Generally, Heavy metal music hasn’t enticed my listening senses like other genres of music. But the song One by Metallica is a rare exception because of the masterful playing, the raw power and intensity of the sound and confounding lyrical imagery. It’s a musical masterpiece. I have listened to other Metallica music and saw their 2004 documentary Some Kind of Monster, but as far as my musical appreciation goes (apart from One) – ‘nothing else matters‘.
One was released as the third and final single from the band’s fourth studio album, …And Justice for All. Written by band members James Hetfield and Lars Ulrich, the song portrays a World War I soldier who is severely wounded—arms, legs and jaw blown off by a landmine, blind and unable to speak or move—begging God to take his life. Where this song supersedes other music is how it conveys this misery by gradually getting more heavy and distorted until the “machine gun” guitar build up (played alongside double bass drums). The song starts off in a soft melodic setting, but it develops through multiple sections into heavier and faster speed metal sounds.
[Verse 1]
I can’t remember anything
Can’t tell if this is true or a dream
Deep down inside, I feel to scream
This terrible silence stops me
Now that the war is through with me
I’m waking up, I cannot see
That there’s not much left of me
Nothing is real but pain now
[Refrain]
Hold my breath as I wish for death
Oh, please, God, wake me
[Verse 2]
Back in the womb, it’s much too real
In pumps life that I must feel
But can’t look forward to reveal
Look to the time when I’ll live
Fed through the tube that sticks in me
Just like a wartime novelty
Tied to machines that make me be
Cut this life off from me
[Refrain]
Hold my breath as I wish for death
Oh, please, God, wake me
[Instrumental Break]
[Chorus]
Now the world is gone, I’m just one
Oh, God, help me
Hold my breath as I wish for death
Oh, please, God, help me
[Instrumental Break]
[Bridge]
Darkness, imprisoning me
All that I see, absolute horror
I cannot live, I cannot die
Trapped in myself, body my holding cell
Landmine, has taken my sight
Taken my speech, taken my hearing
Taken my arms, taken my legs
Taken my soul, left me with life in Hell
[Instrumental Outro]
[Guitar Solo]
Metallica performed One for the 31st Annual Grammy Awards show broadcast from Los Angeles in 1989. The next year, the song won a Grammy Award for Best Metal Performance, the first ever to win in that category. In March 2023, Rolling Stone ranked “One” at number 11 on their “100 Greatest Heavy Metal Songs of All Time” list. The song is one of the band’s most popular pieces and has remained a staple at live shows since the release of the album, and is the most performed song from …And Justice for All.
Reference:
1. One (Metallica song) – Wikipedia
“The more I live, the more I learn. The more I learn, the more I realize, the less I know.”- Michel Legrand
Observation Blogger 
Heavy Metal is not a favorite of mine. I do like this song. Metallica just played in Detroit last week. Got great reviews….
When I was watching their documentary ‘Some Kind of Monster’ I wondered how these same gents were able to summon the talent to create the track – ‘One’. They were so young too when they did it. It’s so damn good. Having said that I would never have the urge to see one of their concerts. Hardly a fan.
I agree wholeheartedly. That is a great song. The radio stations were going crazy about them. I just have never been a heavy metal fan.
I’ve somehow never heard this Metallica song, but wow, such dark subject matter and appropriately intense instrumentals.
It never grows old this song. Best metal song I’ve heard hands down. Not that I’m very cognisant of the form.