I believe this song is about overcoming one’s temptations/predispositions regarding sins/mistakes. This person is clearly tormented by their guilt and shame and feels controlled by whatever moral failure they have.
This person is sad and depressed, but still trying to get rid of their darkness (maybe even in unhealthy ways if you take “both shall we bleed” a little more literally). Idk about you, readers, but when I feel depressed, it’s hard to sleep at night, so this is why the midnight knows this person’s halo on fire so well. They’re trying to be better or, at least, fake it, but their Halo on Fire doesn’t let them forget their guilt, sadness, shame or whatever bad feelings they have.
If they give in to their desire, they know they’ll just feel bad about it later (which is why the desire “creates another hell”).
The ending of the song seems like this person getting that ‘second wind’ to keep fighting their inner darkness, trying to get rid of it, trying to be better. They may have been desperate and tired, but they didn’t give up at the end.
Personally, I think this is, without a doubt, the best song of the album. Definitely in my top 10 of Metallica songs for the lyrics alone. I like them a lot, and I think what I said here fits well with James’ comment someone else posted.
I believe this song is about overcoming one’s temptations/predispositions regarding sins/mistakes. This person is clearly tormented by their guilt and shame and feels controlled by whatever moral failure they have.
This person is sad and depressed, but still trying to get rid of their darkness (maybe even in unhealthy ways if you take “both shall we bleed” a little more literally). Idk about you, readers, but when I feel depressed, it’s hard to sleep at night, so this is why the midnight knows this person’s halo on fire so well. They’re trying to be better or, at least, fake it, but their Halo on Fire doesn’t let them forget their guilt, sadness, shame or whatever bad feelings they have.
If they give in to their desire, they know they’ll just feel bad about it later (which is why the desire “creates another hell”).
The ending of the song seems like this person getting that ‘second wind’ to keep fighting their inner darkness, trying to get rid of it, trying to be better. They may have been desperate and tired, but they didn’t give up at the end.
Personally, I think this is, without a doubt, the best song of the album. Definitely in my top 10 of Metallica songs for the lyrics alone. I like them a lot, and I think what I said here fits well with James’ comment someone else posted.