In keeping with the general "control" theme of Master of Puppets, the lyrics of "Battery" discuss the control that anger can have over one's behavior. The title refers to "battery" in the sense of "assault and battery", as shown by these lyrics: "Smashing through the boundaries / Lunacy has found me / Cannot stop the battery".
"Battery" is still an almost constant part of the band's live set list, frequently as the opening or closing song. In some cases, it is also used as a song before the intermission. When played, the song may stop before the interlude, and James Hetfield asks the crowd "Are you alive?... How does it feel to be alive?" and followed by the solo played by Kirk Hammett. During the chorus of the original version, bassist Cliff Burton can be heard roaring the backing vocals each time Hetfield says the title.
In the live version of the song played on the Live Shit: Binge & Purge album, intros to the songs "No Remorse", "Ride the Lightning", and "So What?" are played in the song. When performed with the San Francisco Symphony in 1999, the intro up to the thrash riff was instead played by string players in the symphony, utilizing pizzicato in the beginning (the original acoustic) then with bows for the rest.
"Battery" will be featured in the upcoming music game Rock Band 2.
Battery
Metallica Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Weak are ripped and torn away
Hypnotizing power, crushing all that cower
Battery is here to stay
Smashing through the boundaries
Lunacy has found me
Cannot stop the battery
Turns into obsession
Cannot kill the battery
Cannot kill the family
Battery is found in me
Battery
Battery
Crushing all deceivers, mashing non-believers
Never ending potency
Hungry violence seeker, feeding off the weaker
Breeding on insanity
Smashing through the boundaries
Lunacy has found me
Cannot stop the battery
Pounding out aggression
Turns into obsession
Cannot kill the battery
Cannot kill the family
Battery is found in me
Battery
Battery
Circle of destruction, hammer comes crushing
Powerhouse of energy
Whipping up a fury, dominating flurry
We create the battery
Smashing through the boundaries
Lunacy has found me
Cannot stop the battery
Pounding out aggression
Turns into obsession
Cannot kill the battery
Cannot kill the family
Battery is found in me
Battery
Battery
Battery
Battery
Metallica's song Battery is an intense and powerful ode to the aggressive and violent nature of thrash metal music. The lyrics depict a strong and relentless desire to crush and destroy everything in sight. The first verse talks about how weak and vulnerable people are easily torn away by the hypnotizing power of Battery. The chorus repeats the phrase "Battery" several times to show the song's unwavering and unstoppable nature.
The second verse talks about crushing deceivers and non-believers and how the song's power is never-ending. The lyrics also highlight how the brutal nature of Battery is necessary for survival as it feeds on the weaker sections of society. The final verse describes how the song is a "circle of destruction" that creates a "powerhouse of energy". The lyrics emphasise how the fury of Battery is always dominating and intense.
Overall, the lyrics of Battery offer a raw and powerful insight into the mindset of thrash metal music. The song is an unapologetic representation of the genre and a testament to the power of heavy metal.
Line by Line Meaning
Lashing out the action, returning the reaction
Acting violently and expecting the same in return
Weak are ripped and torn away
The weak are easily overpowered and destroyed
Hypnotizing power, crushing all that cower
The overwhelming and intimidating power destroys those who are afraid
Battery is here to stay
Violence and destruction is a permanent part of society
Smashing through the boundaries
Breaking free from limitations
Lunacy has found me
Being consumed by madness and insanity
Cannot stop the battery
The violent and destructive behavior is uncontrollable
Pounding out aggression
Releasing pent-up anger through violence
Turns into obsession
Becoming a compulsive behavior
Cannot kill the battery
The violent tendencies can never be completely eradicated
Cannot kill the family
Violence is a part of the individual's identity and can never be fully removed
Battery is found in me
The individual is inherently violent and destructive
Crushing all deceivers, mashing non-believers
Those who oppose and go against the violent behavior are destroyed
Never ending potency
The power and strength is never-ending
Hungry violence seeker, feeding off the weaker
The violent desires are constantly seeking out to overpower the weak
Breeding on insanity
Being consumed and fueled by madness
Circle of destruction, hammer comes crushing
A never-ending cycle of violence and destruction
Powerhouse of energy
Violence brings a surge of power and energy
Whipping up a fury, dominating flurry
The violent behavior creates a frenzy and dominates everything in its path
We create the battery
The individual is responsible for their own violent tendencies
Battery
The violent and destructive behavior of individuals and society
Battery
The never-ending cycle and presence of violence and destruction
Battery
The individual's inherent violent tendencies
Battery
The power and energy derived from violence
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: James Alan Hetfield, Lars Ulrich
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Nino Amora
on No Remorse
im a dieharn fan of metalica