Cover versions include:
Dark Tranquillity on Metal Militia - A Tribute To Metallica, Compilation CD, 1994 Black Sun Records.
My Friend of Misery
Metallica Lyrics
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Fearing no one was listening to you
They say the empty can rattles the most
The sound of your voice must soothe you
Hearing only what you want to hear
And knowing only what you've heard
You, you're smothered in tragedy
And you're up to save the world
Misery, you insist that the weight of the world
Should be on your shoulders
Misery there's much more to life than what you see
My friend of misery
You still stood there screaming
No one caring about these words you tell
My friend before your voice is gone
One man's fun is another's hell
These times are sent to try men's souls
But something's wrong with all you see
You, you'll take it on all yourself
Remember, misery loves company
Misery, you insist that the weight of the world
Should be on your shoulders
Misery there's much more to life than what you see
My friend of misery (my friend of misery)
Misery, you insist that the weight of the world
Should be on your shoulders
Misery there's much more to life than what you see
My friend of misery
You just stood there screaming, oh
My friend of misery, yeah, yeah, oh
The lyrics to Metallica's song "My Friend of Misery" depict someone who is screaming out for attention and validation, believing that they are carrying the weight of the world on their shoulders. The opening lines suggest that this person is speaking but no one is listening, leading to a feeling of emptiness and a desire to be heard. The line "they say the empty can rattles the most" implies that even though this person may be making a lot of noise, they may not truly have much to say.
The chorus repeats the word "misery" and emphasizes the idea that this person is burdened by their own tragic circumstances and feels that they must save the world on their own. The repeated line "misery loves company" could suggest that this person may be trying to bring others down to their level, rather than lifting themselves up.
The second verse suggests that this person continues to shout into the void, but no one is taking them seriously. The line "one man's fun is another's hell" is a reminder that our experiences and perspectives are subjective, and that what may seem like a big deal to one person may not be significant to someone else. The final lines of the song repeat the opening verse, perhaps suggesting that this person is trapped in a cycle of feeling unheard and unimportant.
Line by Line Meaning
You just stood there screaming
You were shouting out loud, hoping that someone would hear you.
Fearing no one was listening to you
You were afraid that nobody was paying attention to your words.
They say the empty can rattles the most
People say that those who have nothing to say, usually talk the most.
The sound of your voice must soothe you
The sound of your own voice helps to calm you down.
Hearing only what you want to hear
You only listen to what you want to hear, ignoring other important information.
And knowing only what you've heard
You only know what you have heard from others, without checking the facts yourself.
You, you're smothered in tragedy
You are overwhelmed by tragic events and cannot think clearly.
And you're up to save the world
You want to take responsibility for saving the world, even though it's beyond your capabilities.
Misery, you insist that the weight of the world
Should be on your shoulders
You believe that it's your duty to carry the burden of the world's problems on your own shoulders.
Misery there's much more to life than what you see
My friend of misery
There is more to life than just the negative events that you perceive. You are my friend, even though you are suffering.
No one caring about these words you tell
Nobody is concerned about the words you are saying, as they are not relevant to them.
My friend before your voice is gone
Before you lose your voice, I want to tell you something important.
One man's fun is another's hell
What is enjoyable for one person may not be the same for another person as it may cause misery to them.
These times are sent to try men's souls
Difficult times test a person's character and willpower.
But something's wrong with all you see
There is something wrong with your perspective and the way you view the world.
You, you'll take it on all yourself
You are determined to take on everything by yourself, even though it's impossible.
Remember, misery loves company
When someone is unhappy, they like to have others around them who are also unhappy as it makes them feel better.
You just stood there screaming, oh
You continued to shout out loud, hoping that someone would eventually hear you.
My friend of misery, yeah, yeah, oh
You are my friend, even though you are suffering from misery.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: James Alan Hetfield, Jason C. Newsted, Lars Ulrich
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Nino Amora
on No Remorse
im a dieharn fan of metalica