Now That We're Dead
Metallica Lyrics


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When darkness falls, may it be
That we should see the light
When reaper calls, may it be
That we walk straight and right

When doubt returns, may it be
That faith shall permeate our scars
When we're seduced, then may it be
That we not deviate our cause

All sinners, a future
All saints, a past
Beginning, the ending
Return to ash

Now that we're dead, my dear
We can be together
Now that we're dead, my dear
We can live forever

When all is pain, may it be
It's all we've ever known
When flame consumes, may it be
It warms our dying bones

When loss has won, may it be
It's you I'm madly fighting for
When kingdom comes, may it be
We walk right through that open door

All sinners, a future
All saints, a past
Beginning, the ending
Return to ash

Now that we're dead, my dear
We can be together
Now that we're dead, my dear
We can live forever

All sinners, a future
All saints, a past
Beginning, the ending
Return to ash

Now that we're dead, my dear
We can be together
Now that we're dead, my dear
We can live, we can live forever
Return to ashes, shed this skin




Beyond the black, we rise again
We shall live forever

Overall Meaning

In "Now That We're Dead," Metallica explores themes of life, death, and what comes after. The lyrics are a mixture of hopefulness and despair, reflecting the human experience of facing mortality. It begins with the line "when darkness falls, may it be that we should see the light," which suggests that the band is embracing the idea that life is finite and that we should appreciate every moment of it. The lyrics also touch on the hope that when we die, we will join our loved ones who have already passed on. The line "now that we're dead, my dear, we can be together" is both melancholic and romantic. It speaks to the human desire for connection and companionship, even in death.


The song's chorus is both affirming and nihilistic. The repetition of the line "now that we're dead, my dear, we can live forever" suggests that death is not an end, but the beginning of something new. However, the phrase "return to ash" implies that any sense of individuality or meaningful existence is ultimately fleeting. Despite this, the band seems to embrace both perspectives, encouraging listeners to live life to the fullest, while also acknowledging the inevitability of death.


Metallica's "Now That We're Dead" is a reflection of their signature sound, blending elements of heavy metal and hard rock. The song is the third track on their 10th studio album, "Hardwired... to Self-Destruct," and was released in 2016. It was produced by Greg Fidelman, who also produced the band's previous album, "Death Magnetic." Metallica has described the album as a return to their roots, with a focus on heavy, riff-driven songs and emotionally charged lyrics. The album received critical acclaim and was a commercial success, reaching the top of the charts in several countries.


Line by Line Meaning

When darkness falls, may it be That we should see the light
May we see hope in despair


When reaper calls, may it be That we walk straight and right
May we keep our morality when we confront death


When doubt returns, may it be That faith shall permeate our scars
May we hold on to hope during moments of uncertainty and pain


When we're seduced, then may it be That we not deviate our cause
May we remain committed to our beliefs even when tempted


All sinners, a future All saints, a past Beginning, the ending Return to ash
Regardless of our life choices, all will eventually perish and return to dust


Now that we're dead, my dear We can be together
Death is a reunion where we are no longer separated from loved ones


When all is pain, may it be It's all we've ever known
May we find comfort in suffering we've always experienced


When flame consumes, may it be It warms our dying bones
May we find comfort in painful circumstances


When loss has won, may it be It's you I'm madly fighting for
May our loved ones be our motivation to move forward despite loss


When kingdom comes, may it be We walk right through that open door
Despite difficulty, may we keep moving forward towards our goals


Return to ashes, shed this skin Beyond the black, we rise again We shall live forever
Death is not the end; we will continue to live on beyond the physical realm.


Now that we're dead, my dear We can live, we can live forever
Death offers a path to immortality




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: JAMES ALAN HETFIELD, LARS ULRICH

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comments from YouTube:

@loook611

When darkness falls, may it be
That we should see the light
When reaper calls, may it be
That we walk straight and right
When doubt returns, may it be
That faith shall permeate our scars
When we're seduced, then may it be
That we not deviate our cause
All sinners, a future
All saints, a past
Beginning, the ending
Return to ash
Now that we're dead, my dear
We can be together
Now that we're dead, my dear
We can live, we can live forever
When all is pain, may it be
It's all we've ever known
When flame consumes, may it be
It warms our dying bones
When loss has won, may it be
It's you I'm madly fighting for
When kingdom comes, may it be
We walk right through that open door
All sinners, a future
All saints, a past
Beginning, the ending
Return to ash
Now that we're dead, my dear
We can be together
Now that we're dead, my dear
We can live, we can live forever
All sinners, a future
All saints, a past
Beginning, the ending
Return to ash
Now that we're dead, my dear
We can be together
Now that we're dead, my dear
We can live, we can live forever
Return to ashes, shed this skin
Beyond the black, we rise again
We shall live forever



@psycheros19

This is just what Metallica needs, a simple, clean video for each of
their song. The band plays tight in a studio, black ensemble as their
signature for the outfits, amps, great lighting. It still allows the listeners to have
different meanings to the song as James said it in an interview back in
the 90s but also maintaining the band's presence in digital media to
stay relatable with current generation. Coz their music speaks for
themselves, and their live performance is much more awaited. Their live
performance will always sound more attractive than from hearing the
music through the LPs. Long live Metallica!!!



@sonoffreedom4930

The Drums opening is sic and the drive is mean... This Song is pure Badass and James has Genius Lyrics 🤘

When darkness falls, may it be
That we should see the light
When reaper calls, may it be
That we walk straight and right

When doubt returns, may it be
That faith shall permeate our scars
When we're seduced, then may it be
That we not deviate our cause

All sinners, a future
All saints, a past
Beginning, the ending
Return to ash

Now that we're dead, my dear
We can be together
Now that we're dead, my dear
We can live, we can live forever

When all is pain, may it be
It's all we've ever known
When flame consumes, may it be
It warms our dying bones

When loss has won, may it be
It's you I'm madly fighting for
When kingdom comes, may it be
We walk right through that open door

All sinners, a future
All saints, a past
Beginning, the ending
Return to ash

Now that we're dead, my dear
We can be together
Now that we're dead, my dear
We can live, we can live forever

All sinners, a future
All saints, a past
Beginning, the ending
Return to ash

Now that we're dead, my dear
We can be together
Now that we're dead, my dear
We can live, we can live forever

Return to ashes, shed this skin
Beyond the black, we rise again
We shall live forever



All comments from YouTube:

@FreakWorldOfficial

Now that was good!

@theX24968Z

still better than hardwired

@noratamas9206

Cody Mun. dell

@wardor9214

Freak World METALLICA STILL KICKING ASS TO THIS DAY!!!!!!I

@elcid5033

perfection

@Someone-nj6gd

Théophile Augustus if you hate metal then why the fuck you are here?

18 More Replies...

@Mr.Wonderful731

James is a national treasure. His rhythms are legendary. 🤘

@jasonsmillie1141

Seriously dude can make gold up on the spot.

@kylecrs

Agreed

@roseolson4262

Absolutely!! 🤘🏻😎🤘🏻

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