The Unforgiven II (song)

Song

Tour Dates

The Unforgiven II is the fourth track on ReLoad. It is a sequel to "The Unforgiven".

About

Just like its original version, The Unforgiven, the subject matter also deals with the theme of unforgiveness. It talks about the struggle to forgive a friend who has betrayed your deepest trust. The lyrics, like "She loves me not, she loves me still, but she'll never love again," show a strong desire for love mixed with a sad expectation of loss, highlighting serious trust issues. It’s about wanting to share feelings ("what I've felt / What I've known") but not being able to do so completely, and having a hard time accepting someone who reflects the same brokenness he sees in himself. The "you" in the song represents someone who also has deep scars from society, making them similar in their pain, but this shared experience makes forgiveness even harder.

Live

• "The Unforgiven II" has been performed live 7 times as of January, 2025.
• "The Unforgiven II" was first performed live on December 8th, 1997, in Las Vegas, Nevada, at the MGM Grand Garden Arena, for the Billboard Music Awards 1997.
• It was last performed live on December 13th, 2024, in Inglewood, California, at the YouTube Theatre, for Helping Hands 2024.

Lyrics

    Lay beside me, tell me what they've done
    Speak the words I want to hear, to make my demons run
    The door is locked now but it's opened if you're true
    If you can understand the me, then I can understand the you
    
    Lay beside me, under wicked skies
    Through black of day, dark of night, we share this paralyze
    The door cracks open but there's no sun shining through
    Black heart scarring darker still, but there's no sun shining through
    
    No, there's no sun shining through
    No, there's no sun shining
    
         What I've felt, what I've known
         Turn the pages, turn the stone
         Behind the door, should I open it for you?
         
         What I've felt, what I've known
         Sick and tired, I stand alone
         Could you be there, 'cause I'm the one who waits for you
         Or are you unforgiven, too?
    
    Come beside me, this won't hurt, I swear
    She loves me not, she loves me still, but she'll never love again
    She lay beside me but she'll be there when I'm gone
    Black heart scarring darker still, yes, she'll be there when I'm gone
    Yes, she'll be there when I'm gone
    Dead sure she'll be there
    
         What I've felt, what I've known
         Turn the pages, turn the stone
         Behind the door, should I open it for you?
         
         What I've felt, what I've known
         Sick and tired, I stand alone
         Could you be there, 'cause I'm the one who waits for you
         Or are you unforgiven, too?
    
    Lay beside me, tell me what I've done
    The door is closed, so are your eyes
    But now I see the sun, now I see the sun
    Yes, now I see it
         What I've felt, what I've known
         Turn the pages, turn the stone
         Behind the door, should I open it for you?
         
         What I've felt, what I've known
         Sick and tired, I stand alone
         Could you be there, 'cause I'm the one who waits for you
         Or are you unforgiven, too?
    
    I take this key
    And I bury it in you
    Because you're unforgiven, too
    
    Never free
    Never me
    'Cause you're unforgiven, too