inevitable end of times which adds to the song somber tone
– straw divided into three parts which
– straw divided into three parts which discuss the Last Supper Judas Kiss on
discuss the Last Supper Judas Kiss on
discuss the Last Supper Judas Kiss on Jesus’s cheek in the Garden of
Jesus’s cheek in the Garden of
Jesus’s cheek in the Garden of Gethsemane and Judas’s eventual suicide
Gethsemane and Judas’s eventual suicide
Gethsemane and Judas’s eventual suicide until the end of the world draws on
until the end of the world draws on
until the end of the world draws on themes of betrayal guilt and despair
themes of betrayal guilt and despair
themes of betrayal guilt and despair which make for an appropriately
which make for an appropriately
which make for an appropriately apocalyptic song
number eight earth died screaming Tom
number eight earth died screaming Tom Waits
Waits
Waits a cryptic and nightmarish song about the
a cryptic and nightmarish song about the
a cryptic and nightmarish song about the end of the world
end of the world
end of the world Tom Waits his earth died screaming
Tom Waits his earth died screaming
Tom Waits his earth died screaming relies on dark imagery and the macabre
relies on dark imagery and the macabre
relies on dark imagery and the macabre to describe the apocalypse as the stars
to describe the apocalypse as the stars
to describe the apocalypse as the stars go out and the moon falls out of the sky
go out and the moon falls out of the sky
go out and the moon falls out of the sky Waits’s lyrics paint a frightening
Waits’s lyrics paint a frightening
Waits’s lyrics paint a frightening picture of gigantic and multi-headed
picture of gigantic and multi-headed
picture of gigantic and multi-headed animals as well as violent storms and
animals as well as violent storms and
animals as well as violent storms and swarms of locusts which allude to the
swarms of locusts which allude to the
swarms of locusts which allude to the deadly plagues as described in the Bible
Waits’s guttural delivery an eccentric
Waits’s guttural delivery an eccentric musical style perfectly complement the
musical style perfectly complement the
musical style perfectly complement the surrealist tone of this track making for
surrealist tone of this track making for
surrealist tone of this track making for a memorable doomsday saw
thrash metal gem rife with foreboding
thrash metal gem rife with foreboding imagery the closing track on Slayers
imagery the closing track on Slayers
imagery the closing track on Slayers third album rain and blood remains a
third album rain and blood remains a
third album rain and blood remains a staple of the Bands live shows and one
staple of the Bands live shows and one
staple of the Bands live shows and one of their most well known songs beginning
of their most well known songs beginning
of their most well known songs beginning with an ominous riff that warns of the
with an ominous riff that warns of the
with an ominous riff that warns of the chaos to come raining blood erupts into
chaos to come raining blood erupts into
chaos to come raining blood erupts into a metal mile strum which foretells of a
a metal mile strum which foretells of a
a metal mile strum which foretells of a demonic force lacerating the sky and
demonic force lacerating the sky and
demonic force lacerating the sky and returning to power as the most sacred
returning to power as the most sacred
returning to power as the most sacred laws are abolished
yeah all of us
yeah all of us wielding the merciless dual guitar
wielding the merciless dual guitar
wielding the merciless dual guitar attack of Kerry King and Jeff Hanneman
attack of Kerry King and Jeff Hanneman
attack of Kerry King and Jeff Hanneman Dave Lombardo thunderous drumming and
Dave Lombardo thunderous drumming and
Dave Lombardo thunderous drumming and Tom Araya
Tom Araya
Tom Araya haunting vocals raining blood welcomes
haunting vocals raining blood welcomes
haunting vocals raining blood welcomes the apocalypse with open bloody arms
number six 1999
number six 1999 prints a song that takes a more positive
prints a song that takes a more positive
prints a song that takes a more positive approach to dealing with the apocalypse
approach to dealing with the apocalypse
approach to dealing with the apocalypse 1999 is less about despair and more
1999 is less about despair and more
1999 is less about despair and more about making the most of the time you
about making the most of the time you
about making the most of the time you have left when the year 2000 brings
have left when the year 2000 brings
have left when the year 2000 brings about purple skies destruction and war
about purple skies destruction and war
about purple skies destruction and war the title track off Prince’s fifth
the title track off Prince’s fifth
the title track off Prince’s fifth studio album encourages celebration and
studio album encourages celebration and
studio album encourages celebration and good times instead of fighting or
good times instead of fighting or
good times instead of fighting or fleeing in terror reasoning that life is
fleeing in terror reasoning that life is
fleeing in terror reasoning that life is just a party and parties aren’t meant to
just a party and parties aren’t meant to
just a party and parties aren’t meant to last this more optimistic doomsday song
last this more optimistic doomsday song
last this more optimistic doomsday song takes a more glass half full approach to
takes a more glass half full approach to
takes a more glass half full approach to the end of the world which is a
the end of the world which is a
the end of the world which is a refreshing take on an otherwise gloomy
refreshing take on an otherwise gloomy
refreshing take on an otherwise gloomy subject
ladies and gentlemen Creedence
ladies and gentlemen Creedence Clearwater Revival’s number five bad
Clearwater Revival’s number five bad
Clearwater Revival’s number five bad moon rising Creedence Clearwater Revival
a year before Black Sabbath would
a year before Black Sabbath would released their first album CCR released
released their first album CCR released
released their first album CCR released the doomsday track whose dark imagery
the doomsday track whose dark imagery
the doomsday track whose dark imagery and lyrics evokes heavy metal before
and lyrics evokes heavy metal before
and lyrics evokes heavy metal before heavy metal truly began despite sounding
heavy metal truly began despite sounding
heavy metal truly began despite sounding light-hearted and upbeat at first listen
light-hearted and upbeat at first listen
light-hearted and upbeat at first listen bad moon rising is in fact a warning
bad moon rising is in fact a warning
bad moon rising is in fact a warning about an approaching apocalypse which
about an approaching apocalypse which
about an approaching apocalypse which includes hurricanes lightning storms and
includes hurricanes lightning storms and
includes hurricanes lightning storms and overflowing rivers that are bound to
overflowing rivers that are bound to
overflowing rivers that are bound to take your life cautioning the listener
take your life cautioning the listener
take your life cautioning the listener to be prepared for death and that when I
to be prepared for death and that when I
to be prepared for death and that when I will be taken for an eye bad moon rising
will be taken for an eye bad moon rising
will be taken for an eye bad moon rising is all the more chilling because of its
is all the more chilling because of its
is all the more chilling because of its seemingly jovial embrace of the
seemingly jovial embrace of the
seemingly jovial embrace of the apocalypse
number four London Calling the clash to
number four London Calling the clash to the faraway town that wars declare
the faraway town that wars declare
the faraway town that wars declare and battle calm down one of the clashes
and battle calm down one of the clashes
and battle calm down one of the clashes most memorable songs the title track off
most memorable songs the title track off
most memorable songs the title track off of their third studio album also serves
of their third studio album also serves
of their third studio album also serves as one of the most notable doomsday
as one of the most notable doomsday
as one of the most notable doomsday songs around with lyrics that describe
songs around with lyrics that describe
songs around with lyrics that describe an approaching Ice Age mass mechanical
an approaching Ice Age mass mechanical
an approaching Ice Age mass mechanical failure dying crops and the flooding of
failure dying crops and the flooding of
failure dying crops and the flooding of London London Calling does not wallow in
London London Calling does not wallow in
London London Calling does not wallow in sorrow over the impending doom but
sorrow over the impending doom but
sorrow over the impending doom but instead takes it in stride the week
instead takes it in stride the week
instead takes it in stride the week with other apocalyptic topics such as
with other apocalyptic topics such as
with other apocalyptic topics such as nuclear annihilation and zombies of
nuclear annihilation and zombies of
nuclear annihilation and zombies of death being referenced this track is a
death being referenced this track is a
death being referenced this track is a Greatest Hits list of potentially
Greatest Hits list of potentially
Greatest Hits list of potentially world-ending disasters and mayhem
world-ending disasters and mayhem
world-ending disasters and mayhem befitting of an end of time song
beginning with a chilling Bell toll
beginning with a chilling Bell toll which was all the more ominous given the
which was all the more ominous given the
which was all the more ominous given the recent passing of singer bond Scott
recent passing of singer bond Scott
recent passing of singer bond Scott hells bells served as the opening track
hells bells served as the opening track
hells bells served as the opening track to back in black and as Brian Johnson’s
to back in black and as Brian Johnson’s
to back in black and as Brian Johnson’s first official day as a CDC’s new singer
spoken from the perspective of Satan
spoken from the perspective of Satan himself the song tells of the devil
himself the song tells of the devil
himself the song tells of the devil bringing rolling thunder lightning and
bringing rolling thunder lightning and
bringing rolling thunder lightning and hurricanes as he rings the titular bells
with no one willing to resist and no
with no one willing to resist and no prisoners being taken there is little
prisoners being taken there is little
prisoners being taken there is little hope for those on the side of a good
hope for those on the side of a good
hope for those on the side of a good spelling certain doom for those not
spelling certain doom for those not
spelling certain doom for those not willing to join in the apocalyptic
willing to join in the apocalyptic
willing to join in the apocalyptic destruction
with brian johnson screeching wail on
with brian johnson screeching wail on full display it’s no surprise that hells
full display it’s no surprise that hells
full display it’s no surprise that hells bells is still an ac/dc concert staple
number two the end the doors this is the
number two the end the doors this is the beautiful friend
beautiful friend
beautiful friend a song that showcases the darker side of
a song that showcases the darker side of
a song that showcases the darker side of singer Jim Morrison’s poetic talents the
singer Jim Morrison’s poetic talents the
singer Jim Morrison’s poetic talents the end lives up to its name with its eerie
end lives up to its name with its eerie
end lives up to its name with its eerie sense of approaching disaster and
sense of approaching disaster and
sense of approaching disaster and darkness beginning as a dreamlike ballad
darkness beginning as a dreamlike ballad
darkness beginning as a dreamlike ballad which devolves into a murderous
which devolves into a murderous
which devolves into a murderous nightmare right the snake
the song explores the mind of a man with
the song explores the mind of a man with an Oedipus complex who wants to murder
an Oedipus complex who wants to murder
an Oedipus complex who wants to murder his father and have sex with his mother
his father and have sex with his mother
his father and have sex with his mother with the destruction of the nuclear
with the destruction of the nuclear
with the destruction of the nuclear family arguably serving as a metaphor
family arguably serving as a metaphor
family arguably serving as a metaphor for doomsday itself the end also touches
for doomsday itself the end also touches
for doomsday itself the end also touches on the generation gap in the late 60s in
on the generation gap in the late 60s in
on the generation gap in the late 60s in the phrase all the children are insane
which also carries an apocalyptic tone
which also carries an apocalyptic tone about the conflict between generations
about the conflict between generations
about the conflict between generations sparked in part by the Vietnam War
before we unveil our number one pick
before we unveil our number one pick here are some honorable mentions
that’s great it starts with an earth
that’s great it starts with an earth number one it’s the end of the world as
number one it’s the end of the world as
number one it’s the end of the world as we know it and I feel fine r.e.m in your
we know it and I feel fine r.e.m in your
we know it and I feel fine r.e.m in your song Beach Thomas of Iran originally
song Beach Thomas of Iran originally
song Beach Thomas of Iran originally released on their fifth studio album
released on their fifth studio album
released on their fifth studio album document this rather cheerful dooms they
document this rather cheerful dooms they
document this rather cheerful dooms they saw by rem juggles the usual dire
saw by rem juggles the usual dire
saw by rem juggles the usual dire apocalyptic themes while maintaining a
apocalyptic themes while maintaining a
apocalyptic themes while maintaining a sense of optimism that is echoed in its
sense of optimism that is echoed in its
sense of optimism that is echoed in its simple yet effective music video with
simple yet effective music video with
simple yet effective music video with lyrics that touch on natural disasters
lyrics that touch on natural disasters
lyrics that touch on natural disasters political turmoil and social issues it’s
political turmoil and social issues it’s
political turmoil and social issues it’s the end of the world as we know it
the end of the world as we know it
the end of the world as we know it captures the overwhelming weight of the
captures the overwhelming weight of the
captures the overwhelming weight of the world’s problems in its rapid-fire
world’s problems in its rapid-fire
world’s problems in its rapid-fire delivery
however the song also tries to look on
however the song also tries to look on the proverbial bright side of the
the proverbial bright side of the
the proverbial bright side of the situation and rejoices in the fact that
situation and rejoices in the fact that
situation and rejoices in the fact that we will all have some time alone
perhaps suggesting that in this time we
perhaps suggesting that in this time we will find a way to reflect and begin the
will find a way to reflect and begin the
will find a way to reflect and begin the world and you again
so do you agree with our list what’s
so do you agree with our list what’s your favorite doomsday song
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