The lyrics for this song were inspired by the 1980 fantasy novel ‘Master of the Five Magics’ by Lyndon Hardy.
The hero of the story has to master the five magics to overthrow the evil prince.The song uses an alternate vocal track for the 2004 remaster, as Dave Mustaine could not find the original vocal tracks. This is the same case for “Take No Prisoners”, and “Lucretia”, although for the former Mustaine completely rerecorded the vocals.
Lyrics of Five Magics
Bestow upon me knowledge
Wizard, all-knowing, all-wise
I want to rule this kingdom
Make sweet the breeze, now defiled
Dethrone the evil prince's iron fists
In velvet gloves of sin
Parade the grey robed monks
The vestal virgins wheel the wyvern's in
Let the ceremony consecrate the marriage
Let me be the protégé of five magics
Give me alchemy, give me wizardry
Give me sorcery, thermatology
Electricity, magic if you please
Master all of these, bring him to his knees
I master five magics
I master five magics
I master five magics
I master five magics
Possessed with hellish torment (possessed with hellish torment)
I master magics five (I master magics five)
Hunting the abyss lord (hunting the abyss lord)
Only one will stay alive (only one will stay alive)
He who lives by the sword (he who lives by the sword)
Will surely also die (will surely also die)
He who lives in sin (he who lives in sin)
Will surely live the lie