Oh my. Mr. Biscuits, the ones that matter are the ones that came here to see you. I'm 53 years old. I've heard all these songs a billion times, and it's nice to see a new set of ears hitting them. I came here to see what you have to say about the music I love. Why? Because you're damn good saying it. Keep up the great work and keep pausing. 😂😂😂

"A WISE MAN ONCE SAID...NEVER PAUSE DURING A GUITAR SOLO"🙏

The only one singing is James Hetfield (Lyricist and rythm guitarist), so his voice is layered in this.  This song was written after the truck with all their gear was stolen, including an amp that James' mother had bought him before she died from cancer when James was 16.  This song talks about the agony of loss, that hollow emptiness that comes with trauma, loss, and heavy depression.  When this song came out in 1984, a lot of teenagers who were suffering from trauma, loss, and depression gravitated to this song because for the first time they found someone who understood what they were feeling and suddenly they didn't feel so alone.  This song literally saved the lives of thousands of kids in the 80's from suicide.

The acoustic guitar in the intro (and that shows up in different parts of the song) was played by James.  The guitar solo (lead guitar) is played by Kirk Hammett (he's been with the band since 1983).  The drummer is Lars Ulrich, who met James in 1981 and the two became the nucleus of the band.  The bassist during their first 3 albums was Cliff Burton (1982-1986), later replaced by Jason Newstead after Cliff was killed in a horrific bus accident while the band was on tour in Europe (Sweden, late September 1986).  Jason stayed with Metallica for 15 years until he left in 2001 and was replaced in 2003 by Robert Trujillo, who is still with the band today.

Heavy Metal has been strongly compared to the best classical music and composers for the instrumentation and depth of the music.  People often dismiss Heavy Metal as satanic noise when the reality is that Heavy Metal is much deeper and more complex than that.  The instrumentation is as profound and dynamic as classical and operatic music and the lyrics either tell a compelling story or discuss very real and complex topics (especially with bands like Metallica).

When you're suicidal, it's a different emptiness. It's not a pleasant numbing, it's a malevolent numbing. Rather than a zen place where all is quiet, it's a screaming void where nothing matters or has any point.

This song has saved so many people from suicide.

Metal doesn't sound like video games, video games sound like metal. It's in frame of reference.

Until you have been suicidal, you do not fully understand this song. And I think that’s the point. Emptiness is filling me is not a good thing. It’s not an escape from thinking, it’s literally the feeling of being hollow and no longer the person you and others saw you to be

When I was a teenager I used to play this song very loud when I was angry. And as a response to it, my big brother played the song 'We care a lot' by Faith no more. We never talked about it, but I know that was his way of telling me I was not alone and he loved me🥰

it didn't 'end on a crazy jam session' - it faded to black

I cannot overstate how moving it was to hear 15,000 or so people singing these words in unison. Many of those people were realizing for the first time that they were NOT the only ones who were feeling these things. We will never know how many lives were saved by this song, or by metal in general. METAL IS FAMILY!!

In a depressive state, emptyness means that you are emotionless. You don't feel anymore. And at some point down the line, as much as you try to feel something, you can't. It's like we aren't human anymore.

This song IS the suiside hotline.

This song has got me through some of my darkest moments. One of my favorite songs!❤️‍🔥

This song in particular was one of the ones that saved my life back in the day. It displayed a depth and understanding of the feelings that dwell in so many. It beautifully, yet sadly depicts a person near their end. Just knowing that fact and having it displayed in such a way, really unified so many and gave a sort of solace to those that needed validation in feeling what they needed to feel. Music is such a powerful tool and they wielded it masterfully here.

100% this song was about taking their life and it undoubtedly saved countless lives in the process in the 80s and early 90s. Those kids that were lost found an outlet to lean into from a band that already knew lyrically what they were going through.

One of the coolest moments ever was seeing Metallica play this live. James paused before the bridge and said “you are not alone, and that suicide isn’t the option”

Metallica can always scratch that itch that no one else can , and damn does it feel good , like that one ex gf that had long nails scratching my back till I fell asleep.

I love that you understand how important lyrics are in metal

"I was me, but now he's gone"...he's talking about himself. Something has completely changed who he was. He is no longer who he was. He has lost what made him him.

I've gone through this, and continue to try to adapt, after a life changing injury. I am no longer who I was. My will to live is my 13 year old son.

This song saved my life when it came out I was 15 and didn't think anyone else felt like this ❤