Metallica – The Unforgiven

Know something about this song or lyrics? Add it to our wiki.
Send "The Unforgiven" Ringtone to Cell

New blood joins this earth
And quickly he's subdued
Through constant pain 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 them 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

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

You labeled me
I'll label you
So I dub thee unforgiven

Send "The Unforgiven" Ringtone to Cell


Lyrics submitted by fennsk

Track duration: 06:31

"The Unforgiven" as written by Jay Patrick Ceravolo, Vincent Charles Labella, Christopher Felton Nail, Kyle Daniel Thomas

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group

Lyrics powered by LyricFind


The Unforgiven song meanings
Add your thoughts

182 Comments

sort form View by:
  • 0
    My Opinion:The Song is about Rudolf Hess
    Flag skldvenomon September 23, 2012   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:This song is about a battle with himself and the system. The system he fought the people he hated was a struggle but maybe he never had the courage to do what he wanted. He knows the system was stronger but he fought the good fight and he vents about it in this song. He knows he will never be free.
    Flag 996vtwinon July 06, 2012   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:This song like evey other song by the masters of awesome metallica is beyond badass from the firt sound of that horn to the last not it rocks
    Flag deadboy66658on June 06, 2012   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I just love this song so much I cant get tired of listening to it its amazing, the lyrics, the guitar solo and the music everything about it rocks :)./

    Metallica Forever
    \m/
    Flag shingamion May 17, 2012   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I summarize this song like this : ( The opening door and the shinning sun Theory )
    Sometimes a man spends most of his life with PEOPLE who really love him and also would secrifice their all for him , and for some strange unknown reasons that man , most of time , treats them so bad
    but he couldnt feel how wrong he is ,
    and when they are gone and when it is too late
    he thinks to hisself ; HOW COULD I BE THAT STUPID !
    the truth was in front of me !! how I didnt see ??
    it is like the door was opened in front of him and the light of the sun was there , but he just didnt see the truth ,
    (( smart people can see the sun through an closed door ))

    and also I think it is a song about meaninglessness of life
    in the clip
    that bitter man who spent all his life working
    then he ends isolated
    when he died he he didnt get anything of life
    even the key of his imaginary place had fall down ..
    Flagged ManofArtson May 16, 2012   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:The long and short of it: don't live your life conforming to what others have labeled you as or you will have regrets.
    Flag Naerdowellon April 21, 2012   Link
    • 1 Reply
  • +3
    General Comment:A child is born.
    He is raised and forced to conform through pain.
    He vows to himself that he will never lose his will.

    As a man he never lives for himself.
    Everything pure he's ever felt never shows through his actions.
    It's too late to turn back.
    He will never forgive himself.

    As on old man he prepares for death.
    He has nothing but his regret.

    He forgives not himself.
    He forgives no one else.
    Flagged singsong42on February 24, 2012   Link
  • 0
    My Opinion:The good thing about art/music is how you see it from your experiences. Although the songwriter meant something different, you can apply it your way. Years ago I listened to this song over and over again. Looking back now, I suffered from depression. I was self-centered, nobody and nothing could make me happy. Loved my pity-party. BUT NOW, I believe you can have freedom in captivity, we live in a wicked world, everybody, well most are out for their own gain. We will always be limited, by government, family, business, friends or parents or spouses and be honest we do the same. I found the key to be an overcomer! I am forgiven, free forever.
    Flagged amandasforgiven4everon October 30, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:The only thing that would make this turd suck more is if it had two other parts....wait a minute...

    Lars Ulrich is a COMPLETE DOUCHE!

    Sad that ALL the talent in this band died on an icy road in 1986.
    Flagged BigDaddy46on October 14, 2011   Link
    • 2 Replies
  • 0
    General Comment:This song speaks about ghost that is Jesus,Amen,James,Devil and someone called Eden at same time the soul that can be at more places at same time (Osiris)separated soul)and its fighting for people on this earth its fighting Zeus(world) like God of war and Zeus represents this world this ghost is fighting him self to preserve peace and to return to his throne but he has two choices to stay trapped in this world to save people(that he created)in this world or to escape this world to be One Either way he cant forgive him self .
    Flagged gamer3386on September 05, 2011   Link

Add your thoughts

Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.

Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!

Back to top
explain