Herbie Murray
Until It Sleeps is a song by the American heavy metal band Metallica. It was released on May 20, 1996, as the lead single from their sixth studio album, Load. The song's lyrics, written by James Hetfield, are believed to be about his mother's battle with cancer and the resulting emotional pain. However, some listeners have interpreted the song as relating to other personal struggles such as addiction, depression, and conflicting religious beliefs. The song's broad themes of pain and grief have resonated with many fans, making it one of Metallica's most popular and controversial songs.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Song | Until It Sleeps |
| Artist | Metallica |
| Genre | Heavy Metal |
| Writer(s) | James Hetfield and Lars Ulrich |
| Album | Load |
| Track Number | 4 |
| Release Date | May 20, 1996 |
| Themes | Pain, grief, addiction, depression, anger, cancer, conflict between science and religion |
| Awards | Metal Edge Readers' Choice Award for Song of the Year (1996), MTV Video Music Awards for Best Hard Rock Video (1996) |
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What You'll Learn
The song's meaning is interpreted differently by listeners
The song "Until It Sleeps" by Metallica has been interpreted in various ways by listeners, with some speculating about the song's personal meaning to the band members and others relating it to their own life experiences.
Some listeners interpret the song as tackling religious beliefs and the conflict between science and religion. This interpretation stems from the fact that James Hetfield, who wrote the song, lost his mother to cancer after she refused life-saving medication, believing that "God would save her." The song, therefore, reflects on the illogicality of certain religious beliefs and the conflicting arguments between science and faith.
Many listeners relate the song to personal experiences with illness, whether it be cancer, depression, or other enduring ailments. The lyrics "Hold me until it sleeps" are seen as a plea for comfort and support during difficult times. Some interpret "it" in the title as referring to pain, grief, or fear, and the song becomes a way to cope with and express these emotions. The lyrics "Wash me until I'm clean" are interpreted by some as a desire to rid oneself of the stains of addiction or mental illness.
The song has also been interpreted as relating to addiction, with lyrics such as "So tear me open but beware/There's things inside without a care" reflecting the internal struggle and temptation that comes with addiction. The line "Just like a curse, just like a stray/You feed it once and now it stays" is seen as a metaphor for the hold that addiction can have on a person.
While the song has personal meanings for the band members, it also speaks to the individual experiences of its listeners, allowing them to interpret it through their own lenses and find solace in its expression of universal emotions.
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It is about the writer's mother's battle with cancer
"Until It Sleeps" is a song by the American heavy metal band Metallica. It was released on May 20, 1996, as the lead single from their sixth studio album, Load. The song was written by James Hetfield and Lars Ulrich and is said to be about Hetfield's mother's battle with cancer.
The song's lyrics deal with the emotional and physical pain associated with cancer and the struggle to break free from it. Some listeners interpret the lyrics "hold me until it sleeps" as a plea for comfort until the pain subsides. The song also seems to address the conflicting arguments between science and religion, as Hetfield's mother reportedly refused life-saving medication because she believed that "God would save her".
While some listeners interpret the song as a broad reflection on pain and grief, others specifically relate it to their personal struggles with illness, addiction, or mental health issues such as depression. The song's success can be attributed to its ability to resonate with people's lowest points and give voice to their feelings.
Despite the varied interpretations, "Until It Sleeps" remains a personal song for Hetfield due to its association with his mother's battle with cancer. The song has been performed live 256 times as of January 2025, indicating its significance in Metallica's repertoire.
In conclusion, "Until It Sleeps" by Metallica is a powerful and emotional song that speaks to listeners' personal struggles while also reflecting Hetfield's own experiences with his mother's cancer. The song's broad applicability and introspective lyrics have contributed to its enduring popularity and impact.
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It can be interpreted as being about addiction
"Until It Sleeps" is a song by the American heavy metal band Metallica. It was released on May 20, 1996, as the lead single from their sixth studio album, Load. The song's lyrics, written by James Hetfield, are about his mother's battle with cancer and the emotional pain he endured. However, the song's interpretation is subjective and open to individual experiences.
While some interpret the song as a reflection on grief, loss, and the conflicting arguments between science and religion, others relate it to personal struggles with addiction. The song's lyrics can be interpreted as a cry for help in overcoming addiction and its underlying causes. The line "Hold me until it sleeps" suggests a desire for support and comfort during the difficult journey of recovery.
The song's reference to "washing away the dirt" and "tearing open" can be seen as a metaphor for cleansing oneself of addictive tendencies and confronting the underlying issues. The lyrics "It grips you, so hold me/It stains you, so hold me/It hates you, so hold me/It holds you, so hold me/Until it sleeps" illustrate the powerful grip of addiction and the need for external support to break free.
The interpretation of the song as a struggle with addiction is further supported by the mention of greed and selfishness, which are often associated with the addictive mindset. The line "Don't want your grip, don't want your greed" indicates a recognition of the negative impact of addiction and a desire to break free from its hold.
The song's message of overcoming addiction and finding recovery is empowering and resonates with individuals battling addiction or supporting loved ones through their journey. While the original inspiration for the song may have been rooted in personal grief and loss, its interpretation as a story of addiction and recovery highlights its versatility and ability to connect with listeners on a deeply personal level.
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It could be about the writer's struggle with depression
"Until It Sleeps" is a song by the American heavy metal band Metallica. It was released on May 20, 1996, as the lead single from their sixth studio album, Load. The song's lyrics, written by James Hetfield, are often interpreted as being about his mother's battle with cancer and the resulting emotional pain he experienced. However, some listeners have also related the song to their struggles with depression and other personal issues.
While the song is widely believed to be about Hetfield's mother's cancer, some fans have interpreted the lyrics through the lens of their own experiences with mental health issues. One interpretation suggests that the song is about the writer's struggle with depression. In this context, the lyrics "Hold me until it sleeps" could be a plea for comfort and support during a depressive episode. The song may also allude to the feelings of isolation, loneliness, and the desire to escape the grip of depression.
The song's references to pain and fear can be relatable to those who have experienced depression or other mental health struggles. Lines like "Where do I take this pain of mine?" and "So hold me until it sleeps" can resonate with individuals seeking relief from the emotional weight of depression. The song may also speak to the internal conflict and self-destructive tendencies that sometimes accompany depression, as hinted at in the lyrics "So tear me open but beware / There's things inside without a care."
Additionally, the song seems to touch on the stigma and societal misunderstanding of mental illness. The line "Don't want your grip, don't want your greed" could reflect the desire to break free from the hold of depression and the perception of mental illness as a choice or a sign of weakness. The song may also convey a sense of desperation and the longing for relief from the relentless nature of depression, as suggested by the lyrics "I run, but it stays right by my side."
While the interpretation of the song as a reflection on depression may not have been the original intent, the beauty of art is that it can take on new meanings for different listeners. "Until It Sleeps" serves as a powerful anthem for those struggling with mental health issues, offering a sense of validation and a means to express the indescribable weight of depression.
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It is Metallica's highest-charting song
"Until It Sleeps" is a song by the American heavy metal band Metallica. It was released on May 20, 1996, as the lead single from their sixth studio album, Load. The song deals with themes of pain, grief, anger, and the struggle between religious and secular beliefs.
"Until It Sleeps" is notable for being Metallica's highest-charting song in the United States, reaching number 10 on the US Billboard Hot 100. This made it Metallica's only top-10 hit in the US. The song also topped the Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks chart and reached number one in several other countries, including Australia, Denmark, Finland, Hungary, and Sweden.
The song's success on the charts was unexpected, given that Metallica is primarily known as a heavy metal band. "Until It Sleeps" represented a stylistic shift for the band, and some fans were critical of this new direction. Despite this, the song's popularity helped Metallica reach a wider audience and gain recognition from atheistic communities and intellectuals who appreciated the song's critique of religion.
The music video for "Until It Sleeps" also contributed to its success. Directed by Samuel Bayer and inspired by the paintings of Hieronymus Bosch, the video won the Best Hard Rock Video award at the 1996 MTV Video Music Awards. The song's lyrical content, which explores personal struggles and universal themes of pain and grief, resonated with many listeners, even if it was not originally intended to be specifically about cancer or any other particular issue.
"Until It Sleeps" stands as a significant moment in Metallica's evolution as a band, showcasing their ability to experiment with new sounds and connect with audiences beyond their traditional fan base.
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Frequently asked questions
The song "Until It Sleeps" is sung by the American heavy metal band Metallica.
The song "Until It Sleeps" was written by James Hetfield and Lars Ulrich. The lyrics are about Hetfield's mother's battle with cancer. The 'it' in the title refers to cancer or pain.
The song is the first single and fourth track from Metallica's 1996 album "Load".
The song won a 1996 Metal Edge Readers' Choice Award for Song of the Year and the Best Hard Rock Video award at the 1996 MTV Video Music Awards.
The song was inspired by James Hetfield's mother's losing battle with cancer and her refusal to accept life-saving medication because she thought "God would save her".
