Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Song not found

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
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

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, Iricom US Ltd, 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

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!!!

@dmartin1251

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

428 More Replies...

@mithrasrose9727

Im 98 and still jam to this song. My wife died 33 years ago and this was our song. I miss you Agnus. See you soon

@Alex-co9th

<3

@elcrak12

😢😢😢😢

@Anakinemi

Something Tells me you are lying, maybe that your videos are a kids band

More Comments

More Versions