Enter Sandman
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Say your prayers little one
Don't forget, my son
To include everyone

I tuck you in, warm within
Keep you free from sin
Till the sandman he comes
Sleep with one eye open
Gripping your pillow tight

Exit: Light
Enter: Night
Take my hand
We're off to never never land

Something's wrong, shut the light
Heavy thoughts tonight
And they aren't of snow white

Dreams of war, dreams of liars
Dreams of dragon's fire
And of things that will bite

Sleep with one eye open
Gripping your pillow tight

Exit: Light
Enter: Night
Take my hand
We're off to never never land

Now I lay me down to sleep
Pray the lord my soul to keep
If I die before I wake
Pray the lord my soul to take

Hush little baby, don't say a word
And never mind that noise you heard
It's just the beasts under your bed,
In your closet, in your head

Exit: Light
Enter: Night
Grain of sand
Exit: Light
Enter: Night
Take my hand
We're off to never never land





Compositor: James Hetfield / Kirk Hammett / Lars Ulrich

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Metallica's "Enter Sandman" depict a child's fear of the dark and the unknown, of nightmares and monsters lurking in the shadows. The opening lines, "Say your prayers little one, Don't forget, my son, To include everyone," can be interpreted as a parent's comforting words to a child before bedtime, reminding them to pray for themselves and others. The following lines, "I tuck you in, warm within, Keep you free from sin, Till the sandman he comes," continue with the theme of a parent protecting their child from harm, in this case, from the Sandman who brings sleep.


As the song progresses, the tone becomes darker with the lyrics, "Something's wrong, shut the light, Heavy thoughts tonight, And they aren't of snow white." The child's fears and nightmares start to take over, with dreams of war, liars, and dragons' fire. The chorus, "Exit: Light, Enter: Night, Take my hand, We're off to never never land," can be interpreted as the child's subconscious mind taking them away from reality and into a world of dreams.


The bridge, "Now I lay me down to sleep, Pray the lord my soul to keep, If I die before I wake, Pray the lord my soul to take," is a traditional children's bedtime prayer, but the following lines, "Hush little baby, don't say a word, And never mind that noise you heard, It's just the beasts under your bed, In your closet, in your head," further emphasize the child's fears of the dark and the unknown.


Overall, "Enter Sandman" is a powerful song that captures the primal fear of the unknown that lurks in all of us, and the desire for safety and protection from the things that go bump in the night.


Line by Line Meaning

Say your prayers little one
Before going to bed, remember to pray to God


Don't forget, my son
As a parent, I remind you


To include everyone
Pray for everyone including yourself


I tuck you in, warm within
I ensure you're warm and cozy in bed


Keep you free from sin
Pray for forgiveness from God and stay away from sin


Till the sandman he comes
Stay awake until you fall asleep and the sandman takes you to dreamland


Sleep with one eye open
Stay vigilant even in your sleep


Gripping your pillow tight
Hold onto your pillow tightly as a sense of security


Exit: Light
Leaving the light behind


Enter: Night
Entering the night, darkness


Take my hand
I'll guide you


We're off to never never land
We're going to a place that doesn't exist


Something's wrong, shut the light
Something is bothering me, turn off the light


Heavy thoughts tonight
My mind is full of unsettling thoughts


And they aren't of snow white
My thoughts aren't happy like Snow White's story


Dreams of war, dreams of liars
I dream of war and deception


Dreams of dragon's fire
I dream of dragons breathing fire


And of things that will bite
I dream of things that can harm me


Now I lay me down to sleep
For the final time, I lie down to sleep


Pray the lord my soul to keep
I pray that God saves my soul


If I die before I wake
If I die while I'm asleep


Pray the lord my soul to take
I ask God to take care of my soul if I die while sleeping


Hush little baby, don't say a word
Stay quiet and go to sleep


And never mind that noise you heard
Don't worry about the sounds you heard, it's nothing


It's just the beasts under your bed,
The sounds you heard were from the monsters under your bed


In your closet, in your head
And from the creatures in your closet and the fear in your mind


Grain of sand
The smallest unit of sand


Exit: Light
Leaving the light behind


Enter: Night
Entering the night, darkness


Take my hand
I'll guide you


We're off to never never land
We're going to a place that doesn't exist




Writer(s): James Alan Hetfield, Kirk L. Hammett, Lars Ulrich

Contributed by Chase C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Comments from YouTube:

Kim Eland

Much better than the original. Love it.

Ernest The Engine Animated

I feel like this song should be a calming song.

Ernest The Engine Animated

I think that sounds like Ashima of India

Vehicle Buildings

Musical farts FTW

956crazyman19

WTF WTF WOWOWOW whats worse this or run to the hills cover by sign?

Tony Juan Pailos

thank you, that was a great recommendation

jackwilsontube

es esto alguna puta broma......?

CoTeCiOtm

Is this a joke?... I mean... it MUST be a joke!

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