...And Justice For All (song)
From MetallicaWiki
...And Justice For All is the second track as well as the title track from the 1988 album ...And Justice For All.
The song title is the last four words of the Pledge of Allegiance. The lyrics refers to the act of social injustice, in which "Lady Justice" is "raped". Especially at the end of the verse, "Pulling your strings, justice is done" as the ultimate symbol of a miscarried justice.
With playing time of 9:46, it is one of the longest songs recorded by Metallica (the 5th longest after "To Live Is To Die", "The Outlaw Torn", "Suicide & Redemption", and "Mercyful Fate").
Touring complications
Due to its complexity, the song was (at least until Sick of the Studio '07) only performed live by the band during their 1988 Damaged Justice world tour in support of the album. As lead guitarist Kirk Hammett would later say in SoWhat! magazine, "'Justice' was a bit much for me. I couldn't stand watching the front row start to yawn by the eighth or ninth minute." Also, when played live the intro of the song is played as a recording due to the intro requiring 3 guitars.
In 1997 at the Playboy Mansion Metallica performed "...And Justice for All" and when it was done they swore to never play it again. During the Madly in Anger with the World and Escape from the Studio '06 tours, Metallica would often tease the fans by playing parts of the song, with Hetfield usually saying nobody wants to hear the song. It remained to be seen whether Metallica would ever play the song in its entirety, or play it on a medley, which was the case during the Wherever We May Roam/Nowhere Else to Roam Tours in 1991-1993. Then on June 28, 2007, Metallica played "...And Justice for All" in its entirety for the first time since October 1989, nearly 18 years before, in Lisbon, Portugal on the first show of the Sick of the Studio '07 tour.
Lyrics
Halls of justice painted green Money talking Power wolves beset your door Hear them stalking Soon you'll please their appetite They devour Hammer of justice crushes you Overpower The ultimate in vanity Exploiting their supremacy I can't believe the things you say I can't believe, I can't believe the price you pay Nothing can save you Justice is lost Justice is raped Justice is gone Pulling your strings Justice is done Seeking no truth Winning is all Find it so grim, so true, so real Apathy their stepping stone So unfeeling Hidden deep animosity So deceiving Through your eyes their light burns Hoping to find Inquisition sinking you With prying minds The ultimate in vanity Exploiting their supremacy I can't believe the things you say I can't believe, I can't believe the price you pay Nothing can save you Justice is lost Justice is raped Justice is gone Pulling your strings Justice is done Seeking no truth Winning is all Find it so grim, so true, so real Lady Justice has been raped Truth assassin Rolls of red tape seal your lips Now you're done in Their money tips her scales again Make your deal Just what is truth, I cannot tell Cannot feel The ultimate in vanity Exploiting their supremacy I can't believe the things you say I can't believe, I can't believe the price we pay Nothing can save us Justice is lost Justice is raped Justice is gone Pulling your strings Justice is done Seeking no truth Winning is all Find it so grim, so true, so real Seeking no truth Winning is all Find it so grim, so true, so real
Notes
Written By: Hetfield/Ulrich/Hammett
Copyright © 1988 Creeping Death Music (ASCAP)
International Copyright Secured
All Rights Reserved
