My Favorite... Metallica "One"

Meeting the Band

       Metallica is one of the most influential bands of all time. With their fast speed and unbelievable instrumentals, Metallica has secured themselves in history as the best metal band ever. Metallica did not really gain commercial success until their fifth album, The Black Album. The song that I picked came before their success and commercialism; from the album “And Justice for All” I chose “ONE”.

The Song

            The song “One” was released on the album “...And Justice for All” on August 25, 1988, I was going to be four years old that coming September. The song “One” has this sense about it of being alone in the world, no one understanding you and you cannot communicate with anyone. The song talks about how war is unpleasant and to tell everyone that war is not pretty and is not as fun as you see in the movies, war is ugly, not to be taken lightly. As the song progresses it talks about a soldier that has been badly hurt in the war. The soldier’s arms and legs were blown off in combat by a landmine, and his site, speech and all of his senses are gone. He is just a body with no limbs laying there with only his thoughts, if he is awake, dreaming, alive or dead. This song may be interpreted in many different ways, about isolation as humans or separation from the world. Many people may think the song targets war in general, how bad war is and how war is not the answer, showing the realism of what war can do.

What “One” Means to Me

            When I was growing up during my teen years, I felt alone and not heard by my Mom. My mom remarried when I was around ten years old, my Dad died when I was three years old. My Mom was so wrapped up in her new husband that she did not listen to what I had to say or my opinion. The only way that I found my own peace was in my own world I created with music. I started learning guitar when I was eleven years old and that is when I found Metallica. I was amazed at the power, speed and passion these four guys pumped into their songs, I was home.           

            I started listening and studying these guys, I ate, breathed and slept Metallica. Each song I learned on guitar put another piece of my world I was making together. When I finally obtained the CD “...And Justice for All”, I found it, I found the album that had the anger outlet I was looking for. This was one of their heaviest, fastest in your face metal albums they had, I loved it. On this album was “One” track four, seven minutes and twenty seven seconds of peace and harmony. Told the story of a person trapped, isolated in his world, the same way I felt; but I had all my body parts.

The “Stereotypes”

            Metallica was and is sometimes still labeled as a demonic metal band and they have nothing but bad messages. (Oh! Did I mention my Mom made me go to a private Christian school where Metallica was the devil? Or even any type of music was bad if it wasn’t gospel). If the people who think that Metallica or any metal music is bad just sit down and listen to the lyrics, they would find the lyrics are not bad, they are just anothoer way to vent rather than in violent ways.  

Me

            If it wasn’t for Metallica, Van Halen, Alice n Chains or any other great bands, I don’t know where I would be right now or even had the friends I have made through the years. I have been playing guitar for eighteen years this October, time has flown by, and I have met many great people and musicians in that time, very talented people. I thank God for my talent, it was my escape goat.   

           

One Lyrics

I can't remember anything

Can't tell if this is true or dream

Deep down inside I feel to scream

This terrible silence stops me

Now that the war is through with me

I'm waking up, I cannot see

That there is not much left of me

Nothing is real but pain now

Hold my breath as I wish for death

Oh please God, wake me

Back in the womb it's much too real

In pumps life that I must feel

But can't look forward to reveal

Look to the time when I'll live

Fed through the tube that sticks in me

Just like a wartime novelty

Tied to machines that make me be

Cut this life off from me

Hold my breath as I wish for death

Oh please God, wake me

Now the world is gone, I'm just one

Oh God help me

Hold my breath as I wish for death

Oh please God, help me

Darkness imprisoning me

All that I see

Absolute horror

I cannot live

I cannot die

Trapped in myself

Body my holding cell

Landmine has taken my sight

Taken my speech

Taken my hearing

Taken my arms

Taken my legs

Taken my soul

Left me with life in hell

References

Song Meanings (2013). Metallica, One. From http://www.songmeanings.net/songs/view/10241/

Sing365 (2013) Metallica And Justice for All. From http://www.sing365.com/music/lyric.nsf/Metallica-And-Justice-For-All-Album/D73CD94520FB03424825688E000A85A1