Do you see what I see?
Truth is an offence
Your silence for your confidence

Do you hear what I hear?
Doors are slamming shut
Limit your imagination, keep you where they must

Do you feel what I feel?
Bittering distress
Who decides what you express?

Do you take what I take?
Endurance is the word
Moving back instead of forward seems to me absurd

Doesn’t matter what you see
Or into it what you read
You can do it your own way
If it’s done just how I say

Independence limited
Freedom of choice
Choice is made for you, my friend
Freedom of speech
Speech is words that they will bend
Freedom with their exception

Do you fear what I fear?
Living properly
Truths to you are lies to me

Do you choose what I choose?
More alternatives
Energy derives from both the plus and negative

Do you need what I need?
Boundaries overthrown
Look inside, to each his own

Do you trust what I trust?
Me, myself and I
Penetrate the smoke screen, I see through the selfish lie

Doesn’t matter what you see
Or into it what you read
You can do it your own way
If it’s done just how I say

Independence limited
Freedom of choice
Choice is made for you, my friend
Freedom of speech
Speech is words that they will bend
Freedom with their exception

Do you know what I know?
Your money and your wealth
Your silence just to hear yourself

Do you want what I want?
Desire not a thing
I hunger after independence, lengthen freedom’s ring

Doesn’t matter what you see
Or into it what you read
You can do it your own way
If it’s done just how I say

Independence limited
Freedom of choice
Choice is made for you, my friend
Freedom of speech
Speech is words that they will bend
Freedom no longer frees you
Doesn’t matter what you see
Or into it what you read
You can do it your own way
If it’s done just how I say


Lyrics submitted by elmoz, edited by RyanWolfeh, Ashram, taceturn

Eye of the Beholder song meanings
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43 Comments

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  • +4
    General Comment

    This song questions the so-called rights and freedoms that we supposedly have.

    Bowbow13on August 19, 2012   Link
  • +3
    General Comment

    and yes james hetfield is very cool

    p_k_roozon March 25, 2007   Link
  • +3
    My Opinion

    This song is 24 years old, and the lyrics make more sence now than ever before!

    Geniously written lyrics!!

    Dekkzteron April 04, 2012   Link
  • +2
    General Comment

    It's about how today's goverment is hypocritical about the bill of rights and constitution.

    Guyon May 07, 2002   Link
  • +2
    General Comment

    The great thing about most of Metallica's songs is that they're open to different interpretations :)

    nemesison May 17, 2002   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    This song has to do with censorship & the media.

    nemesison April 10, 2002   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    1984

    PeedMerrillon November 25, 2014   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    I think this song is about how people feel like they are being controlled by the government and they make it seem as if it's their own choice, whereas in reality it's all a big manipulation to get the country into whatever pile of shit they want, and blame the bad things on the wants of the people, not themselves.

    fartoonyon December 18, 2015   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Actually it's about the lack of freedom in the law and the justice system.

    King Nothingon April 14, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    King nothing is on the right track...for everyones info this entire album is based on the justice system..hence the name ...And justice for all The song is about freedom and it is only as true as you perceive it. It protests against the restricted limit of freedom by the law.

    I_LIKE_BEANSon June 05, 2002   Link

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