It was written after almost all of their equipment, including a very rare amplifier, given to singer/rhythm guitarist James Hetfield by his mother just before she died, was stolen in Boston, MA, following a gig at the Channel Club on 14th January 1984. This event forced Metallica to borrow equipment from fellow tour band and friends, Anthrax, for the remainder of the tour. The lyrics suggest a man contemplating, then eventually committing suicide.
Cover versions include:
Swedish melodic death metal band Miscreant on Metal Militia - A Tribute To Metallica, Compilation CD, 1994 on Black Sun Records.
Fade to Black
Metallica Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Drifting further everyday
Getting lost within myself
Nothing matters, no one else
I have lost the will to live
Simply nothing more to give
There is nothing more for me
I need the end to set me free
Things not what they used to be
Missing one inside of me
Deathly loss this can't be real
I cannot stand this hell I feel
Emptiness is filling me
To the point of agony
Growing darkness taking dawn, yeah
I was me but now, he's gone
Hey, do you hear us Cliff? Do you hear us Cliff?
No one but me can save myself, but its too late
Now I can't think, think why I should even try, oh no
Yesterday seems as though it never existed
Oh, but death greets me warm, now I will just say goodbye
So goodbye
Yeah goodbye
I say goodbye
The lyrics to Metallica's song "Fade to Black" explore the theme of depression, loneliness and the desire to end one's life. The first verse of the song talks about the singer's fading life, as he drifts further away from everything and everyone, losing himself in the abyss of his own thoughts, devoid of any meaning. He has lost the will to live and no longer feels like he has anything left to give. The only thing left for him is the end, which he believes will set him free.
The second verse brings out the feelings of pain, grief and emptiness that have consumed the singer. He feels like a part of him is missing, perhaps alluding to the loss of a loved one or something else important in his life. He finds it hard to cope with the loss and tries to numb his pain, but it only makes it worse. The darkness around him is growing, taking the place of the light he once had. The person he used to be is gone, and he is left with nothing but emptiness.
The chorus of the song is a despairing cry for help, a plea to the legendary bassist of the band Cliff Burton, who died just a few months before the song was released. The singer realizes that no one but himself can save him from his misery, but it is too late. He is too consumed by his thoughts, and he cannot think of a reason to keep trying. Finally, he accepts his fate, resigns himself to it, and says goodbye to the world.
Line by Line Meaning
Life it seems to fade away
The feeling of vitality is diminishing.
Drifting further everyday
Going far away from the self and reality.
Getting lost within myself
Losing self and identity in the darkness.
Nothing matters, no one else
All hope and faith are lost, and no one can help.
I have lost the will to live
A feeling of deep sorrow and despair.
Simply nothing more to give
Exhaustion to the point where there is no effort left to be put into anything.
There is nothing more for me
The loss of meaning and purpose in life.
I need the end to set me free
Death is the only way out of this dark place.
Things not what they used to be
Change can be a hard pill to swallow.
Missing one inside of me
A part of oneself is no longer there, creating an unfillable void.
Deathly loss this can't be real
The overwhelming feeling of denial and disbelief in the face of unbearable loss.
I cannot stand this hell I feel
The excruciating pain that comes from deep grief and loss.
Emptiness is filling me
The feeling of a void that nothing can fill.
To the point of agony
The all-consuming nature of the pain that arises from the feeling of being empty.
Growing darkness taking dawn, yeah
The sense that the darkness is overtaking everything, and bleakness is all that can be seen.
I was me but now, he's gone
The loss of one's self and identity due to immeasurable agony.
Hey, do you hear us Cliff? Do you hear us Cliff?
An acknowledgement of the band's founding bassist, Cliff Burton, who died in a tragic accident.
No one but me can save myself, but its too late
The realization that there is no escape, and the haunting whisper of suicide.
Now I can't think, think why I should even try, oh no
The emptiness and futility of existence.
Yesterday seems as though it never existed
The feeling of hopelessness is so pervasive that it seems as though the mind cannot register prior happy moments.
Oh, but death greets me warm, now I will just say goodbye
The acceptance of death as the only solution to one's problems, and the readiness to say goodbye.
So goodbye
Finality and cessation of existence.
Yeah goodbye
Acceptance of death and the end of life.
I say goodbye
A final farewell to existence and the world.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Tratore, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: James Alan Hetfield, Lars Ulrich, Kirk L. Hammett, Clifford Lee Burton
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@yudhiscielo1493
Life, it seems, will fade away
Drifting further, every day
Getting lost within myself
Nothing matters, no one else
I have lost the will to live
Simply nothing more to give
There is nothing more for me
Need the end to set me free
Things not what they used to be
Missing one inside of me
Deathly loss, this can't be real
I cannot stand this hell I feel
Emptiness is filling me
To the point of agony
Growing darkness, taking dawn
I was me, but now he's gone
No one but me
Can save myself
But it's too late
Now I can't think
Think why I should even try
Yesterday seems as though
It never existed
Death greets me warm
Now I will just say goodbye
Bye...
@cnvw974
That’s cool.
Yeah I ave no knowledge of the guitars history, just know the brand is a quality like no other.
I’m just a die hard Metallica fan for 30 years now?
Can’t even estimate how many times I’ve listened to this song and 7 times in person.
That guitar has definitely did something I didn’t think could happen?
Put song on another level.
🤘🏻
@Mart687
Sorry for your loss. I lost my dad, my aunt, my granny the past years. Just my mom and brother left. My neighbor passed away just 2 weeks ago. I used to talk to him quite often when I saw him outside. He was a sweet kind guy and I connected very well with him. I could start to chat with him and before I knew it an hour had passed. Both bikers so lots to talk about.
Hardly anyone knew he had terminal cancer. He didn't want to burden anyone with this. My friend who lived right next to him called me up and told me he passed away half an hour later. What happened? She knew about his plan to end his life with help from doctors. The date and time he picked himself and he wanted to do this alone. Rip John.
Life, it seems, will fade away
Drifting further, every day
Getting lost within myself
Nothing matters, no one else
I have lost the will to live
Simply nothing more to give
There is nothing more for me
Need the end to set me free
@NinjaMarion
It's so weird listening to this now in 2019. I've had depression for 20 years since the start of high school to the point where this was like my anthem. It's been one of my (if not the one) favorite songs ever. I dunno if it helped or just made me wallow in the depression worse, but I listened to the crap out of it and related so much and had so many feelings associated with it.
And now listening to it, after FINALLY getting help and seeing a psychiatrist and treating my mental illnesses, it's weird to hear it again. I still absolutely love the song, but it doesn't resonate in the same way, where I had all the feelings of emptiness, sadness, loneliness, feeling pathetic, and not wanting to exist. Instead, due to the treatment, I no longer hate myself, wish I died, etc, so it doesn't hit me in the same way it used to.
I'm not entirely sure if I'm now just seeing it as an amazing song that once meant the world to me, or if I'm seeing it with gratitude that I made it through to the other side, even if it took 20 years and some help from this song for a broken-brained high school kid who felt things would never be anything but terrible.
Also, yeah, like many others, shocked by how great they still sound, especially when performing this song.
@kantu837
If this isn't played at my funeral, I'm not going.
@daizymonnie9588
😂😂 We will take you by force
@podfathergary3381
That was funny thanks..
@podfathergary3381
😘🤘
@raulsalajan3009
Ok..!!?
@loaf211
hmm
@juankm86
One of the most depressing yet beautiful songs we can ever hear in metal history. Simply perfect!
@arockfloatinginspace4488
"rock history"
@juankm86
a rock floating in space having trouble understanding?
@arockfloatinginspace4488
Fade to black is metal but ok