Welcome to where time stands still
No one leaves and no one will
Moon is full, never seems to change
Just labeled mentally deranged
Dream the same thing every night
I see our freedom in my sight
No locked doors, no windows barred
No things to make my brain seem scarred

Sleep my friend and you will see
That dream is my reality
They keep me locked up in this cage
Can't they see it's why my brain says rage

Sanitarium, leave me be
Sanitarium, just leave me alone

Build my fear of what's out there
And cannot breathe the open air
Whisper things into my brain
Assuring me that I'm insane
They think our heads are in their hands
But violent use brings violent plans
Keep him tied, it makes him well
He's getting better, can't you tell?

No more can they keep us in
Listen, damn it, we will win
They see it right, they see it well
But they think this saves us from our Hell

Sanitarium, leave me be
Sanitarium, just leave me alone
Sanitarium, just leave me alone

Fear of living on
Natives getting restless now
Mutiny in the air
Got some death to do
Mirror stares back hard
Kill, it's such a friendly word
Seems the only way
For reaching out again


Lyrics submitted by trivium_crusader666

Welcome Home (Sanitarium) Lyrics as written by Kirk L. Hammett James Alan Hetfield

Lyrics © Word Collections Publishing

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Sanitarium song meanings
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19 Comments

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  • +1
    General Comment

    this is one of my favourite songs off Master of Puppets - the lyrics are so well done, especially the lines "Whisper things into my brain Assuring me that I'm insane Keep him tied, it makes him well He's getting better, can't you tell? "

    Just great songwriting

    Joe_Dullon November 10, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    According to Wikipedia, this song was inspired by the movie One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest.

    collider85on September 10, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Wow, can't believe this hasn't gotten more comments. I think this is one of the better songs on "... And Justice for All."

    The meaning of the song is pretty obvious. It's about somebody in an insane asylum that doesn't think they should be there (but then again, crazy people don't know they're crazy, eh?). I can definitely see the influences from "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest." Especially in the lines "Fear of living on, Natives getting restless now, Mutiny in the air." For those that haven't read the book, it's about an asylum in... I believe it's around the 50's, but it's been a while since I read the book. Anyway, a man by the name of McMurphy comes to the asylum and raises general Hell, and tries rallying the patients into an uprising. I won't say any more than that, I'd hate to spoil it for anybody that wants to read it.

    Sankmeisteron September 20, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Sankmeister.... this song happens to be on Master of Puppets. Not ...And Justice for All.

    jewfishon October 02, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    This is an AWESOME SONG with well written lyrics and well played music it is just brilliance definitely a masterpiece from metallica. It is basically about a person in an asylum who doesn't think he should be there and he explains what goes on in there and towards the end how they revolt cause they cant take it any longer.

    Masterpiece

    shingamion December 31, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    wow only 6 comments for such a heavy, badass song?

    i think this song is about a man who is thought to be deranged and eventually becomes deranged by the cruelty of the conditions in the mental hospital and the doctors and nurses, and his pitiful, angst-ridden life in the "sanitarium" culminates in a rebellion against the doctors by the mental patients. think of it like an innocent person being put in jail- same concept.

    satinsovenon March 26, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    lol This song has nothing to do with a mental hospital if you look at other metallica songs it isnt like country their lyrics have double meanings these songs are paradoxes they use a story to make another meaning its not a simple asa person in a hospital if i was metallica i wouldnt waste my time writing a song about mental patients they would write something that their listeners could relate 2 personally i have been in mental wards and rehabs and jail and can relate to this song both ways... consider this song to the same meaning as bricks in the wall by pink floydd its about society and parents... This song is about how people are forced to grow up as everyone else there telling you to do your own thing... dont be like everyone else how hollywood and church religion schools how they say to dress this way how they say to talk how they say to act thats what it means this song is trying to show people how everyone follows one another be your own leader dont be a follower be yourself.... same thing as the song bricks in the wall

    ppkillon March 31, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    again this song could also mean about school bullies and teachers again as i said above it could be a kid being picked on by a bully or a teacher.... assuring me that im insane brings that hint.... eminems brain damage song.... i see it also as a picked on kid being bullied and then in the end standing up against him.. you gotta think metallica was appealing to the teenage generation when this song came out same as the punk bands of today... there gonna aim at them to sell their cds... same thing as cigarette and alcohol companies... they wanted to relate to these kids..... This song is about Retaliation and being different... alot of kids are bullied because they are different than other kids have braces are slow geeks nerds punks goths.... that is equal to being mentally deranged in this song... and then its telling them to stand up for themselves... that is what i think it means

    ppkillon March 31, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    woah, 9 comments for ace song lyk this? ne way this song as ppkill relates to the lyrics and so does the traditional mental asylum theory (which i beleive) but hoos cares, its fkn kik ass

    R.I.P Cliff

    maidenforceon April 10, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    well, i figured out why this "sanitarium" has so little comments...because everyone commented on "sanitarium(welcome home)". why there are two of the same song i dont know

    satinsovenon April 13, 2008   Link

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