So this has been.my favorite song of OTEP's since it came out in 2004, and I always thought it was a song about a child's narrative of suffering in an abusive Christian home. But now that I am revisiting the lyrics, I am seeing something totally new.
This song could be gospel of John but from the perspective of Jesus.
Jesus was NOT having a good time up to and during the crucifixion. Everyone in the known world at the time looked to him with fear, admiration or disgust and he was constantly being asked questions. He spoke in "verses, prophesies and curses". He had made an enemy of the state, and believed the world was increasingly wicked and fallen from grace, or that he was in the "mouth of madness".
The spine of atlas is the structure that allows the titan to hold the world up. Jesus challenged the state and in doing so became a celebrated resistance figure. It also made him public enemy #1.
All of this happened simply because he was doing his thing, not because of any agenda he had or strategy.
And then he gets scourged (storm of thorns)
There are some plot holes here but I think it's an interesting interpretation.
I can't remember anything
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's not much left of me
Nothing is real but pain now
Hold my breath as I wish for death
Oh, please, God, wake me
Back in the womb, it'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
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's not much left of me
Nothing is real but pain now
Hold my breath as I wish for death
Oh, please, God, wake me
Back in the womb, it'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
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This song was written about a movie "Johnny get your gun" all of the lyrics were written about the character of the movie who was a soldier in war who had his legs, arms, sight, and hearing taken away by a landmine....(if u dl or can get a copy of the rare version of the song w/ the movie clippings they explain everything) "Landmine Has Taken My Sight Taken My Speech Taken My Hearing Taken My Arms Taken My Legs"
This is single handedly one of if not the best song ever written.........it captures all points of music.....mixing differents beats, starting slow gettin heavy, switching bak, then full heavy and the lyrics are genius as they express so much emotion .....especially when played live.......and by the way SeasonS should b shot and hung upside down by his balls.....if ne1 can get there hands on his address im sure we could get him a nice nail bomb 4 christmas....
@Harvester of Sorrow it was actually a book before it was a movie
James' reason for writing the lyrics was the thought of beeing cut off from the outside world just like the main character of Dalton Trumbo's book/movie "Johnny Got His Gun".
It was about war.. The soldier is wounded in the war and is a vegetable and finally dying at the end..
It was about war.. The soldier is wounded in the war and is a vegetable and finally dying at the end..
Didnt mean to post on your thing just hit the wrong thing my bad lolz
Didnt mean to post on your thing just hit the wrong thing my bad lolz
"One" is about traumatic brain injuries from war. Being trapping in ones body, not being able to do anything buy lay there and think. It is a terrifying thought.
Awesome song with an awesome video. The idea somehow came when Metallica were working on Master of Puppets about what it would be like if someone was alive but couldn't see, hear, or communicate with the world. After hearing this idea, they were shown a movie, "Johnny got his Gun" and the guy was in a war and got all his limbs blown off and couldn't communicate but was still alive. They wrote a song about this.
Based on the movie Johnny Got His Gun, and is about a man who was blown up by a landmine. He lost his Arms, Legs and all of his senses. It's a very strong song with a great build up and a thrashing solo. Metallica is trying to portray what this would be like, not knowing if your awake, sleeping, dead, or remembering. He is trapped inside of his own head, it is a concept that is very hard to imagine.
It was actually a mortar strike he was blown up by. If you have read the book and watched during the scene with the explosion it was a mortar shell. You can also hear the screeching ( the "SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSZZZZZZZZZZWOW...BOOM! sort of sound) of the shell.
It's not only the movie.James wanted to write a song about his own self...he feels as though a landmine took all he had...arms,legs,eyes,ears,etc.He wanted to show what it is to be lonely and not just literally...lonely in like u and yourself...now and forever...no way of changing the situation.This is my favorite song and i can relate to it perfectly.
I'm much more of a classic rock guy--probably a total wimp to any real metal head.
But, hey, what can I say about this song?
Its lyrics and meaning are absolutely profound and can be atken literally reflecting the "johnny" book or taken figuratively as others have mentioned. I really relate as I'm finally coming out of a 3 year depression.
And the music!!! The intonation, etc of the lead singer (see, I don't even know his name) is emotional and you really feel pain when you here it.
The way it goes form the sing song calm beat of a depressed guy plodding thru glum thoughts to the total frustration, rage, etc in the remainderis uncanny. This lead MUST have personal experience with mental illness, or he's just an incredibly insightful genius!
The dual guitar solo thing is just incredible thought the song does tend to sound at the end like they couldn't figure out where to cut it off, but hey no one is perfect.
It is always nice to know what each song is actually about or based on, but I think all lyrics are open to personal interpretation. You relate to the song as you're coming out of a 3-year depression, while others may relate to it as they are battling addiction, and others have war stories to tell, too. It's so interesting to hear how everybody interprets and relates to a song and see that there are other people with similar (or even different and unique) thoughts, stories, or experiences.<br /> <br /> I hope things are still well with you 4 years later!
The Guy who died in the Movie communicated in Morse Code with the Medical Staff and told them "Kill Me" ... the best punchline from the movie is: General:" Dont you have some message for him Padre " Priest :" Hes a product of your Profession, not mine." ... just fucking awesome song and movie
What this song is really describing if james realizes it or not is the real reality, or the Matrix. its about war but also a mind war. The invisable mind prison we are in. Not one person on this planet has experienced true freedom because of this system in place.
When you truly question this world you will see things are not what they seem and we are all in a complete state of confusion. We have lost touch with who we really are and james heitfield describes this in this quote. '' I can't remember anything Can't tell if this is true or dream .Deep down inside I feel the scream This terrible silence stops it there''
Now he describes when he felt most real and it doesnt involve being in this world but wishes it was.... See More '' Back in the womb it'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''
This describes the slave machines we have become and in the matrix film it is seen with plugs all over their body. ''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''.
Now james realizes how far out his beliefs are to most and how alone it makes him feel. '' Now the world is gone I'm just one ,Oh god, help me ''
Finally the whole mind prison (matrix) described in what it does to people, be honest with your self. you may not even realize your confused. if your believe in this worlds system you have fallen into the trap. '' Darkness imprisoning me, All that I see Absolute horror.... See More I cannot live, I cannot die .Trapped in myself Body my holding cell'' .
Its all a mind war in either being brainwashed and controlled or realizing truth. The battle has long ago for the robbery of your mind. They are very much winning the battle let me tell you.Release the poison they have infected you with if you have bought into this world.
Although at first reading seems to be about a soldier left in a sort of coma by a land mind, in a deeper read<br /> <br /> this is about the impossibility of total communication between beings.<br /> we've been enticed by this state we call life, we wished it:<br /> <br /> Back in the womb it's much too real<br /> In pumps life that I must feel<br /> <br /> and then we move onto this matrix where<br /> <br /> Nothing is real but pain now<br /> <br /> and we know is all wrong we can't stop seeing glitches in this matrix<br /> ....<br /> <br /> agree with digoe04 about the matrix analogy... it's just like Neo shaking and trembling, trying to get rid of sondas and cables and begging for Morpheus miracle<br /> <br /> <br /> <br />
Although at first reading seems to be about a soldier left in a sort of coma by a land mind, in a deeper read<br /> <br /> this is about the impossibility of total communication between beings.<br /> we've been enticed by this state we call life, we wished it:<br /> <br /> Back in the womb it's much too real<br /> In pumps life that I must feel<br /> <br /> and then we move onto this matrix where<br /> <br /> Nothing is real but pain now<br /> <br /> and we know is all wrong we can't stop seeing glitches in this matrix<br /> ....<br /> <br /> agree with digoe04 about the matrix analogy... it's just like Neo shaking and trembling, trying to get rid of sondas and cables and begging for Morpheus miracle<br /> <br /> <br /> <br />
i love this song, the solo in it is fuckin badass too