Song Meaning: Cyanide by Metallica

Cyanide from Metallica's Death Magnetic

"Cyanide" is the third single from Metallica's Death Magnetic album. The song is heavy driven by kickass guitar riffs, and less weight is put on the lyrics. In fact, very little can me made of the lyrics. But the song was very well received by critics and fans alike.  James Hetfiled also said, "I very much enjoyed playing [Cyanide] live. Hopefully it's going to stay on our setlist."

"Sleep and dream of this/Death angel's kiss" describes the nightmare a person is experiencing in his/her deathbed. It could also mean that the subject is wishing for death as an escape route from the misery, but isn't brave enough to commit suicide. The lines, "I've already died / It's just the funeral I've been waiting for" probably means dreaming himself dying and waiting for the burial. The lyrics could also be interpreted as someone having a bad dream, and coincidentally, it just happened to be about death. I DON'T KNOW. In short, the song is about death, and only death, and it can be viewed in many different ways. Let me know if you think otherwise in the comments below.

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 Sleep, and dream of this -

Death angel's kiss
Brings final bliss
Completely.

[Chorus:]
Empty, they say,
"Death, won't you
Let me stay?"
Empty, they say,
"Death, hear me call your name."
(Ooh! Call your name.)

Suicide
I've already died.
It's just the funeral I've been waiting for.
Cyanide
Living dead inside
Break this empty shell forevermore.

[break/repeat guitar intro]

Wait. Wait patiently.
Your death black wings
Unfolding sleep
Spreading o'er me.

[Repeat Chorus]

[Bridge/Solo]

Say, is that rain or are they tears
That stained your concrete face for years?
The crying, weeping, shedding strife
Year after year, life after life?

An air of freshly broken ground
A concrete angel lit right down
Upon the grave which swallows fast,
It's peace at last, hey, peace at last!

[solo/repeat intro]

[repeat chorus]

Forever more (and end this war).
Forever more (and end this war).
You're just the funeral I've been waiting for.
Cyanide.