Metallica - Mama Said Meaning

Song Released: 1996

Mama Said Lyrics

Mama, she has taught me well
Told me when I was young
Son, your life's an open book
Don't close it 'fore it's done
The brightest flame burns
quickest
That's what I heard her say
A son's heart's owed to mother
But I must find my way

Let...

1. 1TOP RATED

   #1 top rated interpretation:
   Metallicamaniac666

   • 1
   • 2
   • 3
   • 4
   • 5

   click a star to vote

   Nov 28th 2009 !⃝

   It is James' mom dying of cancer and the fact that he can't deal with the fact that she is gone. He also as a child took his mother's love for granted and not really appreciating what she did for him as a kid and this song is a way of trying to apologize to her for the things he didn't do for his mom. It is a very emotional song and even though it was technically country I loved it. I started to tear up before the bridge/ solo where james wails woahuhohohohoh

2. 2TOP RATED

   #2 top rated interpretation:
   japan4

   • 1
   • 2
   • 3
   • 4
   • 5

   click a star to vote

   Jul 2nd 2009 !⃝

   It's about James' mother dying of cancer.
3. anonymous

   • 1
   • 2
   • 3
   • 4
   • 5

   click a star to vote

   May 2nd 2021 !⃝

   Narcissistic mothers don't want their children to be with anyone. At first it can seem like good advice "don't tie yourself down to one girl". But then you realize that your own mom doesn't care about your happiness. She just wants to keep you sowed to her.
   
   Having a narcissistic parent is serious, toxic and traumatic. They make it hard for you (the child) to have relationships.
4. anonymous

   • 1
   • 2
   • 3
   • 4
   • 5

   click a star to vote

   Jan 31st 2011 !⃝

   it is in ways about his mother dying but it is mostly about his mother wanting him to have short hair and him showing her he had done that in the music video. As he now feels sorry for taking he love forgranted he did the one thing she always wanted him to do and him no longer living in he past and moving foward

   This interpretation has been marked as poor. view anyway
5. anonymous

   • 1
   • 2
   • 3
   • 4
   • 5

   click a star to vote

   Nov 2nd 2009 !⃝

   It's about James' mother indeed and he's reflecting on what she taught him from the time he was young until the time she died. He's also saying, and this is reflected in the 3rd verse, that he's a different person to who he was while she was still around and he wishes she was still there perhaps to comfort him in his time of need