The Unforgiven is the fourth track on The Black Album. The song has spawned two sequels, "The Unforgiven II" (Reload) and "The Unforgiven III" (Death Magnetic).
In contrast to previous ballads that Metallica had written, this song features a slower, more conventional rock style, and has heavy verses and a soft chorus, rather than the heavy chorus and soft verses that "Fade To Black", "Welcome Home (Sanitarium)", and "One" had. The guitar solo in the song was the outcome of Kirk being told to replay the solo multiple times by Bob Rock.
Live[]
"The Unforgiven" has been performed live 540 times as of January, 2025.
"The Unforgiven" was first performed live on October 12th, 1991, in Oakland, California, at Day on the Green 1991.
It was last performed live on September 29th, 2024, in Mexico City, Mexico, at the Estadio GNP Seguros, during the 72 Seasons tour.
Trivia[]
On June 13th, 2024, this song was released in the Fortnite Item Shop as a jam track and playable song in Fortnite Festival.
The intro to the song features a reversed sample of a western movie The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly. Specifically The Ecstasy of Gold, which Metallica uses as a concert entrance and covered it on We All Love Ennio Morricone.
It includes an effect known as a Doppler, which is like a when a train is approaching and the closer the train gets, the higher the pitch gets.
Lyrics[]
New blood joins this earth
And quickly he’s subdued
Through constant pained disgrace
The young boy learns their rules
With time, the child draws in
This whipping boy done wrong
Deprived of all his thoughts
The young man struggles on and on, he’s known
A vow unto his own
That never from this day
His will they’ll take away
What I’ve felt
What I’ve known
Never shined through in what I’ve shown
Never be
Never see
Won’t see what might have been
What I’ve felt
What I’ve known
Never shined through in what I’ve shown
Never free
Never me
So I dub thee Unforgiven
They dedicate their lives
To running all of his
He tries to please them all
This bitter man he is
Throughout his life the same
He’s battled constantly
This fight he cannot win
A tired man they see no longer cares
The old man then prepares
To die regretfully
That old man here is me
What I’ve felt
What I’ve known
Never shined through in what I’ve shown
Never be
Never see
Won’t see what might have been
What I’ve felt
What I’ve known
Never shined through in what I’ve shown
Never free
Never me
So I dub thee Unforgiven
You labeled me
I’ll label you
So I dub thee Unforgiven
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