One
Metallica feat. San Francisco Symphony with Michael Kamen Lyrics
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Can't tell if this is true or dream
Deep down inside I feel to scream
This terrible silence stops me
Now that the war is through with me
I'm waking up, I cannot see
That there is not much left of me
Hold my breath as I wish for death
Oh please, God, wake me
Back to the world that's much too real
In pumps life that I must feel
But can't look forward to reveal
Look to the time when I'll live
Fed through the tube that sticks in me
Just like a wartime novelty
Tied to machines that make me be
Cut this life off from me
Hold my breath as I wish for death
Oh please, God, wake me
Now the world is gone, I'm just one
Oh God, help me
Hold my breath as I wish for death
Oh please, God, help me
Darkness imprisoning me
All that I see
Absolute horror
I cannot live
I cannot die
Trapped in myself
Body my holding cell
Landmine has taken my sight
Taken my speech
Taken my hearing
Taken my arms
Taken my legs
Taken my soul
Left me with life in hell
The lyrics to Metallica's "One" tell the story of a soldier who has lost everything in war and is now trapped in his own body, unable to communicate or escape his pain. The opening lines set the scene of confusion, with the singer unable to distinguish between reality and dreams, and overcome by a desperate need to scream. The character's situation is a metaphor for the trauma of war and the lasting impact it can have on those who have experienced it.
The chorus, "Hold my breath as I wish for death, Oh please, God, wake me," expresses the character's intense longing for release from his suffering, but also his fear that death may not provide the escape he is hoping for. The later lines, "I cannot live, I cannot die, trapped in myself, body my holding cell," underscore this desperation and sense of trapped helplessness.
The final verse intensifies the darkness of the story, with the singer recounting the physical injuries inflicted upon him in battle - he has been left blind, deaf, and without limbs or a soul. The last line, "left me with life in hell," is a final statement of hopelessness, conveying the sense that the character is irrevocably damaged and can never fully recover.
Line by Line Meaning
I can't remember anything
I have lost all memories
Can't tell if this is true or dream
I cannot differentiate between reality and imagination
Deep down inside I feel to scream
My inner self is screaming in agony
This terrible silence stops me
The distressing absence of sound is stifling me
Now that the war is through with me
The war has caused irreparable damage to me
I'm waking up, I cannot see
As I regain consciousness, my vision is impaired
That there is not much left of me
I am severely injured and broken
Nothing is real but pain now
My existence is synonymous with unbearable agony
Hold my breath as I wish for death
I am eagerly seeking oblivion with bated breath
Oh please, God, wake me
I plead to a higher power to end my suffering
Back to the world that's much too real
I am forced to face a harsh reality
In pumps life that I must feel
I am being kept alive, but the pain is unbearable
But can't look forward to reveal
The future seems bleak and hopeless
Look to the time when I'll live
I yearn for a time when I will be free from pain
Fed through the tube that sticks in me
I am being sustained through a feeding tube
Just like a wartime novelty
My condition is being viewed as a novel phenomenon
Tied to machines that make me be
Machines are keeping me alive, but I feel like a prisoner
Cut this life off from me
I pray for a merciful end to my suffering
Now the world is gone, I'm just one
I feel completely isolated and alone
Oh God, help me
I seek divine intervention to alleviate my pain
Darkness imprisoning me
I am trapped in total darkness
All that I see
Everything I perceive is shrouded in darkness
Absolute horror
My situation is unimaginably terrifying
I cannot live
My life has become unbearable
I cannot die
I am not able to end my suffering
Trapped in myself
My own body has become a prison
Body my holding cell
My body is now the cell that holds me captive
Landmine has taken my sight
An explosion has caused me to lose my vision
Taken my speech
The same explosion has made it impossible for me to speak
Taken my hearing
I have lost my sense of hearing from the same explosion
Taken my arms
My arms have been amputated
Taken my legs
My legs have been amputated
Taken my soul
My essence has been stripped away
Left me with life in hell
I am left with a life that is nothing but constant agony
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: JAMES ALAN HETFIELD, LARS ULRICH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
A. T.
RIP Mr Kamen, you absolute bloody legend.
J Ortiz
This band playing with Michael Kamen is pretty good.
Butcher851
R.I.P Michael Kamen
Matt Dowds
6:44 "In your bed, in your pocket in your head" 😄
How does Kirk not know the words by this point?
james954life
liking it dude
PowderMonkey82
sad to see kurk so cooked on prescription meds these days
sote ful
Lars is trying to hard to sound smart.