James never really had close friends. At school he was an outcast because he was "different" from the rest of his classmates. He was raised in a highly-christian family. So at school, when it was time for Science he left the classroom because he was told by his parents that science was not as important as God's powers. James has recently revealed in an interview that it really awkward standing in the hallway outside the classroom having to explain his situation to other teachers passing him by. At home his dad used to read him and his sister the Bible and he would get so emotional, in fact, to the point where he would almost cry in tears. James, on the other hand, was totally confused as to why his dad was crying and why he's not.
When James' mother was in deathbed, her relatives - who also happened to have a similar christian mindset - never really gave her any medicine or took her to to the hospital. They thought God would somehow take care of her but they were very wrong. Without a parent or close friends, James quickly fell into drinking. Even at some points in his adult life he was so addicted to it that his wife kicked him out of home. The Metallica documentary entitled, Some Kind of a Monster, released in 2001, shows James finally taking steps to address his alcoholism.
For "The Unforgiven" James Hetfield put his personal feelings stemmed from his childhood turmoil into lyrics. As he said in an interview, "personal wounds are a great thing to write about." This is somewhat of a complicated song, such that each individual line doesn't necessarily posses a deeper meaning, but rather you have have to collectively consider them together in a verse or chorus. So without further ado, let' do some rock n' roll analysis of this song.
I'd like to know what you think of this song. Let me know your thoughts/input in the comments below.
Analysis of lyrics:
First verse is about James' experiences when he was around, say, five years old. He was beginning to learn about the christian science he was taught by his parents. The line that sums this up is, "The young boy learns their rules."
Second verse talks about James' struggles as he was growing up to into a teenager. At this point in time, he was old enough to realize that his parent's christian beliefs wouldn't stop his mom from passing away. So, from that moment on he promised himself never to follow the footsteps of his parents, as stated by "That never from this day / His will they'll take away."
Final verse discusses James' conflicting relationship with his parents. James "battled constantly" with himself due to the fact that the faith his parents put on God didn't help any of them at the end: his dad abruptly left his family, and his mom died soon afterwards. After dust had settled, James was all by himself, contemplating committing suicide as stated by, "The old man then prepares / To die regretfully. "
The chorus is loosely written, in which James states that had he thought contrary to the beliefs he was taught, he might have been able to save his mom life.
- New blood joins this earth
- And quickly he's subdued
- Through constant pained 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 the unforgiven
- You labeled me
- I'll label you
- So I dub the unforgiven
Lyrics from: http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/metallica/theunforgiven.html
I really loved youre analysis in general, and I have learned much about his background thanks to you. About the sentences "The old man then prepares / To die regretfully", i don't agree with you. I don't think it means he contemplated commiting a suicide, in my opinion it means that at this certain point in his life, after he looked back at his past and realized what he had gone through, he couldn't think that in his last moments he will feel proud and satisfied, and therefore he prepares to die regretfully.
ReplyDeleteWow to water your heart on your sleeve like that and be able to sum up your childhood so completely shows the how amazing you are cause your letting thoughs that have gone through simular situations they're not alone. Your a true gift to all of those that have suffered simular situations
DeleteYa I love this song and I'm going to have it played at my funeral. Yey Metallica!
DeleteAgreed 100%, well said.
Deletei totally agree with you on this i believe he is saying he is preparing himself for death not ready to kill himself
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Thanks for your interesting analysis. you could mention the concept of unforgiven i think. I "unforgiven" demonstrates an outcast against public beliefs.
ReplyDeleteI think I have always related this song to my life. being born into abuse, neglect and drugs. Always wanting better but playing the role I was born into. Making mistakes and finally breaking the cycle for my boys. Dub the unforgiven to me means, not being to forgive myself for mistakes made. Dying regretfully to me means when I die, I will have to face a higher power after committing sins.
ReplyDeleteGood on you for breaking the cycle💪🏻🙏🏻
DeleteI think it suits a lot of our lives, but James was brilliant the way he worded it, it just gives me chills as I watch the video for about the 100th or so time😍
DeleteHe is so very talented, he has a true gift. I think he can thank God that he was able to prosper from his wonderful talent.
They have always been my Favorite, and they always will be😍😋😎😘
I think I have always related this song to my life. being born into abuse, neglect and drugs. Always wanting better but playing the role I was born into. Making mistakes and finally breaking the cycle for my boys. Dub the unforgiven to me means, not being to forgive myself for mistakes made. Dying regretfully to me means when I die, I will have to face a higher power after committing sins.
ReplyDeleteI think this song is about the systems we've built to maintain order. As we grow up and grow old we are not free, "never me". While aware, we unwillingly become part of the system, bitterness starts and eventually becomes regret. He will never see his own potential. They (the world or the people he has encountered) caused this, and they are not forgiven by him, they are UNFORGIVEN.
ReplyDeleteIt's actually 'thee' not 'the' unforgiven. So to me it means he is not forgiving himself for not being what he's felt or known.
DeleteIt's actually 'thee' not 'the' UNFORGIVEN, so to me it means he isn't forgiving himself for not being him, not acting according to what he's felt and known.
DeleteI think you nailed it
DeleteFor me, it means you will always be a prisoner of your past on several different levels. You will always carry those wounds even though you somehow, find a way to live on with them. Incredible song.
ReplyDeleteI love the song and the story.I would not know the feelings that he would have,but it must have been terrible.You will always have your battle scars.That is what makes us who we are.It is fantastic song writing.
ReplyDeleteAccept the truthed as will as fine and build new life is the path way to our the depressed.dont negathively thinks to faith and god cause there are somethings behind were we untold
ReplyDeleteAccept the truthed as will as fine and build new life is the path way to our the depressed.dont negathively thinks to faith and god cause there are somethings behind were we untold
ReplyDeleteIt's an incredible song that one can draw their own interpretation to an extent, especially when one has suffered abuse, neglect, and abandonment. I been raised catholic and have suffered abuse and experienced abandonment by my parents when I was 7 or 8 yrs old, when sent to a catholic boarding school, that was 44 years ago and have since learned to cope and maintain my belief in Christ... However I have a problem with some fundamental Christianity mindset and on the other hand have had many spiritual experiences along the way that have restored or left intact my belief system. I find there is still validity in a higher power, particularly when one trust in God to his, or herself rather than it being force fed to you as a child.
ReplyDeleteI can relate to this song completely. It was such a moving song for me because I've never shined through what I've shown. I had a torturous childhood. This song was the words that my heart was trying to sing but couldn't bear to find the words.
ReplyDeleteI think what he's saying in his song how a soon as he's born, he's being taught how he's supposed to think instead of being able to think for himself. Thoughtout his life he trying to think for for himself but is "battled constantly" with his family because of his free thinking. And he so tired of fighting again them, "a tired man they see no longer cares", explains itself. he let what others want him to believe rule him than what he believes his entire life. Now he regrets not saving his mom, he regrets all his mistakes, he regrets believing in his father so he "prepairs to die regretfully". He "dub thee unforgiven" because he will never forgive them for what they did thoughout his life and cannot take it back.
ReplyDeleteHoly Shit!!!! This is all way too familiar in my own life. "He tries to please them all. This bitter man he is." That's my whole freaking life!! Try making everyone happy just to find that no one is happy, least of all me. Worked myself sick and crazy but I have never been enough for anyone. Fuck!!!!
ReplyDeleteI tried pleasing everyone but me all through my 20's and would go nuts when I made someone mad. I learned not to care what others think and live life my way.
DeleteHoly Shit!!!! This is all way too familiar in my own life. "He tries to please them all. This bitter man he is." That's my whole freaking life!! Try making everyone happy just to find that no one is happy, least of all me. Worked myself sick and crazy but I have never been enough for anyone. Fuck!!!!
ReplyDeleteYou can't please everyone so you gotta please yourself. .. there is some truth to that no? But you will never truly be pleased unless you Jesus. That's our calling in life so it's the only that will satisfy the soul.
Deleteyeah, that's kind of what I take from the song too. I don't know, I've had a lot of issues with substance abuse/dependency, so many times I tried to get clean for the people around me. While I didn't have a horrible childhood, I definitely had a dysfunctional family which left me pretty confused and alone feeling as a teenager. When I started using my main drug of choice, heroin, it felt like something that had long been missing in my spirit had been filled in (cliche as it may sound), and I chased it, and in the process burned a ton of bridges, broke a lot of promises, and told a lot of lies, I tried to live two lives, so that I could please others, but still do what I felt necessary in order to go on. Eventually I totally couldn't take it any more and I left my home and moved to the other side of the country and lived under a bridge for a couple of years, and said fuck it, at least I'm being me. Obviously I'm not at that place in my life anymore but I still end up feeling like I'm being told how to live my life all the time, and while I acknowledge what I did was killing myself, I don't believe it's all that black or white, or at least it doesn't have to be, but I can't change the society I live in. I guess to sum it up, I often feel that the things that make me happy are the same things that make people I care about miserable, and so transparency is nearly impossible, nor is an honest relationship.
DeleteAt the same time it's not even about the substance for me in the end, it's about how fucked up society we live in is where if you're weird or different, and how that drives people like me to seek escapism, in any form, in order to handle the feelings of disconnect with others. At some point, a lot of people break and just say fuck it, and retreat into themselves. Truly remarkable people though try to change things, I'm not one of them though.
You are truly one of the remarkable people to me.Thank you for sharing.Just reading your testimony,has produced a change in my heart.Keep sharing and never under estimate the power of your testimony,your part in the grand scheme of things(life).We all have one life to live,live well be happy.❤In Christ,Kim.
Deleteis this a poetic song?? I really want to sing this in POETRIC SLAM...
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As someone stated above, this song is most likely about how James was pressured to follow his father's footsteps, about family feuds involving religion, how he just gave up on the fight against his family and how he regrets not saving his mom.
ReplyDeleteI can relate a lot to that since I was born in a strictly religious family where I couldn't even drink alcohol if I wanted to. Now, while I didn't had a terrible childhood like most people here, I could never be my true self within my family.
I'm an atheist, but I was always afraid of telling them the truth. I left my home years ago and I've been away from them ever since. I did tell them about it a year ago and of course their reaction was the worst possible, I'm basically banned from the family.
I know exactly how it is to not be free. But I can't say I don't regret things, I mean, it is family after all, things could've been different. So, I'll probably die regretting this life choice, but until then I'm gonna be who I want to be.
Never thought it had that meaning, thank you very much for writing this.
ReplyDeleteNo one is perfect. We are all in this together. We all have issues of one sort or another. We all want acceptance. To been seen and to be heard. Unfortunately the world is not that straightforward. So we need to grow up and show up...its hard...its not for sissies. But no one said life would be easy. No guarantees whatsoever. Peace
ReplyDeletewhat a great post
ReplyDeleteI think when he says "you labelled me, I'll label you", that shows that he doesn't forgive someone else, rather than himself (probably his dad)
ReplyDeleteTo clarify, when I say he doesn't forgive, I mean who he is labelling (dubbing thee) unforgiven
DeleteTo me this rings narcissistic abuse to me. Children end up not bring free or having an identity. They are not allowed to hsve their own thoughts. Never free never me. And they are NEVER EVER forgiven. And they battle a fight with the narcissist that they will never win. Ans have major issues into adulthood. Its sad really. I relate alot.
ReplyDeleteThis is exactly how I see this song also growing up in a dysfunctional family with a narcissistic father. The emotional pain is always there. I almost always shed a tear when I hear the heavy lyrics to this song.
Deletenoice!!!
ReplyDeleteThis song is about inner anguish stemming back to earliest childhood wounds and unresolved grief The loss that takrs your breath away to the pojnt of panic It feels so bad that there are no words to describe the pain I love this song so much because James captures the it so well Almost to the point of fear of feeling anything so bad again
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I think the song is pretty obvious it's simply somebody had a hard life and then they did something that was Unforgivable put that even more simply on a Biblical level there are few things that are Unforgivable taking God's name in vain is one of those if you live a miserable existence and you curse at the heavens you are now Unforgiven
ReplyDeleteWould be a moving song to sing to a child at their birth.
ReplyDeleteI think anyone who had a shitty childhood can relate to this song.....regardless of age or culture. It's almost painful the way he sings it.
ReplyDeleteI think it's lyrics are superb. For me one of the best songs from a band of genius lyrics.
I heard it was about an abused little boy. I wish I could remember the site I saw that from.....
ReplyDeleteI see how it really is. But, crazy how that angle sounds...
I've had several CD's of Metallica, yet in the late year of 2000 when my oldest grandson started rebelling against his many peers and expressing a deeper anger. One day on the radio heard Unforgiven. Although I've heard it many times, this time, I understood it and knew that is precisely what my grandsons life is like. Thank You for opening up & helping others realize. James Hatfield. Teri
ReplyDeletethe song is about the system oppressing without mercy, like state reared humans
ReplyDeleteFor me, it's about being forced into a system (beliefs, society, etc) from an early age. As a child, the system punishes you for someone else's sins (whipping boy). As he grows older, the system slowly crushes his spirit/soul, leaving him cold and uncaring. He regrets that he couldn't be himself, or at least given the freedom to explore his own path. In the chorus, he vents his frustration and refuses to forgive those who had forced him to be subjugated and broken down. "Thee" in Old English means "you". I name you the unforgiven. If you want to call me this, then I'm going to call you that. I will die and never forgive you for: helping them do this, not stopping me from becoming, leaving me/us, allowing it to go on...you are all unforgiven.
ReplyDeleteFor me, this song speaks to me as a child who was raised in a very strict religious environment (I had exorcisms performed on me if I did anything they perceived as "wrong") and who then grew up and became an alcoholic.
ReplyDeleteI was unforgiven as a child trying to grow up normally and partake in things my peers did, and now I am unforgiven as an adult who is trying to deal with that trauma with alcohol as I've done since sixteen, but I am now an alcoholic. For me, it is my life story and extremely sad.
I am personally trying to break out of it and I'm getting help, as luckily society has progressed a bit where they see these issues as medical and not just a 'weak person turning to drink' as they used to. I hope I can get out and stop relating so hard to this song, but it will always mean something to me, as its something I have felt I could relate to as an 'alcoholic mess' caused by childhood trauma. I know there are lots of you out there who can relate to me. You're not alone. We can do this.
Did anyone besides me before reading the lyrics thought that in the line so I dub thee unforgiven was do I dubbed the unforgiven instead of meaning so I call you unforgiven meant so I dubbed meaning copied the unforgiven as in sin meaning suicide
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The song "the unforgiving" is unique. I can relate it to as a man we all have our beliefs; first one as a child growing up taught by our parents, second societal belief, third now matured enough to your own beliefs drawn from experience in life to choose and act for yourself neglecting that life has no regulations as what you perceive to be right or wrong.
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