“One” by Metallica

“One” is another Metallica song which was inspired by a piece of literature and in which James Hetfield is portraying the role of a particular character.  Said literary work would be a book set in World War I entitled “Johnny Got His Gun” (1939) by Dalton Trumbo. More specifically it was made into a movie in 1971, and it was that film in particular which inspired this track.  And whom James is basing the lyrical perspective of “One” on is the main character from that piece. This individual is a war veteran who in the theater of combat has lost all of his limbs in addition to most of his senses and as such is confined to a hospital bed. However, despite all of this he is still very much alive. So as can be imagined – and as is relayed in the song – he actually desires to die.

Narrative

So basically, what we have here is a narrative in which the verses and bridge are primarily based on the physical reality of what he is going through. For instance, in the first verse it is revealed that he is mute, blind and very much in pain. In the second we find out that it is actually machinery and being “fed through the tube” that is keeping him alive. And in the bridge is where the actual theme of this song is most pronounced, that being that due to this condition he feels “trapped in” his own body. And overall he describes the ordeal as “absolute horror”. 

So being that despite his state he is successfully being kept alive by the hospital staff, the song’s chorus is fundamentally centered on him begging God to take his life.

Song’s Title (“One”)

As for the title, it comes from a passage featured in the literary version of “Johnny Got His Gun”. And in that section the character who is suffering from the aforementioned calamity is basically marveling how the odds of his body being devastated to such a harrowing degree was just “one in a million”. So basically we can say that title of the track is a further acknowledgment by the narrator of his own misfortune.

Is “One” an anti-war Song?

Contrary to popular belief, Metallica themselves did not intend it to be an anti-war tune. According to the band, this is just their way of acknowledging what the reality of war is real. But that being said, in the least it is pretty clear that the band understands such conflicts as having the ability to destroy soldiers’ lives, even if said individuals are still living.

Music Video

The music video to this track, which was directed by Michael Salomon and Bill Pope, was actually Metallica’s first. It features scenes from the 1971 movie “Johnny Got His Gun” (1971). Indeed to prevent themselves from continually having to pay royalties associated with this feature, Metallica actually purchased the rights to the movie itself. 

Facts about “One”

This track is from Metallica’s album “…And Justice for All”, serving as the third single from the project. And it was officially released by Elektra Records on 25 August 1988.

Metallica also featured a live rendition of “One” on their 1999 compilation album “S&M”, alongside the San Francisco Symphony.

Metallica members Lars Ulrich and James Hetfield composed “One”. And the entire band produced it alongside Flemming Rasmussen.

“One” appeared on the Billboard Hot 100, marking the first time Metallica broke the Top 40.  It also made it onto the top 20 of the UK Singles Chart and scored a number 1 in Finland.  Moreover it charted in 13 nations overall, in addition to being certified Gold in the United States.

The intro to this song was inspired by a 1982 track entitled “Buried Alive” by Venom.

In 1990 “One” won the inaugural Best Metal Performance Grammy Award.  And Metallica performed it at the Grammys twice, once in 1989 and then again, along with Chinese pianist Lang Lang, in 2014. Indeed this track is recognized as the being the song which Metallica performs live the most amongst all of those which came out as a part of “…And Justice For All”.