For Whom The Bell Tolls

From MetallicaWiki

For Whom The Bell Tolls is the third track on Metallica's 1984 album Ride The Lightning. The chromatic introduction, which was written by bassist Cliff Burton before joining Metallica, is often mistaken for an electric guitar; it is, in actuality, Burton playing a bass guitar through distortion and a wah-wah pedal.

The lyrics are based on the Ernest Hemingway novel by the same name; said novel is about the horror and dishonor of modern warfare.

It is one of the first slower songs by Metallica, containing "catchy" vocal melodies and guitar harmonies in the middle, and generally simpler guitar riffs and drums than other early compositions.

Lyrics

Make his fight on the hill in the early day
Constant chill deep inside
Shouting gun, on they run through the endless gray
On they fight, for they are right, yes, but who's to say?
For a hill, men would kill. Why? They do not know
Suffered wounds test their pride
Men of five, still alive through the raging glow
Gone insane from the pain that they surely know

For whom the bell tolls
Time marches on
For whom the bell tolls

Take a look to the sky just before you die
It's the last time he will
Blackened roar, massive roar, fills the crumbling sky
Shattered goal fills his soul with a ruthless cry
Stranger now are his eyes to this mystery
He hears the silence so loud
Crack of dawn, all is gone except the will to be
Now they see what will be, blinded eyes to see

For whom the bell tolls
Time marches on
For whom the bell tolls

Notes

Written By: Hetfield/Ulrich/Burton
Copyright © 1984 Creeping Death Music (ASCAP)
International Copyright Secured
All Rights Reserved