The song lyrics were written by the band Van Halen, as they were asked to write a song for the 1979 movie "Over the Edge" starring Matt Dillon. The movie (and the lyrics, although more obliquely) are about bored, rebellious youth with nothing better to do than get into trouble. If you see the movie, these lyrics will make more sense. It's a great movie if you grew up in the 70s/80s you'll definitely remember some of these characters from your own life. Fun fact, after writing the song, Van Halen decided not to let the movie use it.
When a man lies he murders some part of the world
These are the pale deaths
Which men miscall their lives
All this I cannot bear to witness any longer
Cannot the kingdom of salvation
Take me home
These are the pale deaths
Which men miscall their lives
All this I cannot bear to witness any longer
Cannot the kingdom of salvation
Take me home
Lyrics submitted by fennsk, edited by RyanWolfeh, Ashram
To Live Is To Die Lyrics as written by James Alan Hetfield Clifford Lee Burton
Lyrics © Word Collections Publishing
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"To Live Is To Die" is a colossal masterpiece of epic songwriting. Metallica create a wall of sound on this song that can only be described as "orchestral"; Beethoven would be proud.
Metallica could have scribbled a bunch of lyrics that touched on their sadness at Cliff's passing. This would have showed us the sadness they feel, but Metallica understood that lyric's can be interpreted in many different ways. Thus, Metallica composed what is perhaps their most beautiful music ever, the music is fully capable of bringing tears to your eyes in a way that lyrics (with their ambiguities) cannot always accomplish.
From interviews with Kirk, James, and Lars, Cliff Burton appears to be a "no nonesense", "no bullshit pretensions" kind of person. That being said, what better way to say "farewell" to Cliff than to compose a piece of music so evocative of sadness and mourning that no lyrics are even necessary.
As a testament to Cliff's "brutal honesty", Metallica chooses as the only lyrics in the song a poem by Cliff, spoken against the backdrop of Metallica's earth shattering music. A poem that speaks of Cliff's frustrations with the world, yet at the same time shows that he is hopeful that something greater than this World exists, the "Kingdom of Salvation". This is a constant them that runs through all of Metallica's music, that shred of hope that exists even when all around is darkness. This quality, coupled with their amazing instrumental talents, assures Metallica's place in history with the "Immortals" of music.
very well said