The song "Am I Evil?" was originally written by the band Diamond Head.
… Read Full Bio ↴The song "Am I Evil?" was originally written by the band Diamond Head.

It was made most famous by Metallica's cover of the song as a B-Side to "Creeping Death" (later released on Garage Inc.) and also featured in their live set throughout their career.

Metallica's Lars Ulrich has gone on to say that this song is "the heaviest song that's ever been recorded." Diamond Head have stated that they are flattered by the cover, and that the royalties from it have enabled the band to continue.

Am I Evil?
Metallica Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Bet you guys didn't know we wrote that

My mother was a witch, she was burned alive.
Thankless little bitch, for the tears I cried.
Take her down now, don't want to see her face
Blistered and burnt, can't hide my disgrace.

Twenty-seven, everyone was nice.

Gotta see 'em pay the price.
See their bodies out on the ice.
Take my time.

Am I evil? Yes I am. (what is it man?)
(Am I evil? yes I am.)

As I watched my mother die, I lost my head.
Revenge now I sought, to break with my bread.
Taking no chances, you come with me.
I'll split you to the bone, (yeah yeah) help set you free.

Twenty-seven, everyone was nice.
Gotta see 'em pay the price.
See their bodies out on the ice.
Take my time.

Am I evil? yes I am. (come on)

(Am I evil? yes I am.)
ohh yea betcha man

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Metallica's song "Am I Evil?" tell the story of someone seeking revenge for the burning of their mother, who was accused of being a witch. The first verse describes the singer's anger towards their mother for the pain and tears she caused them. The second verse describes the singer's desire for revenge on those who burned their mother alive. The chorus, "Am I evil? Yes I am," represents the singer's internal struggle with their own morality and whether seeking vengeance makes them a bad person. The final verse describes the singer's willingness to take extreme measures to get their revenge, including killing those who wronged them.

Line by Line Meaning

Bet you guys didn't know we wrote that
Making a surprise revelation that the song was written by them

My mother was a witch, she was burned alive.
The singer's mother was accused of being a witch by society, and was punished by being burned alive

Thankless little bitch, for the tears I cried.
The singer blames his mother for not protecting him and causing him emotional pain

Take her down now, don't want to see her face Blistered and burnt, can't hide my disgrace.
The artist wants to remove the sight of his mother's burnt face, as it reminds him of his shame and embarrassment

Twenty-seven, everyone was nice. Gotta see 'em pay the price. See their bodies out on the ice. Take my time.
The artist has murderous intentions towards a group of people who were kind to him in the past, and plans to kill them slowly and deliberately

Am I evil? Yes I am. (what is it man?) (Am I evil? yes I am.)
The singer acknowledges and accepts his own evil nature

As I watched my mother die, I lost my head. Revenge now I sought, to break with my bread. Taking no chances, you come with me. I'll split you to the bone, (yeah yeah) help set you free.
The singer became emotionally unstable after his mother's death and is seeking revenge by luring someone else to their death as a form of twisted mercy

ohh yea betcha man
An expression of self-assurance and confidence

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Brian Andrew Tatler, Sean Lyndon Harris

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

TRACKS