One is probably one of Metallica's first truly classic songs in the sense of main stream music fan appreciation.
One's lyrics are based on Dalton Trumbo's 1939 novel Johnny Got His Gun
. It tells the tale of a soldier whose body is severely damaged after he is hit by German artillery during World War I. The soldier's arms, legs, eyes, mouth, nose and ears are gone and he is unable to see, speak, smell, or hear. His mind functions perfectly, however, leaving him trapped inside his own body. Which seems a natural enough thing to write a song's lyrics about.
The book was suspended or censored from publication for several years during WWII and the Cold War. Trumbo directed the movie adaptation in 1971,
from which the footage for the "One" music video is taken.One Lyrics
I can't remember anything,
Can't tell if this is true or dream,
Deep down inside I feel to scream,
This terrible silence stops it there
Now that the war is through with me,
I'm waking up, I cannot see,
That there's not much left of me,
Nothing is real but pain now
Hold my breath as I wish for death,
Oh please God, wake me
Back in the womb it's much too real,
In pumps life that I must feel,
But can't look forward to reveal,
Look to the time when I'll live
Fed through the tube that sticks in me,
Just like a wartime novelty,
Tied to machines that make me be,
Cut this life off from me
Hold my breath as I wish for death,
Oh please God, wake me
Now the world is gone I'm just one,
Oh God, help me hold my breath as I wish for death,
Oh please God, help me
Darkness, imprisoning me,
All that I see,
Absolute horror,
I cannot live,
I cannot die,
Trapped in myself,
Body my holding cell
Landmine, Has taken my sight,
Taken my speech,
Taken my hearing,
Taken my arms,
Taken my legs,
Taken my soul,
Left me with life in hell
Check out the lyrics to Eye of the Beholder another Metallica song from ...and justice for all.
Many songs are called one. Metallica's One is pretty popular but U2's One is pretty handy as well.
