Metallica – Thorn Within

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Forgive me Father
For I have sinned
Find me guilty of the life I feel within

When I'm branded
This mark of shame
Should I look down disgraced
Or staright ahead
And know that you must blame

I am, I am the secret
I am, I am the sin
I am, I am the guilty
And I... I am the thorn within

Forgive me Father
For I have sinned
Find me guilty when true guilt is from within

So point your fingers
Point right at me
For I am shadows and will follow you
One and the same are we

I am, I am the secret
I am, I am the sin
I am, I am the guilty
And I... I am the thorn within

I do your time
I take your fall
I'm branded guilty
For us all

So point your fingers
Point right at me
For I am shadows and will follow
One and the same are we

I am, I am the secret
I am, I am the sin
I am, I am the guilty
And I... I am the thorn within

I am the thorn within...

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Lyrics submitted by elmoz

Track duration: 05:52


Thorn Within song meanings
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32 Comments

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  • 0
    My Interpretation:I think it's about Jesus. He took everyone else's sins and died for them and became the guilty one for all of us.
    Flag fixxxer21on January 18, 2013   Link
  • -1
    General Comment:listen to the song stoned its awesome, which im guessing is what matt holck is doing
    Flag boredashellon January 29, 2011   Link
  • 0
    My Interpretation:Uhh??? I was sure i had this song figured out the 1st few times i heard it years ago. Maybe im wrong, but im pretty sure all of u have it way way wrong. When i take this mark of shame should be a dead give away (mark of the beast) by father he means god, not his actual father. For the one person that was wondering what the thorn was a reference too, my opinion is from the crown of thorns. How could i be the only 1 on here that thinks this!? None the less, its my 2nd fav on the album after outlaw torn. They both r lyricaly emotional & both still give me goosebumps 2 this day. Any1 the least bit religious should listen to this song again w\ my interpretation & c if it doesnt give u goosebumps. I thought that the lyric was should i look down disgrased or straight ahead & know that u must be, not blame. Makes more since. Sayin he didnt believe till it was 2 late. @cliffburtonsux why would u waste ur time w\ that screen name & commenting here? Id be praying the christians have it wrong if i were u. Hell will suck
    Flag smadamanon November 10, 2010   Link
  • 0
    Song Meaning:To me, this song is about one man taking the fall for the sins of a group. It isn't by choice, because he condemns the group, but he bears it with dignity. "Forgive me father" is his confession for a crime he did not commit. Its him playing his part. When he says he will follow them, it means someone (he) still knows they are guilty.

    Dont mean to sound condescending, but "forgive me father..." is absolutely a take on the Catholic confessional.

    Flag Hawisheron August 09, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Father sinned guilty within
    branded shame disgraced blame
    secret sin guilty thorn within
    fingers Point at me
    shadows follow same we

    Flag Matt Holckon July 11, 2009   Link
  • +1
    General Comment:I believe this song is about taking the fall for someone else. Being the hated one for another's actions and simply accepting it.
    Flag JDF2376on July 11, 2009   Link
  • -1
    General Comment:THIS SONG IS ABOUT A TEEN WHO GETS RAPED BY HER FATHER, AND IT GETS HER PREGNANT{WHT THE?!?!}. IT SOUNDS SCREWED UP{IT IS}BUT LET ME EXPLAIN.

    "FORGIVE ME FATHER, FOR I HAVE SINNED"
    "FIND ME GUILTY OF THE LIFE I FEEL WITHIN"
    "WHEN I'M BRANDED THIS MARK OF SHAME, SHOULD I LOOK DOWN DISGRACED"
    "OR STRAIGHT AHEAD AND KNOW THAT YOU MUST BLAME"

    THE TEEN IS BLAMING HERSELF FOR HER PREGNANCY, BUT SHE WONDERS THAT WHEN SHE IS "BRANDED THIS MARK OF SHAME"{HER STOMACH BULDGES FROM THE PREGNENCY} SHE SHOULD EITHER KEEP BLAMING HERSELF FOR WHAT HAPPENED, OR LOOK STRAIGHT AT HER FATHER AND KNOW THAT HE CAUSED THIS MESS.

    {CHORUS}
    "I AM THE SECRET"
    "I AM THE SIN"
    "I AM THE GUILTY"
    "AND I, I AM THE THORN WITHIN"

    SHE HOLDS THE SECRET TO HER PREGNANCY, SHE SINNED FOR NOT TELLING ANYONE AND BLAMING HERSELF, SHE FEELS GUILTY, AND SHE FEELS LIKE THE THORN WITHIN HER FAMILY'S LIFE.

    "SO POINT YOUR FINGERS, POINT RIGHT AT ME"
    "FOR I AM SHADOWS AND WILL FOLLOW YOU"
    "ONE AND THE SAME ARE WE"

    SHE REALIZES HER FATHER IS AT FAULT, AND LETS THE FAMILY THINK WHAT THEY WANT TO THINK. SHE IS SHADOWED, OR PROTECTED BY GOD AND WILL FOLLOW IN HER FAMILY'S FOOT STEP, BECAUSE THEY ARE STILL ONE AND THE SAME.

    "I DO YOUR TIME, I TAKE YOUR FALL"
    "I'M BRANDED GUILTY FOR US ALL"

    SHE ADDMITES THAT THE PREGNANCY WAS CAUSED BY HER FATHER, AND SHE LABELED HERSELF GUILTY FOR HER FAMILY.

    WOW!!!!!!!!!
    I CANT BELIEVE I THOUGHT ALL THAT UP!!!
    GREAT SONG.
    METALLICA ROCKS!!!!!






    Flag METALFANATIK101on February 25, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:i think it's a biblical reference to the thorn in Paul's side in 2 Corinthians 12:7:
    "... there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me."

    seriously read that verse and then read the lyrics. it makes so much sense. he also refers to the thorn in "Bleeding Me"
    Flag drxlr627on June 21, 2008   Link
  • -1
    General Comment:I love when they bash Christian scum! It's awesome! What a band!
    Flag cliffburtonsuckson May 31, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:This is an awsome song. but the lyrics r,

    For I am shadows and will follow you one in the same are we.
    Flag TUNDRA35on December 09, 2007   Link

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