Memory
Metallica Lyrics
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Mirror vain
Gone insane
(But the memory remains) Yeah
Heavy rings on fingers wave
Another star denies the grave
See the nowhere crowd cry the nowhere tears of honor
Like twisted vines that grow
Hide and swallow mansions whole
And dim the light of an already faded prima donna
Fortune fame
Mirror vain
Gone insane
Fortune fame
Mirror vain
Gone insane
But the (memory remains) yeah
Heavy rings hold cigarettes
Up to lips that time forgets
While the Hollywood sun sets behind your back
And can't the band play on
Just listen, they play my song
Ash to ash
Dust to dust
Fade to black
Fortune, fame
Mirror vain
Gone insane
Fortune, fame
Mirror vain
Gone insane
Dance little tin goddess
Sing it for us!
(Na na na na na na na na na da)
(Na na na na na na na na na na da na)
(Na na na na na na na na na da na na na)
(Na na na na na na na da na)
Drift away
Fade away
Little tin goddess
Ash to ash
Dust to dust
Fade to black
Fortune, fame
Mirror vain
Gone insane
Fortune, fame
Mirror vain
Gone insane
But the memory remains
Ash to ash (ash to ash)
Dust to dust (dust to dust)
Fade to black (fade to black)
The memories remain
Yeah
Like a faded prima donna
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Ah, suck it
Dance little tin goddess dance
(Na na na na na na na na na da)
Sing it baby
(Na na na na na na na na na na da na)
(Na na na na na na na na na da na na na)
(Na na na na na na na da na)
Sing it, sing!
(Na na na na na na na na na da)
(Na na na na na na na na na na da na)
(Na na na na na na na na na da na na na)
(Na na na na na na na da na)
(Na na na na na na na na na da)
(Na na na na na na na na na na da na)
(Na na na na na na na na na da na na na)
(Na na na na na na na da na)
The lyrics of Metallica's The Memory Remains seem to explore the concept of fame and its fleeting nature. The first verse talks about the allure of fortune and fame, the mirror's reflection of one's image feeding into one's vanity, and how sometimes the pursuit of these things can drive one insane. However, despite the fleeting nature of fame and its potential to drive one to madness, the memory of these experiences remains.
The second verse describes heavy rings on fingers, portraying an image of someone who has achieved success and amassed wealth. The phrase "another star denies the grave" suggests that even though many famous individuals may have passed on, their legacy and memory lives on through their work. The verse ends with a darker note, describing how twisted vines grow and swallow mansions whole, dimming the light of a faded prima donna, perhaps symbolizing the fleeting nature of fame.
The refrain repeats the phrases "fortune, fame, mirror vain, gone insane" as if to mimic the relentless cycle of chasing success that can often lead to madness. However, despite this cycle, the memories of these experiences remain. The song ends with the repetition of "ash to ash, dust to dust, fade to black," a reference to death and the ephemeral nature of life.
Line by Line Meaning
Fortune fame
Wealth and celebrity status
Mirror vain
Obsession with physical appearance and self-image
Gone insane
Lost touch with reality
(But the memory remains) Yeah
But the past still lingers and shapes us
Heavy rings on fingers wave
Display of wealth and power
Another star denies the grave
Fame can grant immortality
See the nowhere crowd cry the nowhere tears of honor
People often praise and idolize the famous regardless of substance
Like twisted vines that grow
Corruption can spread and take over
Hide and swallow mansions whole
Wealth can consume and destroy lives
And dim the light of an already faded prima donna
Fame fades over time and can't be sustained forever
Heavy rings hold cigarettes
Continuation of the display of wealth and power
Up to lips that time forgets
Trying to hold on to youth and vitality
While the Hollywood sun sets behind your back
The end of a career or life as the sun symbolizes endings
And can't the band play on
The desire to continue despite adversity
Just listen, they play my song
The fame and legacy of the artist
Ash to ash
Symbolism of death and endings
Dust to dust
Symbolism of death and endings
Fade to black
Symbolism of death and endings
Dance little tin goddess
Addressing the object of fame and worship
Sing it for us!
The expectation of the artist to keep performing
Drift away
Succumbing to death or loss of status
Little tin goddess
Reference to the object of fame and worship
Ash to ash
Symbolism of death and endings
Dust to dust
Symbolism of death and endings
Fade to black
Symbolism of death and endings
But the memory remains
The past still has power and influence
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: James Alan Hetfield, Lars Ulrich
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@Wagdaddy_09
Fortune, fame
Mirror, vain
Gone insane
But the memory remains
Heavy rings on fingers wave
Another star denies the grave
See the nowhere crowd cry the nowhere tears of honor
Like twisted vines that grow
Hide and swallow mansions whole
Dim the light of an already faded prima donna
Fortune, fame
Mirror, vain
Gone insane
Fortune, fame
Mirror, vain
Gone insane
But the memory remains
Heavy rings hold cigarettes
Up to lips that time forgets
While the Hollywood sun sets behind your back
And can't the band play on?
Just listen, they play my song
Ash to ash
Dust to dust
Fade to black
Fortune, fame
Mirror, vain
Gone insane
Fortune, fame
Mirror, vain
Gone insane
Dance, little tin goddess
La, da, da, da, la, da, da, da, la, da, da, da
La, da, da, da, la, da, da, da, la, da, da, da
La, da, da, da, la, da, da, da, la, da, da, da
La, da, da, da, la, da, da, da, la, da, da, da
Drift away
Fade away, little tin goddess
Ash to ash
Dust to dust
Fade to black
Fortune, fame
Mirror, vain
Gone insane
Fortune, fame
Mirror, vain
Gone insane
But the memory remains
Ash to ash
Dust to dust
Fades to black
The memory remains, yeah
To this faded prima donna
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Dance, little tin goddess, dance
La, da, da, da, la, da, da, da, la, da, da, da
La, da, da, da, la, da, da, da, la, da, da, da
La, da, da, da, la, da, da, da, la, da, da, da
La, da, da, da, la, da, da, da, la, da, da, da
La, da, da, da, la, da, da, da, la, da, da, da
La, da, da, da, la, da, da, da, la, da, da, da
La, da, da, da, la, da, da, da, la, da, da, da (say yes)
La, da, da, da, la, da, da (at least say hello)
La, da, da, da, la (say yes)
La, da, da, da, la, da, da (at least say hello)
La, da, da, da, da
La, da, da, da, da, da
@ronyber8026
Lyrics
Fortune fame mirror vain gone insane
But the memory remains
Heavy rings on fingers wave
Another star denies the grave
See the nowhere crowd cry the nowhere tears of honor
Like twisted vines that grow
Hide and swallow mansions whole
And dim the light of an already faded prima donna
Fortune fame mirror vain gone insane
Fortune fame mirror vain gone insane
But the memory remains
Heavy rings hold cigarettes
Up to lips that time forgets
While the hollywood sun sets behind your back
And can't the band play on
Just listen, they play my song
Ash to ash Dust to dust Fade to black
Fortune, fame mirror vain gone insane (insane)
Fortune, fame mirror vain gone insane
Dance little tin goddess
na na da
Drift away fade away
Little tin goddess
Ash to ash dust to dust fade to black
Fortune, fame mirror vain gone insane (insane)
Fortune, fame mirror vain gone insane
But the memory remains
Ash to ash dust to dust fade to black
The memories remain yeah
To this faded prima donna yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Dance little tin goddess dance
na na da
(Say yes, at least say hello) (na ra ra na da da da) na na da
(Say yes, at least say hello) (na ra ra na da da da) na na da
@yourmumlikesthisd
I can’t unhear it
@robertpaulson2946
lars is gayyyy
@MorbidSodom
But the gayest gay is James
@Puff_123
me neither
@First.Take.Jake.
Neither. I'm learning the parody and IMO it sounds better than this (the mixing). Still a good song though!
@chair3439
Wait til you hear what Rucka did with Master of Puppets
@Goldd__
i cant stop hearing...
@oobes1891
KIRK IS GAY🗣🗣🗣🗣🗣🗣🔥🔥🔥🔥💯💯💯💯💯💯
@SanchoG2008
ROBERT IS GAYY🗣🗣🗣🗣🗣🗣🗣🗣⚠️⚠️‼️‼️‼️❓️@@oobes1891
@funni387
@@oobes1891😭😭