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
@ryla6620
LYRICS
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
@Mike_B.
0:22 Doctor - "The cerebrum has suffered massive and irreparable damage"
0:28 Doctor - "I not been sure of this I would not have permitted him to live"
0:34 Joe - "Where am I? What happened?"
0:40 Young J - "What is democracy?"
Father - "It's got something to do with young men killing each other I believe
Young J - "But when It comes my turn, would you want me to go?"
Father - "For democracy, any man would give his only begotten son"
1:15 Doctor - " It is impossible for a decerebrated individual to experience pain, pleasure, memory, dreams, or thought of any kind. This young man will be as unfeeling as I'm thinking as the dead, until the day he joins them."
1:32 Joe - "I don't know whether I'm alive and dreaming or dead and remembering. How can you tell what's a dream and what's real when you can't even tell when you're awake and when you're asleep?"
2:21 Joe - " They just went ahead and chopped off everything. Oh God, please make them hear me. They won't listen, they won't hear me. IF YOU DON'T WAKE ME UP, I'LL BE LIKE THIS FOR YEARS!!! Hear meee..."
3:09 Joe - "I'm like a piece of meat that keeps on living..."
3:24 Joe - "It won't always be like this way. I CAN'T LIVE LIKE THIS, I CAN'T! PLEASE NO - I CAN'T - I CAN'T - HELP ME - SOMEBODY PLEASE HELP ME! MOTHER, WHERE ARE YA, HELP ME MOTHER I'M HAVING A NIGHTMARE AND I CAN'T WAKE UP!!"
4:00 Joe - "Me lying here like some freak in a carnival show."
Carnival guy - "HE IS THE ARMLESS, LEGLESS, WONDER of the 20th century."
4:24 Brit General - "Death has a dignity all it's known"
4:37 Joe - "Father, I need help. I'm in terrible trouble and I need help."
4:43 Father - "Don't you remember when you were little... How you and Bill Harper used to string a wire between the two houses so you can telegraph to each other. Still remember the morse code?
5:05 Guard - "It's Morse Code."
General - "Of What?"
Guard - "S.O.S. Help"
At this point, General tells the Guard to ask Joe what he wants. Joe says he wants out so that people can see what he is. He asks to be put at a carnival show. General declines. Joe says that if that if the general won't let people see him, he just asks to be killed. General dismissed the topic and asked what his name was.
5:23 General - "What's he saying now?"
Guard - "Just kill me, over and over again, kill me"
5:33 General - "Don't you have some message for him Padre?"
Priest - " He's the product of your profession, not mine"
6:05 Joe - "Kill me, I'm asking you to kill me" (Nurse tries to put him out of his misery) "Thank you"- Joe says (General catches nurse's doings, he let's her out)
6:23 Joe - "Pray for me please "
6:27 Father - "Each man faces death by himself, alone."
6:41 Joe - "Inside me, I'm screaming. Nobody pays any attention. If I had arms, I could kill myself. If I had legs, I could run away. If I had a voice ,I could talk and be some kind of company for myself. Why don't they get it over with and kill me? I could yield for help, but nobody would help me.
I've just got to do something. I don't see how I can go on like this."
7:07 Joe - S.O.S Help Me.
7:24 Keep the home fires burning
While your hearts are yearning
Though your lads are far away
They dream of home
@joseycrzz6212
I can't remember anything
Can't tell if this is true or 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 is 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
@ANUNNATEMPLE
LYRICS:
I can't remember anything
Can't tell if this is true or dream
Deep down inside I feel the scream
This terrible silence stops with 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
@JBrander
Joe Bonham's (the guy with the square mask in the video) injuries:
- Arms and legs are all amputated (he can't touch or walk anymore)
- Both eyes destroyed (can't see)
- Lower jaw removed (can't speak or make sounds with his mouth)
- Most of frontal face destroyed, including nose (can't smell)
- Voicebox/throat damaged (can't scream or produce his voice)
- Eardrums destroyed (can't hear)
The only 2-way communication he has left is people spelling out letters in his chest
And he can only answer back is through morse code by banging his head on the pillow.
This is probably one, if not, the most absolute worst fate you can suffer.
EDIT: And i'd like to add that they were doing experiments on him. He straight up declared through morse code that he wanted to die, but the officials in charge just shrugged it off and kept him locked away for further experiments.
@AmigoKandu
"Johnny Got His Gun" was fiction inspired by a gruesome true story about a Canadian soldier from World War I. During battle, a mortar shell hits very close to "Johnny" Joe Bonham, causing severe physical damage.
"Johnny Got His Gun" is an anti-war novel written in 1938 by American novelist Dalton Trumbo and published in September 1939 by J. B. Lippincott.
In the 1971 movie version, the hospital scenes are filmed in black & white tone... while Johnny's thoughts and dreams are in color.
Johnny's mouth, nose, eyes, and ears, also arms & legs, are gone.
Johnny can feel when the nurse touches him.
Johnny remembers his father taught him Morse Code Signals for the alphabet.
Johnny hits his head against his pillow using Morse Code, the visiting soldier recognizes that Johnny is saying "Kill Me".
I want to thank my 10th grade teacher Mrs Drobnies for introducing "Johnny Got His Gun" to us.
Even though an anti-war book & film... we can look at our fellow humans that have speech impediments, or can't speak at all, and have compassion to try to listen, somehow.
@rhager842
For those wondering, this music video uses excerpts from the movie "Johnny Got His Gun"
Based on the book of the same name, the movie follows the story of Joe Bonham, a young man who was drafted into World War I. After being hit by an artillery shell, his face, legs, and arms were blown off. He can still think, reason, dream, and feel, but he can't speak, hear, see, or move. He has no idea where he is, when he is, or how long he's been like that.
Imagine being trapped in your own body, with almost no way to interact with the outside world. Imagine being a prisoner, locked inside of your own mind. A minute in our world feels like a year to him. That's the horror he's experiencing.
Edit: 8-9-2024 5:03 AM
Happy 12k likes! It's been a while since I've visited this comment, but I just wanted to say thanks for the support! I'm glad my comment could instill such positive feelings on so many people. This isn't to beg for more likes or more attention, just to say thank you to all the people who thought my comment was worth giving a like. So, thanks!
@russellfeirn1261
Fully understandable
@russellfeirn1261
And for democracy he gave his ONLY son to war back before they had to have the bloodline stay correct?
@shannonwalker2736
Me and my friend actually rented the movie in black and white at a video store in maybe 1983 or so 🤔 lol its been a while but that's one that you won't ever forget...and then boooimm Metallica brought his story to life...much love and respect🖤🤍❤
@WreckerR
I finally got to see this movie a month back. Damn, what an ending...
@chadburdick5771
@@WreckerR I think it's two fold story, true but also about Hetfields addiction issues. My favorite Metallica song. Just my opinion.
@klevznet
In my opinion. This is the greatest Metallica song. Incomparable.
@justanordinaryguy6882
Fade to Black?????
@santiagoolano2049
@@justanordinaryguy6882 Fade to Black X2
@imadeldeinalitani1320
Enter Sandman