This song is a short and somber warning about the possibility of a nuclear holocaust; more specifically, what life would be like after the incident. Humans would be forced to live underground because the atmosphere would be so contaminated with radioactive pollution left over from the nuclear weapons.
Dawn patrol is a military term referring to early-hour patrols by fighters.
Mustaine’s voice was meant to sound like a mole on this track. He created this tone by drawing air over his bottom lip while biting down on his upper teeth. The song serves mostly as the intro to the next track. During live performances, Mustaine and the other guitarist exit the stage to give the spotlight to David Ellefson, whose bassline is the main point of interest. Mustaine then sings the vocals from someplace backstage.
Lyrics of Dawn Patrol
Thermal count is rising
In perpetual writhing
The primordial ooze
And the sanity they lose
Awakened in the morning
To more air pollution warnings
Still we sleepwalk off to work
While our n-n-n-nervous systems jerk
Pretending not to notice
How history had forebode us
With the greenhouse in effect
Our environment was wrecked
Now I can only laugh
As I read our epitaph
We end our lives as moles
In the dark of dawn patrol