Metallica – One

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Send "One" Ringtone to Cell

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 is 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 to the world that'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

Send "One" Ringtone to Cell


Lyrics submitted by fennsk

Track duration: 07:12

"One" as written by Philip James Bailey, Maurice White, Hank Shocklee, Carlton Douglas Ridenhour, Clifford Joseph Harris, Phalon Anton Alexander, Thomas Decarlo Callaway

Lyrics © EMI Music Publishing, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

Lyrics powered by LyricFind


One song meanings
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230 Comments

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  • +1
    Song Meaning: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.
    Flagged Jaxxsonon January 28, 2013   Link
  • -1
    General Comment:@jugzar, I totally agree with you, but I think flamethrowers are also a very, very crude weapon of war. Whoever thought 'I wanna set those people over there on fire' to win a war, deserves the worst.
    Flag RyanWolfehon December 18, 2012   Link
  • 0
    Song Meaning:I would say that this song is more metaphorical, relating to alienation. Not being able to communicate or be understood with others (maybe such as James's parents when he was a kid).
    Flag CursedNson December 16, 2012   Link
  • +1
    General Comment:this song tries to show a hidden unpleasant side of war to tell everyone that war isn't pretty and isn't as fun as you see in the movies.
    war is ugly. that's where Metallica tries to tell us
    Flag Tunisian0rock0fanon October 31, 2012   Link
  • -3
    My Opinion:And btw Metallica Ruelz until Black album then sux, Megadeth ruelz until risk, Then ruelz forever
    Flagged rattlehead777on August 18, 2011   Link
  • +1
    Song Meaning:K this song frikkin ruelz... & as for the meaning it was based off of the book/movie called Johnny got his gun which is about a guy who is drafted during WWI and is hit by a mortar and is injured severely and gets his arms and legs amputated and loses sight speech, and hearing (Quoting the song here) but still alive and his life sucks. In the end he jerks up and down repeatedly and the doctors eventually find out he is saying K I L L M E in moors code. Its super depressing but I'm reading the book now and I find quotes that are used in the song, which is pretty kool
    Flag rattlehead777on August 18, 2011   Link
  • +1
    General Comment:i love this song, the solo in it is fuckin badass too
    Flag screamohardcoreon August 17, 2011   Link
  • +2
    Song Meaning:"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.
    Flag WildNWonderfulon August 13, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I have always thought that this song is about how awfull can a persons life be after war... This song kida tells us the war isn't the awnser to every disagreement between nations.
    Flag zalalison November 06, 2010   Link
  • +1
    General Comment: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
    Flag R0TuSon October 25, 2010   Link

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