The Unforgiven

"The Unforgiven" is a song by the American heavy metal band Metallica. It was released as the third single from their fifth album Metallica. Though one of the slower tracks on the album, its chord progression is distinctly one of the heavier. The Unforgiven Songfacts says: On the show Classic Albums: Metallica - The Black Album, James Hetfield explained that the intro was taken from the score of a Western movie, and reversed so it would not be identifiable. The band won't reveal the movie for legal reasons, but it is probably the 1965 Clint Eastwood movie For A Few Dollars More.

[Verse 1] 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, ooh, a vow unto his own that never from this day His will they'll take away, yeah [Chorus] 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" [Verse 2] 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, yeah [Chorus] 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" [Guitar Solo] [Chorus] 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," whoa [Outro] Never free, never me So I dub thee "Unforgiven" You labeled me, I'll label you So I dub thee "Unforgiven" Ah, never free, never me So I dub thee "Unforgiven" You labeled me, I'll label you So I dub thee "Unforgiven" Never free, never me So I dub thee "Unforgiven"