I think MetFan923 has the right idea...good hint. Load/ReLoad were written right as James' dad was dying of cancer and James' came to grips with his relationship with his mother...its interesting to see that such pure and strong emotional source material can produce two albums that people think are really, really bad. Anyway...
I have a theory that the Load/ReLoad period was one of the lowest points in James/Metallica's history. As above, his parents' deaths and lives were grating on him, so he started to take more and more control...treating the rest of the band and his family badly, and falling into his addictions...and I think he just started self-loathing.
So that would mean that James, in this song, is at the end of his rope. He's talking to God and saying you keep hurting me for sinning now, but can you heal me from the pain I've had before? Then at the same time, he's piling on himself talking about the "bad" things he does to be able to deal with it. Note that James enjoys hunting and was a serious alcoholic - shell of shotgun, pint of gin...They help him forget that he's effing up his life.
I'm not sure which way the last bit goes...it could just be a routine ending to the song...rebelling against the oppressor (the pins). It could be James rejecting faith as someone has said...or it could be the opposite. No more pins in me could suggest no more sins..who knows?
I think MetFan923 has the right idea...good hint. Load/ReLoad were written right as James' dad was dying of cancer and James' came to grips with his relationship with his mother...its interesting to see that such pure and strong emotional source material can produce two albums that people think are really, really bad. Anyway...
I have a theory that the Load/ReLoad period was one of the lowest points in James/Metallica's history. As above, his parents' deaths and lives were grating on him, so he started to take more and more control...treating the rest of the band and his family badly, and falling into his addictions...and I think he just started self-loathing.
So that would mean that James, in this song, is at the end of his rope. He's talking to God and saying you keep hurting me for sinning now, but can you heal me from the pain I've had before? Then at the same time, he's piling on himself talking about the "bad" things he does to be able to deal with it. Note that James enjoys hunting and was a serious alcoholic - shell of shotgun, pint of gin...They help him forget that he's effing up his life.
I'm not sure which way the last bit goes...it could just be a routine ending to the song...rebelling against the oppressor (the pins). It could be James rejecting faith as someone has said...or it could be the opposite. No more pins in me could suggest no more sins..who knows?
@forthelove You might be right. There are some damned bitter and angry songs on these albums.
@forthelove You might be right. There are some damned bitter and angry songs on these albums.