Metallica

Released: November 23, 1999

Featuring: San Francisco Symphony

Songwriter: Kirk Hammett Lars Ulrich James Hetfield

Producer: Michael Kamen Lars Ulrich James Hetfield Bob Rock

[Chorus 1]
Mama, they try and break me

[Verse 1]
The window burns to light the way back home
A light that warms, no matter where they've gone
They're off to find the hero of the day
But what if they should fall by someone's wicked way, yeah?
Still the window burns
Time so slowly turns
And someone there is sighing
Keepers of those flames
Can't you feel your names?
Can't you hear your babies crying. yeah?

[Chorus 1]
Oh, they try and break me...
Still they try and break me, yeah...

[Verse 2]
Excuse me while I tend to how I feel
These things return to me that still seem real
Now deservingly, this easy chair
But the rocking stopped by wheels of despair
Don't want your aid
But the fist I've made
For years won't hold or feel
No, I'm not all me
So please excuse me
While I tend to how I feel, ah!

[Chorus 2]
But now the dreams and waking screams
That never last the night
So build the wall, behind it crawl
And hide until it's light
Can't you hear your babies crying now?

I can't hear you!

[Verse 3]
Still the window burns
Time so slowly turns
And someone there is sighing
Keepers of those flames
Can't you feel your name
Can't you hear your babies crying

[Chorus 2]
But now the dreams and waking screams
That never last the night
So build the wall, behind it crawl
And hide until it's light
Can't you hear your babies crying now?

[Chorus 1]
Mama, they try and break me
Mama, they try and break me
Mama, they try and break me
Mama, they try
Mama, they try
Hey!
Mama, they try and break me
Mama, they try and break me
Mama, they try and break me
Mama, they try
Mama, they try, yeah
Mama

Like Black Sabbath and Iron Maiden before, Metallica has managed to transcend the genre from which it was originated. To their metal fanbase they are considered one of the Big Four bands of thrash metal, alongside Megadeth, Anthrax and Slayer; however Metallica is also one of the most commercially successful bands in all of rock music, having sold 110 million records including the 16x platinum Metallica, which stands as both the highest selling metal album of all time and most successful album of the past 25 years.

Metallica was formed in 1981 in Los Angeles after drummer Lars Ulrich placed an advert in the classifieds newspaper The Recycler, which was answered by singer/rhythm guitarist James Hetfield. They were soon joined by lead guitarist Dave Mustaine, who later formed Megadeth after being kicked out of the band because of his substance and alchohol abuse, and bassist Ron McGovney, a childhood friend of Hetfield. These two early members were replaced with Cliff Burton (who relocated the band to San Francisco) and ex-Exodus lead guitarist, Kirk Hammett to form the band’s classic line-up.

The band released three albums, 1983’s Kill ‘Em All, 1984’s Ride The Lightning and 1986’s Master of Puppets before the tragic and untimely death of Cliff Burton on September 27th, 1986.

more tracks from the album

S&M (Live)

From the album

S&M (Live) (1999)

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S&M (Live)