This is one of the deepest and saddest songs by Metallica imo. The horrifying fact that James Hetfield's mother CHOSE to die of cancer rather than take a life saving treatment and he was 15 when she died - horrifying. Scarring for anyone truly. The main theme of most of their songs is pain or suffering in some way. "Heavy Metal is therapy for us and for the fans." - James Hetfield,
This song is the first in a trilogy. So there's "The Unforgiven 2" and "The Unforgiven 3" also. This is basically about anger of being controlled and not forgiving that. The second about letting someone in but still not ready to forgive. And the last one about clarity, realizing your own faults and putting blame on yourself too. They are all on the same theme but at different stages in James life, where he was at with it at the time.
It is a double meaning song. I dub thee (you) "Unforgiven" because i will never forgive you for trying to force your views and beliefs onto me since I was a kid. And no matter how hard I tried to be what you wanted me to be, it was never good enough. (Something a child would feel with overbearing parents.) I dub thee (myself) "Unforgiven' because I will never forgive myself for being too weak to stand up for myself and stick to my convictions. No matter how many time I learned something new, or believed in something, I could never find the strength to be true to myself due to the fear of how other people would feel about me. (Something an adult would feel after a lifetime of compromising based on how other people will treat them, instead of being firm and accepted for being honest... or life full of regrets over choices NOT made and lost opportunities.)
The way I've always interpreted the song is how you so eloquently described it being aimed towards the family, not his own self... Towards the end of the first verse the lyrics go "A vow unto his oath/ that never from this day/ his will they'll take away" To me it's always been him saying "ok from this day forward, you (the family) aren't going to tell me how to feel, think or act. The mere notion that you've controlled me this way my whole life (up to that point), is the reason I dub thee as the unforgiven. "Thee" usually means other person, which is why I looked at it the way I did. However, that second meaning you described makes way too much sense as well lol, so I can't just summarily dismiss it. Thanks for giving me a new perspective to listen to this song to now, it's almost like hearing it for the first time again ❤️
After watching the video, and re-listening to the song obviously, I think it's definitely meant towards his family, not towards himself because he doesn't forgive himself. He says it towards the end when he yells "You labeled me, I'll label you, so I dub thee Unforgiven" meaning that's what he has dubbed them as.
@@ericsantiago5225 Yeah I gotta agree. They could have fairly easily swapped out lyrics as well, 'me' instead of 'thee' if they wanted to go deeper, i suppose. Take care :)
To me this song is about a boy abused his whole life(made to have the same beliefs as his family) and he knows even when he is old that this was wrong and he does not forgive his family for this, they have like stolen the man he could of been. This song hits a person some where deep, even if this isnt your kind of music it still forces a feeling of sorrow deep inside. Love your reactions guys, great fukin song!
He dubs those who he feels stole his life from him "The Unforgiven". In James Hetfield's sense he dubbed his mother bc he was mad that she was in a Christian science cult & she refused treatment when she got cancer & instead opted for prayer. He was 16 when she died. This also fueled the song "The God That Failed" which is about ppl who rely on religion too much to help them with their problems. Great video guys! 💚💀
I just realized all those years something bad happened 1986 cliffs death 1992 James getting burned on stage 2000-2003 James going to rehab and 2019 when he relapsed and had to go back to rehab thank god they pulled through all that!
One of my favs. To me this hits as never stifle your children's dreams or creativity, or others around you. Let them grow into the people they want to be; not what we envisioned them to become. Every parent and society pressures should be dubbed unforgiven for crushing peoples spirit. Unrealized passions and dreams lead to a regretful life. Support them and help them succeed or fail & learn from it.
And if you saw it recorded (A year and a half in the life of Metallica) Bob Rock challenged Kirk after several attempts at it to go home and spend some time writing a solo the way James did on Nothing Else Matters. Giving it another try Kirk rips this solo off basically improvising it the whole way. It’s a master stroke. Fuck Bob Rock!!
They tried something different with this song. Usually the verses are softer and the chorus is big, but in this song they made the verses heavy and the chorus softer! It's really cool
Man thanks for this comment I always thought about how this song seemed strange to my ears and now I finally understood why the verses are so heavy maybe cause they're part were he talks about the important things in the lyrics
watching you guys all week with your reactions, music and comedy, I am in my 50's( white guy) from mississippi. watching and listening to you guys I can tell you want to soak up Knowledge and it has been awesome watching. The songs come on and everyone of yalls soul is caught up in the music, This is wonderful to see the positive energy from you guys. Happy Thanksgiving, You guys are 100,,
Thee means "you" thyself means "yourself". He isn't talking about himself. But the people who concinced her not to get treatment "Dyer's Eve" touches on a similar kind of resentment to family. One of my favorites!
Thank you for explaining that. Also he makes it obvious who he is talking about when he yells at the end "you labeled me, I'll label you, so I dub thee Unforgiven".
I love watching y'all react to Metallica!! Brandon's face while he listens to the lyrics says it all. He feels the depth and sorrow of it. And I love how he explains things in such a kind way towards his friends. When Tae said King James version, the double entendre was greatness. All of you appreciate and absorb it in different ways, and it's awesome.
im a huge metallica fan.... thank you for making these videos, bringing the hype back for metallica and spreading the love of great music. keep up the great work guys
Metaphor is strong in metal. The bars written are often buried in metaphor and poetic presentation. It's not often very direct lyrically where you just read the lyrics and can take them for what they are. This song is a big double. He doesn't forgive the people who made him live a life where he never was able to be his own man and he never forgives himself for never standing firm for what he believes and feels.
31 years later, and this is STILL my favorite Metallica song. 'Metallica' (sometimes called "The Black Album") is legendary for a reason, even if - or possibly in part BECAUSE - it's also their most divisive.
Man, I LOVE watching 5 guys like you react to some Rock and Metal stuff! It's SO amazing to watch people with different tastes in music being able to appreciate things like these for what they are. Thank you guys so much, you made my day! Makes me very emotional.
Oh yeah the black album! The album of all albums! Every song is a banger on this album and Metallica killed it with this album. Gonna be a good time with this one! “sad but true” or “wherever I may roam” are two of the good songs on this album you should check out!
Every. Freaking. Song. ON THE ALBUM!!!! As a 9 yr old I would fall asleep every night faithfully with this cd on repeat all cycle up until I was 19,no joke
Enter Sandman and Don’t Tread On Me are from this album as well. So you guys have listened to two other songs from here but one was a live performance so you wouldn’t have known Check out Sad But True from this album. Absolute banger!
So happy to see you young guys appreciating the GREATS!!! My son is probably your age and he is a music lover. A true lover of music loves all genres no matter what era!!!
You with the bandana, you're my kind of fella, a wise and thoughtful person. I dig that. Guys, I am so impressed with you all in how much you have evolved and doing this reaction thing enjoyable to watch. I was hard on you in the beginning, but now I am a fan, and regularly check your stuff! Keep it up! Do some live Metallica, like fade to black 2018. And the s&m1 concert: Bleeding Me and Outlaw Torn e.g.
To me the mark of a great song is that you can do it in any kind of musical style and either the melody or the lyrics cut through everything and make it good I've seen this song reggae covered I've seen this song thrash metal covered I've seen this song acoustic guitar covered it always holds up it's a truly great song
When I was a young soldier I met many young black men and almost everyone of them liked Metallica. The young man in the back reminds me of them you can tell he's a metal head.
It's nice to see how your initial reaction to metalica was, and now how your starting to see why they are so prolific. Alot more then just simple music. You can literally feel their music. They metal's pac and biggie haha. Enjoy the ride guys!
You guys really need to review Metallica's S&M album. It's really cool to see the San Francisco Symphony jamming with Metallica. They've done 2. Love what y'all are doing ♥️♥️
You guys HAVE to check out the Metallica song “Spit Out The Bone”! It’s off their 2016 album so new material. FULL of energy from the second it begins. A GREAT song to grind to at the gym. Happy Thanksgiving by the way!
Great song and very different from most of what Metallica did previously. Apparently Kirk Hammet was struggling coming up with the right guitar solo for this song and producer bob Rock had to work to help pull it out of him. What we ended up with was one of Kirks best.
Absolutely. AC/DC, Metallica, Iron Maiden, & Judas Priest are all bands that still sound incredible live. Definitely use those RU-vid views funds to go see Metallica in concert.
This song also goes to the millions who just stay in their hometowns, and never really follow any dream, sure some travel to their dream places, but it is never the same as having the guts to move there when you have the dream and are still young.
I grew up on Metallica, listening to everybody that’s understand and judge it as noise. I’m hooked on your videos now. Appreciating the fact you guys are really listening to the music and the lyrics made me a fan of your channel.👍 don’t know if you already have, but if not, you should check out the song monsters by Shinedown. It’s a pretty sign.
Kick ass along with most of thier chit. Saw them many times live and its fkn great to see. Cant go wrong with is entire album. BESTIE BOYS "WHAT YOU WANT" OR 3 BOYS AND A DJ
This album is timeless! If you can, go see them in concert! It’s worth every Penny, and might just be the best concert you’ve ever seen in your life. I saw them a few years back and will do everything I can to make it to every concert near me from now on out! I’ve seen many many artists and this concert is by far the BEST ever!
Man, this is such an epic song!! The riff, the lyrics, the emotion behind the solo, it has everything!! Unforgiven II is another amazing song you guys should check out. If you want another powerful song full of meaning I'd recommend 'The Show Must Go On' by Queen. 🤘🤘
I went through a similar experience so to me it makes sense. I see how it can be confusing though. If you are raised from a child to conform, and believe a certain way, but it never feels, or sits right then you will feel an inner conflict. If you ask questions, or have doubts as you grow older you will be labeled as lacking faith, or giving into satan, or the ways of the world. If you are fortunate enough to break free from it then you will see clearly how you were manipulated from your childhood on up. This is the story of going through that, and looking back, and coming to terms it's not our fault, but the manipulators... who rightly deserve no forgiveness
Love y'all's channel. Just discovered it a month ago. Keep on discovering more Metal, an more Metallica songs. SUGGESTION: IF YOU HAVEN'T YET, TRY Pantera's "Cemetary Gates".
This song inspired my AiM screen name all through jr high/highschool haha. I know you guys have talked a lot about awesome guitarists..wait till you take on Dimebag Darrell of Pantera....maybe listen to their song Broken, Cowboys from Hell, 5 minutes alone, cemetery gates...so many legendary songs.. love all your guys’ reactions. Peace ✌🏼
Love the vids fellas fellow Louisiana guy!! Grew up on Metallica love you guys are diving deep into their music but if you want a surprise something a little different check out Praise by Sevendust! Keep it rolling dawgs!
They played this at my best friends funeral and the church threw a fit. Still can't listen to the full song. Been 22 years and I will never forget that pain
Been waiting for this... U guys have only just started with Metallica... Most of the tunes U have reacted to nobody knows , this ones a banger 4 sho !!
This is the first Metallica song I heard. I was 12... I felt just like the guy in the song. I had been sa by my father since I could remember and had told my family. Nothing ever came of it. Then at 17 I finally told a nurse at the hospital where I was recovering from an attempt on my life. My father ran from the police and my sister and I were taken away from my mom. After getting home from almost dying... the 1st thing my grandfather said to me was "if you had kept your mouth closed... none of this would have happened" That's when I fully understood the lyric to this song. They don't have to forgive me... the only forgiveness I needed was my own.
