Metallica – The Unforgiven III

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How could he know this new dawn's light
Would change his life forever?
Set sail to sea, but pulled off course
By the light of golden treasure

Was he the one causing pain
With his careless dreaming?
Been afraid, always afraid
Of the things he's feeling

He could just be gone
He would just sail on
He'll just sail on

How can I be lost
If I've got nowhere to go?
Search for seas of gold
How come it's got so cold?
How can I be lost?
In remembrance I relive
And how can I blame you
When it's me I can't forgive?

These days drift on inside a fog
Thick and suffocating
His sinking life, outside it's hell
Inside, intoxicating

He's run aground, like his life
Water much too shallow
Slipping fast, down with his ship
Fading in the shadows

Now a castaway
They've all gone away
They've gone away

How can I be lost
If I've got nowhere to go?
Search for seas of gold,
How come it's got so cold?
How can I be lost?
In remembrance I relive
And how can I blame you
When it's me I can't forgive?

Forgive me
Forgive me not
Why can't I forgive me?

Set sail to sea, but pulled off course
By the light of golden treasure
How could he know this new dawn's light
Would change his life forever?

How can I be lost
If I've got nowhere to go?
Search for seas of gold
How come it's got so cold?
How can I be lost?
In remembrance I relive
And how can I blame you
When it's me I can't forgive?


Lyrics submitted by Phonejack, edited by Ashram, McJeff

The Unforgiven III song meanings
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100 Comments

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  • +24
    General CommentI believe this song has it very clear in the lyrics... It's like, someone does what he/she likes and goes out to do it as best they can, and in their own way... and then get side-tracked following money (light of golden treasure) and then the frustration of facing his/her own mistakes and not having anyone else to blame but themselves...

    The first unforgiven was the one unforgiven by society.
    The second unforgiven was the one unforgiven by his/her mate.
    This, the ultimate unforgiven, is the self-unforgiven... The one who can't forgive himself for what he's done...

    So far Metallica are impressing me with a different sound than they had so far, and i have no oppinion formed. One thing I am tired of hearing is: Better than St Anger.

    St Anger IS, musically, not as good as what metallica had us used to, but it must be heard in context. St. Anger is a public vent of all the poison in Metallica. You just watch the documentary (Some kind of monster) to understand that... The sound comes out crude and raw and unrefined just like a feeling. Just like a spontaneous punch.

    At least that's my oppinion. And in that context, the whole album fits like a glove.
    leethalon September 07, 2008   Link
    • 5 Replies
  • +5
    General CommentAmazing lyrics... you can relate this song to so many things. Starting something, getting lost in the way to finally fall, blaming someone else or many for your mistakes, to latter realise that you haven't found peace within yourself and therefore won't be in peace with the world or with that person until you solve things within you. This time the unforgiven is oneself.
    EerieQuestionMarkon September 07, 2008   Link
  • +5
    General CommentBorrowing from an important post from the "Unforgiven II" song meanings:

    Unforgiven: A child becomes a lost soul after being beaten down by the conformist society

    Unforgiven II: That lost soul is found by another.

    Unforgiven III: That lost soul is accepting responsibility for his/her part in his bitter life:

    "How can I blame you
    When it's me I can't forgive"
    BlueDevilKurzon September 13, 2008   Link
  • +4
    General CommentI duno if any1 else is noticing this or just me, but the intro of the song with the piano and esp b4 the guitar starts to play sounds exactly like 'ecstasy of gold' the tune that Metallica used to play before kicking off each concert from some western movie i think. Anyway its a great song from an even greater album, i think i would have loved it even more if they named it other than the unforgiven 3, i mean enough dweling on that title, name it forgive me or i duno heh, great song nevertheless.
    One4Metalon September 19, 2008   Link
  • +4
    General CommentBloch ur right they're not back coz they were never gone to begin with. All those who says Metallica are gone or back are not Tallica fans, they just like some albums, if u really are into metallica u'd appreciate all their work.
    one4metal i noticed also that the intro is a bit similar to the ecstasy of gold by Ennio Morricone, from the famous movie 'the good the bad & the ugly'.
    spacemarineson October 10, 2008   Link
  • +3
    General CommentThis song is epic. My favorite song next to Fade, Bellz, and Damage Inc.
    AnalMagickon September 03, 2008   Link
  • +3
    General CommentI think that this song along with judas kiss and my apocalypse are the best in the album. And the album kicks ass. We love you metallica
    yndisison September 03, 2008   Link
  • +3
    General CommentI like this song, everyone seems to be dissing it on youtube but, everyones always going to have the attitude of "NOTHING CAN LIVE UP TO UNFORGIVEN 1" well folks I think this song did it.

    it's amazing, just like Metallica.
    Thank God they finally made up for St.Anger ! :)
    stacilovesmetallicaon September 07, 2008   Link
  • +2
    General CommentSome of my favourite lyrics from James. Just impressive.
    spacemonkey69on September 03, 2008   Link
  • +2
    General CommentMetallica at its finest.
    sk8tripron September 03, 2008   Link

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