Released: August 25, 1989
Songwriter: Lars Ulrich James Hetfield
Producer: James Hetfield Lars Ulrich Flemming Rasmussen
[Instrumental Intro]
[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
[Chorus]
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
[Chorus]
Hold my breath as I wish for death
Oh please God, wake me
[Short 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]
[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
[Chorus]
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
[Chorus]
Hold my breath as I wish for death
Oh please God, wake me
[Short 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]
- CBS/Sony Hot Tracks Collection 1988, Nov. Dec. 1988 (1988)
- ...And Justice for All (1988)
- One (Single) (1989)
- The Heavy Metal Box (2007)
- Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock Soundtrack (2007)
- Hard Rock Headbangers (2019)
- Nothing Else Matters
- One
- Enter Sandman
- Master of Puppets
- The Unforgiven
- Fade to Black
- For Whom the Bell Tolls
- Sad But True
- Creeping Death
- Welcome Home (Sanitarium)
- Wherever I May Roam
- Battery
- ...And Justice for All
- The Unforgiven II
- Blackened
- Atlas, Rise!
- Turn the Page
- The Four Horsemen
- Ride the Lightning
- Seek & Destroy
- The Unforgiven III
- Fuel
- The Day That Never Comes
- Disposable Heroes