The Small Hours
Metallica䑃 Lyrics
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Look out at the darkness, and you will see
Just call my name and I'll be there
You cannot touch me, you would not dare
I am the chill that's in the air
And I try to get through to you, in my own special way
Dark rivers are flowing, back into the past
You are the fish for which I cast
And what of the future, what is to be
As the rivers flow into the sea
And I try to get through to you, in my own special way
As the barriers crumble, at the end of the day
Do not take for granted, powers out there
Don't step into the demon's lair
Time is an illusion, rising from time
Steep is the mountain which we climb
And I try to get through to you, in my own special way
As the barriers crumble, at the end of the day
The lyrics of Metallica's song The Small Hours, originally recorded by Holocaust, touch upon themes and concepts such as the intangibility of fear and chilling atmosphere, existence of memories and regrets, and internal struggles. The first verse describes the singer's indomitable presence that silently haunts the darkness and gives a chill in the air. The singer hints at the impossibility of anyone touching him because he is not an entity in the material world but a ghost from the past.
The second verse is about the streams of time flowing back into history and how the singer wants to capture the feeling of longing and regret in his song. He wants to reach out to someone who can understand his message and reflects upon the future that lies in front of the stream of time. The chorus repeats with the singer trying to communicate his message to the listener in his language.
The third and final verse advises the listener not to take the powers of darkness for granted and move with caution. The singer reflects upon the perception of time, which is an illusion and rises like a mountain before us. The singer underscores that it is not just the physical aspect of the mountain, but the man's internal battles, which are the challenges in life.
Line by Line Meaning
Look out at the darkness, and you will see
When you stare into the darkness, you can see things that are hidden in plain sight.
Just call my name and I'll be there
I'm always here for you, just ask for my help and I'll be there.
You cannot touch me, you would not dare
I'm untouchable and you wouldn't want to try and harm me.
I am the chill that's in the air
I'm the feeling of coldness that surrounds you when you're alone in the darkness.
And I try to get through to you, in my own special way
I'm attempting to communicate with you, but it's not in the way that others might expect.
As the barriers crumble, at the end of the day, a-ha
As the day comes to an end, the walls that separate us break down, revealing our true selves.
Dark rivers are flowing, back into the past
Memories from the past resurface and become prominent in our present.
You are the fish for which I cast
You are the person I've been looking for, and I finally found you.
And what of the future, what is to be
What will happen in the future, and what does it hold for us?
As the rivers flow into the sea
The past becomes a part of the future, and everything connects like a river flowing into the sea.
Do not take for granted, powers out there
Don't underestimate the forces that exist in the world beyond our understanding.
Don't step into the demon's lair
Be careful not to venture into dangerous territory, where negative forces are at play.
Time is an illusion, rising from time
Time is a construct that we use to measure our lives, but it's also a natural force that continues to move forward.
Steep is the mountain which we climb
Life is a difficult journey, and we must work hard to overcome the obstacles that we face.
And I try to get through to you, in my own special way
I'm still attempting to reach you, even if it's not easy or straightforward.
As the barriers crumble, at the end of the day
As the day ends, our walls and barriers become less important, and we become more open to connection with others.
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind