The lyrics are based on the novel "Johnny Got His Gun" by Dalton Trumbo, an anti-war novel about World War I. A specific passage that inspired the song is: "How could a man lose as much of himself as I have and still live? When a man buys a lottery ticket you never expect him to win because it's a million to one shot. But if he does win, you'll believe it because one in a million still leaves one. If I'd read about a guy like me in the paper I wouldn't believe it, cos it's a million to one. But a million to ONE always leaves one. I'd never expect it to happen to me because the odds of it happening are a million to one. But a million to one always leaves one. One."
In 1971, "Johnny Got His Gun" was made into a film which was directed by Trumbo. Metallica bought the rights to movie after attempts to use images from the movie in the music video, the first in Metallica's career. The video uses images and monologues from the movie.
The song was released in 1989 as the second single taken from the album (the first being "Harvester of Sorrow"). It became the band's first Top 40 single in the United States, peaking at #35 on the Billboard Hot 100, achieving this with absolutely no pop radio airplay - American pop stations refused to play a seven and a half minute long thrash metal song - but mostly on the band of rock radio airplay and the fact that the physical 7'' single had gone sold over 50,000 copies at that point.
For the first 20 seconds of the song there is a series of sound effects with a battle theme; an artillery barrage is heard and continues slightly over a clean tone guitar intro by Hetfield before Kirk Hammett comes in over the top with a clean-toned solo. The song speeds up after Ulrich's drums come in and continues until each chorus, when the guitars become heavy and distorted before returning to clean. There is a second solo by Hammett halfway through the song, before lyrics cut out and the song gradually gets more heavy and distorted until the "machine gun" guitar build up (played alongside two bass drums) before the final, often highly praised, guitar solo by Hammett, and a final dual solo by Hammett and Hetfield.
"One"'s opening A-G modulation was written by Hetfield based on an idea prompted by the song "Buried Alive" by the band Venom.
“ I had been fiddling around with that A-G modulation for a long time. The idea for the opening came from a Venom song called "Buried Alive". The kick drum machine-gun part near the end wasn't written with the war lyrics in mind, it just came out that way. We started that album with Mike Clink as producer. He didn't work out so well, so we got Flemming to come over and save our asses.”
- James Hetfield, Guitar World 1991
This song is featured on Guitar Hero 3.
This was the first single released by the band to feature bassist Jason Newsted. He continued playing with Metallica until 2001.
Metallica performed the song at the Grammy awards in 1989. This was the first year a Grammy was awarded for Hard Rock/Metal Performance, and in a storm of controversy, the Grammy went to Jethro Tull. This was considered a slap in the face to metal and further evidence that the Grammys had become culturally ignorant as the album Jethro Tull was nominated for, Crest of a Knave, could hardly be considered hard rock or heavy metal. In 1991, this slight was avenged when the song won a Grammy Award for Best Metal Performance.
This was included on the 1999 live album S&M, which they recorded with the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra.
KoRn performed this on MTV Icon in 2003.
The name of the statue with the scales on the album cover is "Doris".
Hetfield has said he lifted the intro from Venom's "Buried Alive," a song about being trapped in a casket while being buried alive, similar to the predicament of the character in this song.
Hammett told Kerrang! September 13, 2008 that this track has one of his favorite Metallica guitar solos. He explained: "Specifically, this is the middle solo of the song. Much like 'Enter Sandman' it's a solo that everybody can pretty much sing along to, and it definitely gives me a really good feeling every time I play it."
One
Metallica Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Can't tell if this is true or a dream
Deep down inside I feel to scream
This terrible silence stops me
Now that the war is through with me
I'm waking up, I cannot see
That there's not much left of me
Hold my breath as I wish for death
Oh please, God, wake me
Back in the womb it's much too real
In pumps life that I must feel
But can't look forward to reveal
Look to the time when I'll live
Fed through the tube that sticks in me
Just like a wartime novelty
Tied to machines that make me be
Cut this life off from me
Hold my breath as I wish for death
Oh please, God, wake me
Now the world is gone, I'm just one
Oh God, help me
Hold my breath as I wish for death
Oh please, God, help me
Darkness imprisoning me
All that I see
Absolute horror
I cannot live
I cannot die
Trapped in myself
Body my holding cell
Landmine has taken my sight
Taken my speech
Taken my hearing
Taken my arms
Taken my legs
Taken my soul
Left me with life in hell
The lyrics of Metallica's song One describe the terror and chaos of war and the resulting physical and psychological trauma experienced by soldiers. The singer of the song is a soldier who has lost his limbs and senses due to a landmine explosion during the war. The first verse conveys the confusion and disorientation that the soldier feels as he grapples with the reality of his situation. The second verse describes the physical agony that he endures as he tries to cope with his new reality, as well as his desire for death as a means of escape.
The chorus, "Hold my breath as I wish for death, oh please, God, wake me," is a poignant expression of the soldier's despair and longing for release from his suffering. The final verse paints a vivid picture of the soldier's bleak existence, unable to see, hear, or communicate with the outside world. The repetition of the phrase "Taken my..." emphasizes the totality of his loss, as he is left with only his consciousness as a prisoner of his own body.
Overall, One is a powerful depiction of the human cost of war and the devastating impact it can have on individuals and communities. The song has been praised for its raw emotion and poignant lyrics, and has become an iconic anthem for Metallica fans around the world.
Line by Line Meaning
I can't remember anything
The singer is unable to recall events from their past.
Can't tell if this is true or a dream
The singer is unsure if their current reality is actually happening or just a figment of their imagination.
Deep down inside I feel to scream
The singer is experiencing intense emotion and feels the need to let it out.
This terrible silence stops me
Despite the artist's desire to express their emotions, they are held back by a sense of emptiness and silence.
Now that the war is through with me
The artist is a survivor of a traumatic event, likely a war.
I'm waking up, I cannot see
The singer is coming to consciousness, but is still disoriented and unable to fully comprehend their surroundings.
That there's not much left of me
The traumatic event has taken a significant toll on the singer, physically and/or emotionally.
Nothing is real but pain now
The artist's reality is defined solely by their experience of pain.
Hold my breath as I wish for death
The artist is so consumed by pain that they desire to die.
Oh please, God, wake me
The artist is pleading with a higher power to end their suffering.
Back in the womb it's much too real
The singer longs for the safety and comfort of being in the womb, away from the trauma of reality.
In pumps life that I must feel
The artist is forced to endure the harshness of life, despite their desire to escape it.
But can't look forward to reveal
The singer is unable to see a way out of their current situation, and cannot anticipate what the future may bring.
Look to the time when I'll live
The singer is looking to the future when they hope to find relief from their current suffering and regain a sense of life.
Fed through the tube that sticks in me
The singer is being artificially sustained through a feeding tube.
Just like a wartime novelty
The artist's situation is not unique, and is similar to other war-related injuries experienced by soldiers.
Tied to machines that make me be
The artist is physically connected to machines that are keeping them alive.
Cut this life off from me
The singer wants to end their life, to be free from their current existence.
Now the world is gone, I'm just one
The singer feels completely isolated from the rest of the world, and as if they are the only person left.
Oh God, help me
The artist is once again calling out for divine intervention to end their suffering.
Darkness imprisoning me
The artist is trapped in darkness, both physically and metaphorically.
All that I see
The artist's current reality is bleak and dismal, and all they can perceive is darkness.
Absolute horror
The singer is experiencing complete and utter terror.
I cannot live
The artist does not want to continue living in their current state of existence.
I cannot die
The singer is unable to end their life, perhaps due to their physical state or other factors.
Trapped in myself
The singer is confined within their own body and mind, unable to escape their current state.
Body my holding cell
The singer's body feels like a prison, with no escape in sight.
Landmine has taken my sight
The artist has lost their sight due to a landmine explosion.
Taken my speech
The artist can no longer speak, likely due to injury or trauma.
Taken my hearing
The singer has lost their ability to hear, either partially or completely.
Taken my arms
The singer has lost the use of their arms or has had them amputated.
Taken my legs
The artist has lost the use of their legs or has had them amputated.
Taken my soul
The artist's trauma has affected them on a spiritual level, leaving them feeling empty and bereft.
Left me with life in hell
The artist's experience has left them in a perpetual state of suffering and torment, with no end in sight.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: James Alan Hetfield, Lars Ulrich
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@chem1378
0:20 Intro Riff
0:38 Intro Solo Part
0:55 Drums Begin
1:14 Main Clean Riff
1:46 Cue james
2:14 Chorus
3:02 Chorus 2
3:15 Mini Solo thing kirk does
3:36 “Im just oneeeee”
3:54 Riff buildup to double kick
4:20 CUE THE DOULBE KICK DRUM
4:38 CUE THE RIFF
4:55 DARKNESS INPRISONING ME
5:13 LANDMINE HAS TAKEN MY SIGHT
5:21 Cue the riff 2
5:47 Kirk solo time
6:37 Kirk Riff Thing
7:10 Outro Riff
One of my favourite songs from metallica so unique how this song has so many parts to it
@JonathanRLight
I can't remember anything
Can't tell if this is true or a dream
Deep down inside I feel to scream
This terrible silence stops me
Now that the war is through with me
I'm waking up I cannot see
That there's not much left of me
Nothing is real but pain now
Hold my breath as I wish for death
Oh please God wake me
Back in the womb it's much too real
In pumps life that I must feel
But can't look forward to reveal
Look to the time when I'll live
Fed through the tube that sticks in me
Just like a wartime novelty
Tied to machines that make me be
Cut this life off from me
Hold my breath as I wish for death
Oh please God wake me
Now the world is gone I'm just one
Oh God help me
Hold my breath as I wish for death
Oh please God help me
Darkness imprisoning me
All that I see
Absolute horror
I cannot live
I cannot die
Trapped in myself
Body my holding cell
Landmine has taken my sight
Taken my speech
Taken my hearing
Taken my arms
Taken my legs
Taken my soul
Left me with life in hell
@klevznet
In my opinion. this is the greatest Metallica song. Incomparable.
@justanordinaryguy6882
Fade to Black?????
@santiagoolano2049
@@justanordinaryguy6882 Fade to Black X2
@imadeldeinalitani1320
Enter Sandman
@Illsleblanc
The Unforgiven...
@justanordinaryguy6882
@@Illsleblanc the number 2
@muhammadirsyazman8389
Imagine some 13-14 years old kid listening to this song for the first time in the 80’s
@michaelcolen2523
Me
@adamofgrayskull7735
Me too
@Jubular
Yes, that was meeeeeeeee