One
Metallica Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning | Line by Line Meaning

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

Overall Meaning

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 protagonist 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 speaker is unable to recall events from their past.


Can't tell if this is true or a dream
The speaker is unsure if their current reality is actually happening or just a figment of their imagination.


Deep down inside I feel to scream
The speaker is experiencing intense emotion and feels the need to let it out.


This terrible silence stops me
Despite the speaker'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 speaker is a survivor of a traumatic event, likely a war.


I'm waking up, I cannot see
The speaker 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 speaker, physically and/or emotionally.


Nothing is real but pain now
The speaker's reality is defined solely by their experience of pain.


Hold my breath as I wish for death
The speaker is so consumed by pain that they desire to die.


Oh please, God, wake me
The speaker is pleading with a higher power to end their suffering.


Back in the womb it's much too real
The speaker 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 speaker is forced to endure the harshness of life, despite their desire to escape it.


But can't look forward to reveal
The speaker 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 speaker 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 speaker is being artificially sustained through a feeding tube.


Just like a wartime novelty
The speaker's situation is not unique, and is similar to other war-related injuries experienced by soldiers.


Tied to machines that make me be
The speaker is physically connected to machines that are keeping them alive.


Cut this life off from me
The speaker wants to end their life, to be free from their current existence.


Now the world is gone, I'm just one
The speaker feels completely isolated from the rest of the world, and as if they are the only person left.


Oh God, help me
The speaker is once again calling out for divine intervention to end their suffering.


Darkness imprisoning me
The speaker is trapped in darkness, both physically and metaphorically.


All that I see
The speaker's current reality is bleak and dismal, and all they can perceive is darkness.


Absolute horror
The speaker is experiencing complete and utter terror.


I cannot live
The speaker does not want to continue living in their current state of existence.


I cannot die
The speaker is unable to end their life, perhaps due to their physical state or other factors.


Trapped in myself
The speaker is confined within their own body and mind, unable to escape their current state.


Body my holding cell
The speaker's body feels like a prison, with no escape in sight.


Landmine has taken my sight
The speaker has lost their sight due to a landmine explosion.


Taken my speech
The speaker can no longer speak, likely due to injury or trauma.


Taken my hearing
The speaker has lost their ability to hear, either partially or completely.


Taken my arms
The speaker has lost the use of their arms or has had them amputated.


Taken my legs
The speaker has lost the use of their legs or has had them amputated.


Taken my soul
The speaker's trauma has affected them on a spiritual level, leaving them feeling empty and bereft.


Left me with life in hell
The speaker's experience has left them in a perpetual state of suffering and torment, with no end in sight.




Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: James Alan Hetfield, Lars Ulrich

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Song not found
Most interesting comments from YouTube:

THE DREAMER

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



Chem 13

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



All comments from YouTube:

Dr. Beau Hightower

Masterpiece of masterpieces

DAVID GEERLING

Great song !!

flow repins666

master of puppets!

idk bro

Great but master of puppets is better

austen

Master of Masterpieces

Kim Gooley

ONE of the best songs:)

35 More Replies...

Rob C.

This isn’t just a “top metal song”. This is easily in the top 100 greatest songs ever made.

Engla Blaz Shield

Toda la maldita razón!!

X-H̵e̴a̴v̸y̷R̴a̷i̷d̵e̵n̶-X

I just can't describe how amazing this song is, years and years passed and i still get goosebumps listening to it. The message is very tragic but important. The way it's all tied up is simply amazing and epic. Badass masterpiece.

Elijah Ussery

And in the top 100, it’s at number one (pun intended)

More Comments

More Videos