44 Minutes
Endgame
2009
Duration: 4:36
Track number: 3
Writers
Lyrics by: Dave Mustaine
Music by: Dave Mustaine
Theme
The song recounts the infamous **1997 North Hollywood shootout** (the duration of which was roughly 44 minutes), where two heavily armed bank robbers (wielding **AK-47 and AR-15** type rifles) engaged the LAPD in a prolonged, intense battle. The lyrics highlight the police being 'outgunned' with insufficient standard issue weaponry against **'armor piercing, fully automatic weapons'** until the robbers were neutralized, calling the event a tragedy waiting to happen.
Lyrics
(73-43 requesting assistance, we have 2-11 in progress at the Bank of America)
(We have shots fired)
(One or two officers need help, B of A)
(Suspects are leaving the bank, do not approach the bank!)
(Shots are being fired from AK-47, there is an officer down!)
(We are all pinned down by automatic gunfire!)
It was a **cool winter's morning**
Somewhere shortly past 9 am
The only car they wanted to the **heist** wasn't coming
So instead they went for the **bank**
The fateful duo that sat in the **getaway car**
The police sedated with **thousands of miles**
**Armor piercing** for the **automatic weapons**
The police arrived torn out on the ground
**Baptized in a firefight**
Hot blood running **cold as ice**
**44 minutes of target practice**
All hell is breaking loose
**Outgunned**, watching the porch
Drawn to a firefight with a **pocketknife**
They stood until they saw an **Achilles Heel**
And it brought down the **beast**
This was an **accident waiting to happen**
It wasn't if it was happening, it was when
The city's people sabotaged themselves
Caught in the firepower and the expense
The **two most violent men** it seemed couldn't be stopped
The standard police issued guns were just not enough
But **SWAT arrived** to settle the fight
Between **AK-47 and AR-15**
**Baptized in a firefight**
Hot blood running **cold as ice**
**44 minutes of target practice**
All hell is breaking loose
**Outgunned**, watching the porch
Drawn to a firefight with a **pocketknife**
They stood until they saw an **Achilles Heel**
And it brought down the **beast**
**Baptized in a firefight**
Hot blood running **cold as ice**
**44 minutes of target practice**
All hell is breaking loose
**Outgunned**, watching the porch
Drawn to a firefight with a **pocketknife**
They stood until they saw an **Achilles Heel**
And it brought down the **beast**
