Mama Said (song)

Song

Tour Dates

Mama Said is the eleventh song from 1996's album Load. It was written by James Hetfield and Lars Ulrich, and has a length of 5:23.

Mama Said was released in the self-titled single, which includes an edited version of it (length of 4:42) and the song's demo version. An unplugged version appears in the unofficial release "The Golden Unplugged Album".

About

This is a song for James Hetfield's mother, who died of cancer when he was young. The song talks about his regrets of not being able to spend more time with her and how he hopes that she will still love him when he sees her again.

In an interview with Mojo magazine December 2008, Hetfield referred to this song about his mother as, "like a prodigal son song: leaving and then coming back and it's too late, you can't talk to her now." He added: "It was a realization that lots of questions went unanswered. 'I want to say this. I want to ask you this.' And you're unable to. But through therapy I was able to do a lot of grief work, about both parents."

Video

Metallica released a video for the song, directed by Anton Corbijn and filmed in November 1996, in London, England. The video never aired in the US. You can watch the video here.

Live

This song was played live 3 times. The first time was in November 13, 1996, in London, England. The band hasn't played it since September 7, 2004, in Nashville, TN.

Lyrics

Mama, she has taught me well
Told me when I was young
Son, your life's an open book
Don't close it 'fore it's done
The brightest flame burns quickest
That's what I heard her say
A son's heart's owed to mother
But I must find my way

Let my heart go
Let your son grow
Mama, let my heart go
Or, let this heart be still

"Rebel," my new last name
Wild blood in my veins
Apron strings around my neck
The mark that still remains
I left home at an early age
Of what I heard was wrong
I never asked forgiveness
But what is said is done

Let my heart go
Let your son grow
Mama, let my heart go
Or let this heart be still

Never I ask of you
But never I gave
But you gave me your emptiness
I now take to my grave
Never I ask of you
But never I gave
But you gave me your emptiness
I now take to my grave
So let this heart be still

Mama, now I'm coming home
I'm not all you wished of me
A mother's love for her son
Unspoken, help me be
I took your love for granted
And all the things you said to me
I need your arms to welcome me
But a cold stone's all I see

Let my heart go
Let your son grow
Mama, let my heart go
Or let this heart be still

Let my heart go
Mama, let my heart go
You never let my heart go
So let this heart be still

Never I ask of you
But never I gave
But you gave me your emptiness
I now take to my grave
Never I ask of you
But never I gave
But you gave me your emptiness
I now take to my grave
So let this heart be still