For Whom The Bell Tolls
Metallica [MuziKraft.com] Lyrics


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Make his fight on the hill in the early day
Constant chill deep inside
Shouting gun, on they run through the endless grey
On the fight, for they are right, yes, by who's to say?
For a hill men would kill, why? They do not know
Stiffened wounds test there their pride
Men of five, still alive through the raging glow
Gone insane from the pain that they surely know

For whom the bell tolls
Time marches on
For whom the bell tolls

Take a look to the sky just before you die
It is the last time you will
Blackened roar massive roar fills the crumbling sky
Shattered goal fills his soul with a ruthless cry
Stranger now, are his eyes, to this mystery
He hears the silence so loud
Crack of dawn, all is gone except the will to be
Now they see what will be, blinded eyes to see

For whom the bell tolls




Time marches on
For whom the bell tolls

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to MetallicA's "For Whom The Bell Tolls" describe the brutality of war and the toll it takes on individuals caught in the midst of it. The song begins with imagery of soldiers making their fight on a hill in the early day. There's a "constant chill deep inside" as they run through the endless grey, shouting gun in hand, fighting for what they believe is right. But who's to say who is right when "for a hill men would kill, why? They do not know." The soldiers are wounded and bleeding, yet still alive, and the pain and rage they feel has left them "gone insane."


The recurring phrase "For whom the bell tolls" is heard throughout the song, reminding us that death is inevitable for all those involved in war. Time marches on, and the bell tolls for everyone. The final verse speaks of the fleeting moment just before one's death, where they take a look to the sky and witness the massive roar and blackened glow that fills the crumbling sky. The shattered goal of the soldier leads to a ruthless cry, and his eyes become a stranger to the mystery of what lies ahead. But as the dawn breaks, everything is gone except the will to be, and the blinded eyes can now see what will be.


Line by Line Meaning

Make his fight on the hill in the early day
He engages in a battle on a hill in the morning


Constant chill deep inside
He feels a perpetual cold within him


Shouting gun, on they run through the endless grey
The sound of gunfire is heard as they run into the dreary unknown


On the fight, for they are right, yes, by who's to say?
They fight for their beliefs but who can truly say what is right?


For a hill men would kill, why? They do not know
Men are killing each other for a hill without understanding why


Stiffened wounds test there their pride
Their injuries challenge their sense of self-worth


Men of five, still alive through the raging glow
Five men survive amidst the fiery chaos


Gone insane from the pain that they surely know
The pain has driven them to madness


For whom the bell tolls
The bells are tolling for those who are beyond help


Time marches on
Time continues to pass despite the tragic events


Take a look to the sky just before you die
In one's final moments, they should look to the heavens


It is the last time you will
This will be the final time you have a chance to look at the sky


Blackened roar massive roar fills the crumbling sky
The sky is filled with an ominous, deafening roar


Shattered goal fills his soul with a ruthless cry
The destruction of his objective fills him with a merciless agony


Stranger now, are his eyes, to this mystery
His eyes have become unfamiliar to the unknown circumstances


He hears the silence so loud
The quietness is almost deafening for him


Crack of dawn, all is gone except the will to be
At daybreak, everything is gone but the will to survive


Now they see what will be, blinded eyes to see
Their ignorance has been lifted, allowing them to see what's in store for them


For whom the bell tolls
The bell tolls for those who can no longer fight or live


Time marches on
Time won't pause for anyone, not even the fallen




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, MUSIC SALES CORPORATION
Written by: CLIFFORD LEE BURTON, JAMES ALAN HETFIELD, LARS ULRICH

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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