The Small Hours
Metallica Lyrics


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(Originally recorded by Holocaust)

Look out at the darkness, and you will see
Just call my name and I'll be there
You cannot touch me, you would not dare
I am the chill that's in the air

And I try to get through to you, in my own special way
As the barriers crumble, at the end of the day, a-ha

Dark rivers are flowing, back into the past
You are the fish for which I cast
And what of the future, what is to be
As the rivers flow into the sea

And I try to get through to you, in my own special way
As the barriers crumble, at the end of the day

Do not take for granted, powers out there
Don't step into the demon's lair
Time is an illusion, rising from time
Steep is the mountain which we climb





And I try to get through to you, in my own special way
As the barriers crumble, at the end of the day

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Metallica's song "The Small Hours" are dark and mysterious, with a sense of foreboding and danger lurking just beneath the surface. The singer speaks of being a chilling presence in the air, something that cannot be touched and would not be dared. He attempts to reach out to the listener in his own special way, as the barriers crumble at the end of the day. The imagery of dark rivers flowing back into the past and the fish being caught suggests a sense of inevitability and a lack of control, as if the singer is speaking of forces that are beyond his or anyone's control. The final lines, warning not to take for granted the powers out there and not to step into the demon's lair, add to the sense of danger and suggest that there is a price to be paid for meddling with these unknown powers.


Overall, the lyrics to "The Small Hours" evoke a sense of impending doom and an awareness of forces that are beyond our comprehension. The singer warns of the dangers of meddling with the unknown and suggests that we must be cautious and respectful of the power that surrounds us.


Line by Line Meaning

Look out at the darkness, and you will see
Observe the gloom and you will recognise


Just call my name and I'll be there
Merely state my title and I shall appear


You cannot touch me, you would not dare
You are unable to encounter me, you lack the courage


I am the chill that's in the air
I am the freezing temperature that fills the atmosphere


And I try to get through to you, in my own special way
And I endeavour to reach out to you, in my unique manner


As the barriers crumble, at the end of the day, a-ha
As the barricades collapse, come sundown, uh-huh


Dark rivers are flowing, back into the past
Obtenebrate currents are streaming, towards antiquity


You are the fish for which I cast
You are the prey for which I angle


And what of the future, what is to be
And what happens in the days ahead, what is fated


As the rivers flow into the sea
As the currents glide into the ocean


Do not take for granted, powers out there
Do not assume that abilities exist without consequence


Don't step into the demon's lair
Do not enter the hideout of the malevolent entity


Time is an illusion, rising from time
Chronology is a deception, born from chronology


Steep is the mountain which we climb
Exceedingly difficult is the obstacle we ascend




Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: JOHN GRANT MORTIMER

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Nino Amora


on No Remorse

im a dieharn fan of metalica

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