Metallica

Released: June 5, 2003

Songwriter: Lars Ulrich James Hetfield Bob Rock Kirk Hammett

Producer: Bob Rock Metallica

[Verse 1]
Tear it down
Strip the layers off
My turpentine
Old paint, old looks
Cover up the past
White heat, white light
Super white bones
Bones of you and I

[Chorus 1]
Pure if I... can't you help me?
Pure if I... won't you help me?
Purify, you and I
Purify, you and I
Pure if I... can't you help me?
Pure if I... won't you help me?
You and I, purify
You and I, purify
Purify!

[Verse 2]
Truth and dare
Peeling back the skin
Acid wash, ghost white
Ultra clean
Wanna be skeleton
Clear eyes, diamond eyes
Strip the past of mine
My sweet turpentine

[Chorus 2]
Pure if I... can't you help me?
Pure if I... won't you help me?
Purify, you and I
Purify, you and I
Pure if I... can't you help me?
Pure if I... won't you help me?
You and I, purify
You and I, purify
Oh, purify!

[Bridge]
I can find the dirt on anything
I can find the dirt on anything
I ain't dancing with your skeletons
I, I ain't dancing with what might have been

[Chorus 3]
Pure if I... can't you help me?
Pure if I... won't you help me?
Purify, you and I
Purify, you and I
Pure if I... can't you help me?
Pure if I... why won't you help me?
You and I, purify
You and I, purify
Come on, purify

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.

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