The Unforgiven

I’ve been an avid fan of Metallica since the day I’ve heard their music and some people will never understand why I love the head banging metal band. Rock music is not (atleast not always) about screaming your lungs out with a heavy distortion riff/solo playing in the backdrop. There is a meaning to the madness but “people” never bother to pay attention to the lyrics (or they can’t understand spoken english at all). So I’m here to share some meaningful insights on what some of my all time favorite music songs mean. I start with “The Unforgiven” by Metallica.

For starters here is the youtube video of the song and as you can see, it is based on a very dark theme: Fight for Individuality

Unforgiven is about ones struggle again the establishment. The fight for individuality, not to have to be part of the norm and maybe not quite getting there. Its all about fighting the losing battle and after its all said and done, you’re still conforming to what others think you should be or do and have only yourself to blame. Its like looking back of your life and figuring out theres things that you haven’t accomplished, things you thought differently about at the time only to realize you were being controlled like everyone else.

“The Unforgiven” deals with a young child who is born into a highly conformist society. He is a kind of a non entity in the society, who has no right to voice his concerns or display any signs of his existence. He lives his life as a faceless, nameless character like others in the society. In the final moments of his life, the child reflects on the darkness of his past and discovers nothing but bitterness and regret.

The lyrics of the song go something like this:

New blood joins this earth
And quickly he’s subdued
Through constant pained disgrace
The young boy learns their rules

With time the child draws in
This whipping boy done wrong
Deprived of all his thoughts
The young man struggles on and on he’s known
A vow unto his own
That never from this day
His will they’ll take away

What i’ve felt
What i’ve known
Never shined through in what i’ve shown
Never be
Never see
Won’t see what might have been
What i’ve felt
What i’ve known
Never shined through in what i’ve shown
Never free
Never me
So i dub thee UNFORGIVEN

They dedicate their lives
To running all of his
He tries to please then all
This bitter man he is
Throughout his life the same
He’s battled constantly
This fight he cannot win
A tired man they see no longer cares
The old man then prepares
To die regretfully
That old man here is me

You labeled me
I’ll label you
So i dub thee UNFORGIVEN

I’m sure now you understand my passion of rock. Songs like these make me feel like I’m alive again. As a matter of fact I’m going to make this a regular feature on my blog.

Next week: Metallica - “Unforgiven II“