The Unforgiven
Metallica Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning | Line by Line Meaning
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
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
"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 protagonist 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 protagonist 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 protagonist'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 protagonist 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 protagonist 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 © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, O/B/O CAPASSO
Written by: James Alan Hetfield, Kirk L. Hammett, Lars Ulrich
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
The Unforgiven Songfacts says: On the show Classic Albums: Metallica - The Black Album, James Hetfield explained that the intro was taken from the score of a Western movie, and reversed so it would not be identifiable. Read Full Bio"The Unforgiven" is a song by the American heavy metal band Metallica. It was released as the third single from their fifth album Metallica. Though one of the slower tracks on the album, its chord progression is distinctly one of the heavier.
The Unforgiven Songfacts says: On the show Classic Albums: Metallica - The Black Album, James Hetfield explained that the intro was taken from the score of a Western movie, and reversed so it would not be identifiable. The band won't reveal the movie for legal reasons, but it is probably the 1965 Clint Eastwood movie For A Few Dollars More.
Robert Hodge
Anthony, you are being far too hard on yourself. I can tell you that will all sincerity - because except for a few details, your story is exactly like mine. My wife of 34 years got diagnosed with stage 4 ovarian cancer, and died several months later in 2012, ten years before your wife did.
You are right: You couldn't protect her. Neither could I. But you are also wrong: Saying you didn't do enough is a mistaken misconception. By the time stage 4 is reached, especially if that's the first point you find out about it, it's already too late. My wife got very extensive surgery and chemo, and all that did is delay the inevitable. Even if you had the best doctors and the best therapies and did everything at the first possible moment, any cancer that has reached stage 4 has already won.
It's horrible. It's a loss that can never be restored, never be made whole, never recovered from. Believe me, I know. And it will eat away at you, to one degree or another, for the remainder of your own days. It comes under the general heading of why death is such a bad thing. That I can't change. If I had some brilliant and wise words that would help make things all better, I would apply them to myself. No such luck. If only.
What I WILL say, from the bottom of my heart, is to tell you to change your mind. You say you will never forgive yourself, but that is the very thing you MUST do. Ask yourself the obvious question: Would your wife want you to suffer in anguish and despair over her passing? So much so that perhaps you would crawl into a hole and give up on life? Or maybe choose to end it because you can't face one more day without the love of your life?
You know she wouldn't. Mine wouldn't want that for me either.
Here is what little advice I have:
Use your experience and understanding of what it means to lose her. Then, apply that in your life. Show compassion and mercy and forgiveness to people, even when you might not be inclined to. Show kindness in a world that is severely lacking in kindness. Help people in need, even in small things. Do favors or run errands for friends and neighbors that might be elderly.
You want to be happy? Help someone else.
No, that won't take away your hurt. But it will make a difference. That is what life is about: making a difference.
Make that difference a good one. In time, your hurt will hurt less, even if it's still with you, looking over your shoulder.
Take care.
Toys and Fun
Whoever is reading this I wish a healthy and long life. Metallica for ever 🤟🏻
Pottie
@Nora TheCatWitch 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
Lukasz Raczek
thanks and you too
:)
Natalia Mirochnitchenko
you too xx
Пёс Барбос
Песня детства. )
Ewelina Koman
@Robert Matteucci jr 😅
Daniel San
32 years later, still a pure masterpiece
M V
when Lars was young i was 10😛
rloco80
@pokemon catcher4 Man you were even younger than me when this Classic Song came out. I was 10 years old when this was first released, just weeks before my 11th Birthday. 90's MUSIC AT ITS BEST
Holly
I was 11
I ❤ this song 32 years