The Unforgiven
Metallica Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

New blood joins this earth
And quickly he's subdued
Through constant pained disgrace
The young boy learns their rules
With time the child draws in
This whipping boy done wrong
Deprived of all his thoughts
The young man struggles on and on, he's known
Ooh, a vow unto his own
That never from this day
His will they'll take away

What I've felt
What I've known
Never shined through in what I've shown
Never be
Never see
Won't see what might have been
What I've felt
What I've known
Never shined through in what I've shown
Never free
Never me
So I dub thee unforgiven

They dedicate their lives
To running all of his
He tries to please them all
This bitter man he is
Throughout his life the same
He's battled constantly
This fight he cannot win
A tired man they see no longer cares
The old man then prepares
To die regretfully
That old man here is me

What I've felt
What I've known
Never shined through in what I've shown
Never be
Never see
Won't see what might have been
What I've felt
What I've known
Never shined through in what I've shown
Never free
No, never me
So I dub thee unforgiven

Ayy
Huh, okay, oh
Yeah

What I've felt
What I've known
Never shined through in what I've shown
Never be
Never see
Won't see what might have been
What I've felt
What I've known
Never shined through in what I've shown
Never free
No, never me
So I dub the unforgiven

Never free
Never me
So I dub the unforgiven

You labeled me
I'll label you
So I dub the unforgiven, ayy-ayy

Never free
Never me
So I dub the unforgiven

You labeled me
I'll label you
So I dub the unforgiven

Never free
Never me
We live

Overall Meaning

"The Unforgiven" by Metallica tells the story of an individual who has grown up in a world that has defined what he can and cannot be based on their own strict rules. The singer is referred to as "young boy" and "young man," and it is evident that he has been subjected to torment and pain to the point where he no longer knows who he is. The lyrics "What I've felt, what I've known, never shined through in what I've shown," emphasizes how the singer feels invisible and disregarded, forced to live a life according to someone else's standards. However, the young man makes a vow to himself that he will not let anyone take his will from him.


As the song continues, it becomes clear that the singer's life has been determined by people who had taken away his freedom to be who he wants to be. The man becomes resigned to his fate and knows that there is no way he will ever please his oppressors. The lyrics, "This fight he cannot win, tired man they see no longer cares, the old man then prepares, to die regretfully, that old man here is me," showcase how the singer has aged and is left with regrets as he sees the end of his life. The label of the "unforgiven" is a counter-curse in the song, the singer labels someone who had labeled him unforgiven, indicating that there are others like him out there.


Line by Line Meaning

New blood joins this earth
A new person enters this world


And quickly he's subdued
But soon, he is oppressed


Through constant pained disgrace
He faces a lifetime of suffering and shame


The young boy learns their rules
As a child, he learns the oppressive rules of society


With time the child draws in
As he grows up, he becomes more introverted


This whipping boy done wrong
He is punished for things he did not do


Deprived of all his thoughts
His thoughts and beliefs are not respected


The young man struggles on and on, he's known
As an adult, he continues to struggle, despite being known by others


Ooh, a vow unto his own
He makes a promise to himself


That never from this day
To never allow anyone to control his will


His will they'll take away
He fears others may take away his free will


What I've felt
My emotions


What I've known
What I've learned


Never shined through in what I've shown
My true feelings have never been apparent to others


Never be
I will never be


Never see
I will never see


Won't see what might have been
I will never know what could have been


So I dub thee unforgiven
Therefore, I give up on seeking forgiveness


They dedicate their lives
Others dedicate their lives


To running all of his
To controlling and manipulating him


He tries to please them all
He attempts to please everyone he encounters


This bitter man he is
But the bitterness inside him remains


Throughout his life the same
His struggles continue throughout his life


He's battled constantly
He has always been in a battle


This fight he cannot win
A fight he knows he cannot win


A tired man they see no longer cares
Others see a tired man who no longer cares


The old man then prepares
As an old man, he prepares


To die regretfully
To die with regret


That old man here is me
I am that old man


You labeled me
You have given me a label


I'll label you
In return, I will label you


Never free
I will never be free


Never me
I will never be myself




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Word Collections Publishing, Reservoir Media Management, Inc.
Written by: James Alan Hetfield, Kirk L. Hammett, 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:

@jhinnnn8430

This happened back in 2021. My Dad passed away when he was 46 and I was 19. Important context is that he was a white guy, covered in tattoos and obsessed with heavy metal. One of his favourite songs was The Unforgiven by Metallica. In 1992, he actually caught a drumstick thrown into the crowd by Lars Ulrich during that exact song when he saw them in concert

The day of his funeral I took an Uber home afterwards. The driver was a white guy, covered in tattoos. And the second I got in the car, The Unforgiven was playing. I already had goosebumps but it gets weirder. While we were just having casual conversation the driver randomly told me he was 46. I didn’t ask. He just said it. Same age as my dad when he passed.

I told him about my Dad. The driver asked if he could turn up the music (he was playing a metal radio station) and I said yes. Dad used to blast metal in either the car or the shed all the time. As soon as the volume went up I just started crying. All the way home. It honestly felt like my dad was driving me home one last time.

The driver even said he felt like he was meant to pick me up. I really believe that too. It gave me so much peace on one of the worst days of my life, RIP Dad I still miss you everyday


This is a stolen comment from Facebook.



@xx_pjlikesmusic_xx

The most beautiful songs ever made

Fade to Black-Metallica
Nothing Else Matters-Metallica
The Unforgiven-Metallica
The Unforgiven II-Metallica
The Unforgiven III-Metallica
The Day That Never Comes-Metallica
Pushing Me Away-Linkin Park
Breaking The Habit-Linkin Park
Shadow Of The Day-Linkin Park
Leave Out All To Rest-Linkin Park
New Divide-Linkin Park
One More Light-Linkin Park
Vermillion Part 1- Slipknot
Vermillion Part 2-Slipknot
Circle-Slipknot
Dead Memories-Slipknot
Snuff-Slipknot
Til We Die-Slipknot
So Far Away-Avenged Sevenfold
Fiction-Avenged Sevenfold
Save Me-Avenged Sevenfold
Spiders-System Of A Down
Aerials-System Of A Down
Roulette-System Of A Down
Holy Mountains-System Of A Down
Mockingbird-Eminem
When I’m Gone-Eminem
Beautiful-Eminem
Going Through Changes-Eminem
Not Afraid-Eminem
Say Hello 2 Heaven-Temple of the Dog
Bittersweet Symphony-The Verve
Outro-M83



@ulkarabdullayeva7621

LYRICS
New blood joins this earth,
And quickly he's subdued.
Through constant pained disgrace
The young boy learns their rules.

With time the child draws in.
This whipping boy done wrong.
Deprived of all his thoughts
The young man struggles on and on he's known
A vow unto his own,
That never from this day
His will they'll take away.

What I've felt,
What I've known
Never shined through in what I've shown.
Never be.
Never see.
Won't see what might have been.

What I've felt,
What I've known
Never shined through in what I've shown.
Never free.
Never me.
So I dub thee unforgiven.

They dedicate their lives
To running all of his.
He tries to please them all –
This bitter man he is.

Throughout his life the same –
He's battled constantly.
This fight he cannot win –
A tired man they see no longer cares.

The old man then prepares
To die regretfully –
That old man here is me.

What I've felt,
What I've known
Never shined through in what I've shown.
Never be.
Never see.
Won't see what might have been.

What I've felt,
What I've known
Never shined through in what I've shown.
Never free.
Never me.
So I dub thee unforgiven.

[Solo]

What I've felt,
What I've known
Never shined through in what I've shown.
Never be.
Never see.
Won't see what might have been.

What I've felt,
What I've known
Never shined through in what I've shown.
Never free.
Never me.
So I dub thee unforgiven.

Never free.
Never me.
So I dub thee unforgiven.

You labelled me,
I'll label you.
So I dub thee unforgiven.

Never free.
Never me.
So I dub thee unforgiven.

You labelled me,
I'll label you.
So I dub thee unforgiven.

Never free.
Never me.
So I dub thee unforgiven.



@Muhammadali-vj1gu

Lyrics:New blood joins this earth
And quickly he's subdued
Through constant pained disgrace
The young boy learns their rules
With time the child draws in
This whipping boy done wrong
Deprived of all his thoughts
The young man struggles on and on he's known
A vow unto his own
That never from this day
His will they'll take away

What I've felt
What I've known
Never shined through in what I've shown
Never be
Never see
Won't see what might have been
What I've felt
What I've known
Never shined through in what I've shown
Never free
Never me
So I dub thee unforgiven

They dedicate their lives
To running all of his
He tries to please them all
This bitter man he's
Throughout his life the same
He's battled constantly
This fight he cannot win
A tired man they see no longer cares
The old man then prepares
To die regretfully
That old man here's me

What I've felt
What I've known
Never shined through in what I've shown
Never be
Never see
Won't see what might have been
What I've felt
What I've known
Never shined through in what I've shown
Never free
Never me
So I dub thee unforgiven

What I've felt
What I've known
Never shined through in what I've shown
Never be
Never see
Won't see what might have been
What I've felt
What I've known
Never shined through in what I've shown
Never free
Never me
So I dub thee unforgiven

Never free
Never me
So I dub thee unforgiven

You labeled me
I'll label you
So I dub thee unforgiven

Never free
Never me
So I dub thee unforgiven

You labeled me
I'll label you
So I dub thee unforgiven

Never free
Never me
So I dub thee unforgiven



All comments from YouTube:

@ToysandFun

Whoever is reading this I wish a healthy and long life. Metallica for ever 🤟🏻

@markvillenas3570

Thank you..Rock n Roll Forever!!!

@DivineDramah

That's lovely. Thank you. You too.... my fam <3

@thejoker2000

That's for your wish. At 64yrs old I'll take all the help I can get! lol

@NamelessKing.Sun1

Wtf

@gilbertnonghuloo1540

Thanks bro same to you

526 More Replies...

@Halodri73

As a teenager when I was angry I listened to Metallica. I often listened to Metallica. Now I'm 47 and I'm still angry and I listen to Metallica.

@skeezix8156

Wait til your 50.............haha

@Halodri73

@@skeezix8156 I think the french are right on this: "plus ca change plus c'est la meme chose" (frankly: The more things change the more all stays the same shit ;-) I guess Metal will stay the same shit to me....

@valerieclement4092

so do I i am 63

More Comments

More Versions