Metallica's Low Mans Lyric

Hey there. I'm in music mode right now. I've had this itch to listen to music I haven't listened to since forever. I easily get frustrated by the music that is played on local radio. There is just not enough good stuff out there. I'm not a fan of any of the new "rock" that is coming out. I'm not a fan of Paramore, I do not like Kings of Leon, and I can't stand the voice of Silver Sun Pickups. I'm just not a fan of the music of the "up and coming" bands. So when a bad ass song like STP's Plush comes out, I turn the radio up and sing my ass off to the song. lol

This leads me to last night, I was off at the local Target store looking for a phone battery. Ours seemed to have died so I needed a replacement. Since I couldn't find it there, I went to another one to get it. While in the car, I got frustrated with the music on the radio and popped in an album I don't listen to often, Metallica's Re-Load. Now, say what you will about the Load and Re-Load albums. I think they're more than decent and they're definitely an experimental period for the band. They dropped their tuning and the sound was so far from any the previous albums. Nevertheless, I think these albums were needed in order for them to progress as a band. This leads me to song, Low Mans Lyric. I strongly believe that this is the best song on that album.

It's considered a softie by the message in that song is so strong. I must've heard it like 4 times while in the car last night, singing along to the song. A strong characteristic of Metallica music is that they place on strong emphasis on the subject matter of the song. Where Master of Puppets is about addiction, Low Man's Lyric is about a homeless person and their thoughts. Where Master of Puppets has a strong, frantic style, Low Man's Lyric is powerful, yet pensive. I love it. Having such great lines as, "And I can't bear to see; What I've let me be" and "But I lie, lie straight to the mirror;The one I've broken, to match my face".

There is a strong message there. Listening to the song, you have a sense that the person in the song is out there by choice. He falls because "he let go", he's been offered help "he just wants right back out again". Should we feel sorry? "Maybe you'll understand and won't cry for this man" is the line that puts it all together as he asks for forgiveness.

Check it out for yourselves and let me know what you think. Below is the song and lyrics. Later!



My eyes seek reality
My fingers seek my veins
There's a dog at your back step
He must come in from the rain
I fall cause I let go
The net below has rot away
So my eyes seek reality
And my fingers seek my veins

The trash fire is warm
But nowhere safe from the storm
And I can't bear to see
What I've let me be
So wicked and worn

So as I write to you
Of what is done and to do
Maybe you'll understand
And won't cry for this man
cause low man is due
Please forgive me

My eyes seek reality
My fingers feel for faith
Touch clean with a dirty hand
I touch the clean to the waste

The trash fire is warm
But nowhere safe from the storm
And I can't bear to see
What I've let me be
So wicked and worn

So as I write to you
Of what is done and to do
Maybe you'll understand
and won't cry for this man
cause low man is due
Please forgive me
Please forgive me
Please forgive me

So low the sky is all I see
All I want from you is forgive me
So you bring this poor dog in from the rain
Though he just wants right back out again

And I cry, to the alleyway
Confess all to the rain
But I lie, lie straight to the mirror
The one I've broken, to match my face

The trash fire is warm
But nowhere safe from the storm
And I can't bear to see
What I've let me be
So wicked and worn

So as I write to you
Of what is done and to do
Maybe you'll understand
And won't cry for this man
cause low man is due
Please forgive me
Please forgive me

So low the sky is all I see
All I want from you is forgive me
So you bring this poor dog in from the rain
Though he just wants right back out again

My eyes seek reality
My fingers seek my veins