A wonderful song
"The Unforgiven" is one of Metallica's most well-known and distinctive songs. Here's a breakdown:
- Song Type: It's a power ballad, a style that was a bit of a departure for Metallica at the time, although they had previous ballads like "Fade to Black" and "One."
- Album: It was released as the second single from their eponymous fifth album, Metallica, often referred to as "The Black Album," in 1991.
- Writers: James Hetfield, Lars Ulrich, and Kirk Hammett are credited as the songwriters.
- Unique Structure: Lars Ulrich explained that the band wanted to try something new with the idea of a ballad. Instead of the typical melodic verse and heavy chorus, they reversed it. "The Unforgiven" features heavy, distorted verses and a softer, melodic chorus, played with clean electric and acoustic guitars.
- Lyrical Theme: The song deals with the theme of an individual's struggle against those who try to control or subjugate them. It portrays the journey of a person from youth to old age, constantly battling to maintain their individuality and ultimately feeling "unforgiven" by society.
- Intro: The distinctive horn intro was taken from a Western movie score and reversed to hide its source, as James Hetfield explained in the documentary "Classic Albums: Metallica: The Black Album."
- Sequels: "The Unforgiven" has two sequels: "The Unforgiven II" from the 1997 album Reload, and "The Unforgiven III" from the 2008 album Death Magnetic.
- Music Video: The black-and-white music video, directed by Matt Mahurin, depicts a boy born in captivity who ages into an old man while trying to carve a window in his stone room.
How can I not listen to it on my cell phone?
It's a really powerful and emotional song that has resonated with many fans over the years.
