"This song was written the day that I found out that Cliff Burton had died. It's a very moving song for me because it really expresses a lot of the emotion that I was going through. I was really sad and I think the music kind of carries that kind of feeling with it. A lot of people have written our fan club and said, 'Dave, I have nothing really to live for, life sucks, and then you die, ' and that 'this song's given me something to look forward to and I understand now and I see someone like you that also goes through these problems, ' and let's face it, life sucks. But there's certain things that can get you through and when I find out that people were turned on by this music and it gives them hope to carry on and stuff like that, it makes me feel good. Anyway, I hope this song works for you."
"Maria Ferraro, a true metal legend aptly named 'metal Maria' worked for Megaforce records. She called me the day that Cliff had died or somewhere close to it. No one else from Metallica or their management did. I went straight to the dope man, got some shit and starting singing and crying and writing this song. Although the lyrics have nothing to do with him, his untimely passing gave me this melody that lives in the hearts of metal heads around the world."
So, while inspired by Cliff, it really has absolutely nothing to do with him. It doesn't have any special meaning to Mustaine, but is just about someone that wasn't there when they were needed.
"This song was written the day that I found out that Cliff Burton had died. It's a very moving song for me because it really expresses a lot of the emotion that I was going through. I was really sad and I think the music kind of carries that kind of feeling with it. A lot of people have written our fan club and said, 'Dave, I have nothing really to live for, life sucks, and then you die, ' and that 'this song's given me something to look forward to and I understand now and I see someone like you that also goes through these problems, ' and let's face it, life sucks. But there's certain things that can get you through and when I find out that people were turned on by this music and it gives them hope to carry on and stuff like that, it makes me feel good. Anyway, I hope this song works for you."
"Maria Ferraro, a true metal legend aptly named 'metal Maria' worked for Megaforce records. She called me the day that Cliff had died or somewhere close to it. No one else from Metallica or their management did. I went straight to the dope man, got some shit and starting singing and crying and writing this song. Although the lyrics have nothing to do with him, his untimely passing gave me this melody that lives in the hearts of metal heads around the world."
So, while inspired by Cliff, it really has absolutely nothing to do with him. It doesn't have any special meaning to Mustaine, but is just about someone that wasn't there when they were needed.