Nightmare (Song)

Lyrically, "Nightmare" deals with an individual who is damned for his wrongdoings on earth. The song is sung from the point of view of a resident of hell, who may have once been a living person too, mocking the other character and pointing out that it's his own fault he's in hell. It is their first single released without former drummer The Rev, who died on December 28, 2009. The song was released digitally on May 18 and 21, 2010 on the US and worldwide, respectively, on iTunes as well as an animated lyric video on YouTube, which received over 275,000 plays in 24 hours. A preview for the song was released on May 6, 2010 on Amazon.com, but was removed soon after for unknown reasons. However, on May 10, 2010, a 30-second audio uncensored sample was again revealed, but this time at SoundCloud.

"Nightmare" was nominated for Best Single at the Kerrang! Awards 2010, but lost to Liquid Confidence by You Me At Six. The song is also one of Avenged Sevenfold's best known, and had been certified Gold by the RIAA.

"Nightmare" was released on July 27, 2010 as a downloadable track in Rock Band 2 along with Seize the Day and Scream. It was discovered by fans that the face of Jimmy "The Rev" Sullivan, the band's deceased drummer, can be seen on both the single and album cover. "Nightmare" is an easter egg in the video game Call of Duty: Black Ops. It is accessible by completing the One Giant Leap Achievement or Trophy. The song was released for Rocksmith on October 30, 2012.

Lyrics (Radio Edit):
Nightmare!(now your nightmare comes to life)

Dragged ya down below

Down to the devil's show

To be his guest forever

Peace of mind is less than never

Hate to twist your mind

But God ain't on your side

An old acquaintance severed

Burn the world your last endeavor

Flesh is burning

You can smell it in the air

'Cause men like you have

Such easy soul to steal (steal)

So stand in line while They ink numbers in your head

You're now a slave Until the end of time here

Nothing stops the madness,

Turning, haunting, yearning

Pull the trigger

You should have known, The price of evil. And it hurts to know, That you belong here, yeah. Ooh, it's your [CENSORED] nightmare

Can't wake up in a sweat

'Cause it ain't over yet

Still dancing with your demons

Victim of your own creation

Beyond the will to fight

Where all that's wrong is right

Where hate don't need a reason

Loathing self-assassination

You've been lied to

Just to [CENSORED] you of your site

And now they have the nerve

To tell you how to feel (feel)

So sedated as they

Medicate your brain

And while you slowly

Go insane they tell ya

"Given with the best intentions, Help you with your complications"

You should have known, The price of evil. And it hurts to know,That you belong here, yeah. No one to call. Everybody to fear. Your tragic fate is looking so clear, yeah. Oh, it's your [CENSORED] nightmare

Fight

Not to fail

Not to fall

Or you'll end up like the others

Die

Die again

Drenched in sin

With no respect for another

Down

Feel the fire (fire)

Feel the hate

Your pain is what we desire

Lost

Hit the wall (wall)

Watch you crawl (crawl)

Such a replaceable liar

And I know you hear their voices (calling from above)

And I know they may seem real (these signals of love)

But our life's made up of choices (some without appeal)

They took for granted your soul

And it's ours now to steal

You should have known, The price of evil. And it hurts to know, That you belong here, yeah. No one to call. Everybody to fear.Your tragic fate is looking so clear, yeah. Ooh, it's your [CENSORED] nightmare