So close, no matter how far
Couldn't be much more from the heart
Forever trusting who we are
And nothing else matters

Never opened myself this way
Life is ours, we live it our way
All these words I don't just say
And nothing else matters

Trust I seek and I find in you
Every day for us something new
Open mind for a different view
And nothing else matters

Never cared for what they do
Never cared for what they know
But I know

So close, no matter how far
It couldn't be much more from the heart
Forever trusting who we are
And nothing else matters

Never cared for what they do
Never cared for what they know
But I know

I never opened myself this way
Life is ours, we live it our way
All these words I don't just say
And nothing else matters

Trust I seek and I find in you
Every day for us, something new
Open mind for a different view
And nothing else matters

Never cared for what they say
Never cared for games they play
Never cared for what they do
Never cared for what they know
And I know, yea-yeah

So close, no matter how far
Couldn't be much more from the heart
Forever trusting who we are
No, nothing else matters


Lyrics submitted by elmoz, edited by Ashram, LHGL

Nothing Else Matters Lyrics as written by Lars Ulrich James Alan Hetfield

Lyrics © Word Collections Publishing

Lyrics powered by LyricFind

Nothing Else Matters song meanings
Add Your Thoughts

334 Comments

sort form View by:
  • +28
    My Interpretation

    I read through some of the comments before writing my own opinion of the song's meaningful nature. Some of them were useless and a whole lot'a babble, others were religiously based, which made me want to gague and roll on the floor, and occasionally some good points were mentioned. My interpretation of the song will probably have the same reactions to the ones I'd seen above or worse of ones. So, here I go, I'll try and summerize as best I can!

    Nothing Else Matters-Metallica

    When I'd first heard this song I was stumped, I didn't know what they were talking about, how could such a melody have lyrics of such dark nature, well, this is how I percieve it after replaying it to the point of having 567 plays on my Itunes:

    
    So close, no matter how far
    Couldn't be much more from the heart
    Forever trusting who we are
    And nothing else matters
    
    Comment: The narrator speaks of a first love, or maybe even a true love after searching many years for him/her (perhaps also a signifacant other).  In love we need to trust, and even more so in ourselves.  The narrator says that in love trust and being true to your heart is all that matters.
    
    Never opened myself this way
    Life is ours, we live it our way
    All these words I don't just say
    And nothing else matters
    
    Comment: The narrator is opening himself to him/her like a book, telling secrets and sharing things he/she'd of never imagined sharing.  He/she is having a spur of reality, rebellion even, deciding that their life is their own and that he/she is determined to live it how they want no matter what people say.  Being true to you is all that matters.
    
    Trust I seek and I find in you
    Every day for us something new
    Open mind for a different view
    And nothing else matters
    
    Comment:  The narrator now is finding a sense of belonging and trust in their significant other, learning new things and keeping an open mind towards what's happening.  Being open and willing to change is all that matters.
    
    Never cared for what they do
    Never cared for what they know
    But I know
    
    Comment: The narrator is accusing people of not caring enough for their actions and shaming them for not using their knoweledge.  He says he knows, something of the reality.  Perhaps a break in the trust? 
    
    Never opened myself this way
    Life is ours, we live it our way
    All these words I don't just say
    
    Trust I seek and I find in you
    Every day for us, something new
    Open mind for a different view
    And nothing else matters
    
    Comment: The narrator repeats himself, obviosuly destressed from some event, telling you that he/she needs to stay true to themselves and rebuild a trust.  Again, he/she says that trust and staying true is all that matters.
    
    Never cared for what they say
    Never cared for games they play
    Never cared for what they do
    Never cared for what they know
    And I know
    
    Comment: Now we know there has been a break somewhere between then and now.  The narrator tells us that they don't care about their actions, that they're playing games and know it.  He/she might appear oblivious to what's going on, but he/she makes it clear that they KNOW what's happening, that they have and still do.
    
    So close, no matter how far
    Couldn't be much more from the heart
    Forever trusting who we are
    No, nothing else matters
    
    Comment: The song ends with a specific cluster of lyrics, saying that you need to trust in you and not others.  He/she says that no matter how far you are, or how close you are to love or something more than what you have, always stay close and true to you, that's all that matters.
    

    Anyway, that's my disection of the song, and how I interpreted it so many times over. Feel free to agree and disagree, but that's how I see it. A song is a song and a song holds a meaning; how we as individuals take in that meaning is how we as individuals will learn to appreciate the song as a piece of art, and even at times, a part of us. We relate and understand things differently, hope this helped!

    00Birdie00on November 18, 2012   Link
  • +18
    General Comment

    This is a very special song to me. My mom tells me everytime she hears it that its going to be her funeral song. She tells me because the song means that no matter what happens in life, who you meet, the things you do...remember who you are. Dont let what people think about you and what they what you to be change you. always "true in who you are". The person you truly are. And if you always remember exactly who you are, nothing else in life matters.

    treible58on January 21, 2012   Link
  • +13
    Song Meaning

    This song is what you'd get if you made the poem Invictus into a beautiful love song. There are two threads to it, the first thread is the love song:

    "So close, no matter how far" We're emotionally close even when we're physically apart "Couldn't be much more from the heart" I love you from the bottom of my heart "Never opened myself this way" I've never opened up to someone like I have with you "Forever trusting who we are" We'll always believe in ourselves and each other "Trust I seek and I find in you" I need someone I can trust and it's you "Every day for us something new" We're not growing stale, every day of our relationship feels exciting and new "And nothing else matters" Nothing matters but our love "All these words I don't just say" I'm not just saying these words, I mean them

    The second thread is a fierce "declaration of independence", a rejection of the rest of the world:

    "Life is ours, we live it our way" We'll live how we want, not how others tell us to "Open mind for a different view" We see the world with our own eyes and that gives us a different view. We don't copy the unexamined opinions of others. "Never cared for what they say" Other people gossip and disapprove but we ignore those fools "Never cared for games they play" Other people play games and don't mean what they say but we ignore those fools "Never cared for what they do" Other people do bad or stupid things but we ignore those fools "Never cared for what they know" Other people gossip but we ignore those fools "And nothing else matters" The rest of the world doesn't matter, only our love matters

    A couple more points:

    • The words "nothing else matters" tie together the two threads.
    • For me, although the melody feels dark and dramatic, which might seem out of place in a love song, that power and anger emphasize how strong the singer's love is.
    spooktreeon January 08, 2013   Link
  • +10
    General Comment

    i think a lot of people miss the whole point of this album. just about every song talks about youth being lost and the struggle of finding purpose in life. and this song is basically about how you should find what you want to do in life and be happy doing it - nothing else matters. true it could be about love, but it doesn't really fit with the unforgiven or don't tread on me. which what makes this album such a political statement for me. it basically is saying - screw the educational system, we need to get back to what people want to do with their lives, and that doesn't necessarily mean moving into meaningless positions created by business people/politicians.

    correct me if im wrong tho

    chyesson November 04, 2010   Link
  • +9
    General Comment

    this song is about the prosperity and preservation of human friendship, and that's all that matters, no matter what kind of personality you have the need for companionship is always there, lover, friend, or relative.

    Sephirothon May 22, 2002   Link
  • +7
    My Interpretation

    I think its about releationships.. of any kind. Whether it be your spouse.. boyfriend or girlfriend.. your best friend.. whatever. To James I think it might have meant his band-mates. I think it'd be an excellent wedding song. If I ever do get married again, this will be the first dance.

    Fireravenon June 20, 2009   Link
  • +5
    General Comment

    hey everyone metallica is my favorite band this song james wrote about his girlfriend. He wrote it because he was missing her he had been on the road all the tiem and didn't get to see her very much. James did not want this song on the black album but the rest of the band loved it so the put it on.

    cmooreon April 18, 2002   Link
  • +5
    Song Meaning

    Well, im not sure about yall guys, but i think the meaning is pretty obvious... Here it is:

    I think this song is about how everyone should not care about what others think, or what others have said to you that are mean or disrespectful. It's also about not letting those words they say effect you or make you feel bad or insecure. But you still should respect everyone else, and respect their opinions. If you think differently from the rest of the crowd, then dont worry about it. Nothing Else Matters except YOUR opinion.

    KIRKxJAMESxCLIFFxLARSon July 19, 2009   Link
  • +4
    General Comment

    this song made me cry the first time i heard it it is so emotionally powerful its just telling you to be yourself and not care what people think

    hell_i_call_my_headon April 10, 2002   Link
  • +4
    General Comment

    Tis a love song... no doubt.. it doesn't need the word "love" in the lyrics to be about love... It's the straight forward feeling you get form the words, and how he sings them... You can tell that he's singing to someone who means just an incredible amount to him, someone that he misses...

    ADMM85- lol... I've been trying to get my gf to accept this as "our song" she insists we get one... and I can't stand the poppy junk she suggests... I think I almost have her for it.... and about the wedding song... My older cousin and his bride actually had an acoutic version of the song played during their ceremony... it was funny... I was up in the balcony taping, and it started playing.... I was sittin there singin along... They also danced to it for their special dance at the reception...

    Ogre8954on May 03, 2002   Link

Add your thoughts

Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.

Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!

More Featured Meanings

Album art
Dreamwalker
Silent Planet
I think much like another song “Anti-Matter” (that's also on the same album as this song), this one is also is inspired by a horrifying van crash the band experienced on Nov 3, 2022. This, much like the other track, sounds like it's an extension what they shared while huddled in the wreckage, as they helped frontman Garrett Russell stem the bleeding from his head wound while he was under the temporary effects of a concussion. The track speaks of where the mind goes at the most desperate & desolate of times, when it just about slips away to all but disconnect itself, and the aftermath.
Album art
Mountain Song
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction vocalist Perry Farrell gives Adam Reader some heartfelt insight into Jane’s Addiction's hard rock manifesto "Mountain Song", which was the second single from their revolutionary album Nothing's Shocking. Mountain song was first recorded in 1986 and appeared on the soundtrack to the film Dudes starring Jon Cryer. The version on Nothing's Shocking was re-recorded in 1988. "'Mountain Song' was actually about... I hate to say it but... drugs. Climbing this mountain and getting as high as you can, and then coming down that mountain," reveals Farrell. "What it feels to descend from the mountain top... not easy at all. The ascension is tough but exhilarating. Getting down is... it's a real bummer. Drugs is not for everybody obviously. For me, I wanted to experience the heights, and the lows come along with it." "There's a part - 'Cash in now honey, cash in Miss Smith.' Miss Smith is my Mother; our last name was Smith. Cashing in when she cashed in her life. So... she decided that, to her... at that time, she was desperate. Life wasn't worth it for her, that was her opinion. Some people think, never take your life, and some people find that their life isn't worth living. She was in love with my Dad, and my Dad was not faithful to her, and it broke her heart. She was very desperate and she did something that I know she regrets."
Album art
Gentle Hour
Yo La Tengo
This song was originally written by a guy called Peter Gutteridge. He was one of the founders of the "Dunedin Sound" a musical scene in the south of New Zealand in the early 80s. From there it was covered by "The Clean" one of the early bands of that scene (he had originally been a member of in it's early days, writing a couple of their best early songs). The Dunedin sound, and the Clean became popular on american college radio in the mid to late 80s. I guess Yo La Tengo heard that version. Great version of a great song,
Album art
No Surprises
Radiohead
Same ideas expressed in Fitter, Happier are expressed in this song. We're told to strive for some sort of ideal life, which includes getting a good job, being kind to everyone, finding a partner, getting married, having a couple kids, living in a quiet neighborhood in a nice big house, etc. But in Fitter, Happier the narrator(?) realizes that it's incredibly robotic to live this life. People are being used by those in power "like a pig in a cage on antibiotics"--being pacified with things like new phones and cool gadgets and houses while being sucked dry. On No Surprises, the narrator is realizing how this life is killing him slowly. In the video, his helmet is slowly filling up with water, drowning him. But he's so complacent with it. This is a good summary of the song. This boring, "perfect" life foisted upon us by some higher powers (not spiritual, but political, economic, etc. politicians and businessmen, perhaps) is not the way to live. But there is seemingly no way out but death. He'd rather die peacefully right now than live in this cage. While our lives are often shielded, we're in our own protective bubbles, or protective helmets like the one Thom wears, if we look a little harder we can see all the corruption, lies, manipulation, etc. that is going on in the world, often run by huge yet nearly invisible organizations, corporations, and 'leaders'. It's a very hopeless song because it reflects real life.
Album art
Amazing
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran tells a story of unsuccessfully trying to feel “Amazing.” This track is about the being weighed down by emotional stress despite valiant attempts to find some positivity in the situation. This track was written by Ed Sheeran from the perspective of his friend. From the track, we see this person fall deeper into the negative thoughts and slide further down the path of mental torment with every lyric.