Metallica: Sad But True Meaning

Song Released: 1992

Sad But True Lyrics

Hey (hey)
I'm your life
I'm the one who takes you there

Hey (hey)
I'm your life
I'm the one who cares

They (they)
They betray
I'm your only true friend now

They (they)
They'll betray
I'm forever there

I'm your dream, make you...

1. anonymous

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   Jun 2nd 2011 !⃝

   I'm sure some body has felt this way. I'm your truth telling lies meaning I'm the truth inside of you that doesn't need others approval because it makes you feel good. For example I lie to my parents about something because I am feeling good about something my life that they do not approve of and I don't need their negativity on it. The song is less about the devil and drugs and more of an inspirational song about being free and believing in your own personal truth about why your alive. I don't know its a lot more of a PG interpretation than the rest of ays. It applies to me and this song is awesome. It makes me feel good about life not all shitty because of drugs and the devil.
2. anonymous

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   Apr 28th 2011 !⃝

   The song tells us what we are doing to each other! we lead each other to goals then we stab them in the back!.
3. anonymous

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   Apr 18th 2011 !⃝

   The song is about how low you are willing to go and degrade yourself for drugs.
4. anonymous

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   Apr 17th 2011 !⃝

   The song is about personal demons in drug abuse and how far you will go to get your fix.
5. anonymous

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   Apr 4th 2011 !⃝

   Sep 11th 2010 --- explanation seems spot on. Writer? Teacher? Devil? =)
   
   Before I reed yours these where my thoughts:
   
   It is about the devil/evil inside us all.
   
   This would explain how evil is the key driving force behind all our bad decisions/actions. Every time we do wrong, it is there. Motivating. Encouraging. Manipulating.
   
   Or maybe the struggle with an addiction.
   
   As you are introduced to the drug it seems ok, it manipulates you, your best friend. Always there for you, backing you up at every turn. Forget about your friends and family, all you need is me. I make you happy. So I must be good.
   
   Then once your addicted it can be blatantly honest with you. It is in control now. Your just a mask, a host.
   
   However you interpret this song I would like to think that it ends with a hard truth. The existence of an some internal force, or an addiction is simply an excuse. This is your life. Your responsible. Whether you like it or not its sad, but true!
   
   Great Song.
6. anonymous

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   Mar 15th 2011 !⃝

   This song is about the other side of you.
7. thefuzzforeal

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   Oct 20th 2010 !⃝

   every one else here is wrong.
   it is simply about drugs. think about it.
   "I'm your dream, make you real
   I'm your eyes while you must steal
   I'm your pain when you can't feel."
   
   he is saying all the things that occur within the life and mind of a junkie and to further my point he touches on the fact that this reality, is "Sad but true".
   
   trust me, I have seen enough of them to know that this is how they think, they are snakes.
8. anonymous

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   Oct 3rd 2010 !⃝

   I think the song is about everyone's inner demon which, in this song, tells the protagonist that it is in control. This demon is losing it's powers, because the protagonist doesn't identify with it anymore. With every verse he gets more and more desperate for attention and wages an inner war with the protagonist. Finally, in it's desperation the demon wants the protagonist to believe, that they are both the same and threatens to leave - which, the demon wants to make the protagonist believe, would be the end for both of them. Personally, I believe that this song could be compared to the awakening of the buddha.
   
   quote from "little buddha":
   Mara: "You go where no one else will dare; Will you be my God?"
   Siddhartha: "Architect, finally I have met you. You will not rebuild your house again."
   Mara: "But I am your house and you live in me"
   Siddhartha: "O, lord of my own ego, you are pure illusion. You do not exist. The earth is my witness."
   
   This demon from the song could be Mara threatening the Buddha, who of course is awakened and sees through Mara's plans. Us "normal people" have to believe that Mara is a part of ourself and we identify with him. For, other than Siddharta, we aren't awakened and cannot differ between our own self and Mara. That is why most people are afraid that Mara could leave us - which he takes advantage of to threaten us with it. "Sad but true" means: I'm hurting you and leading you in wrong directions and you can't do anything about it, because I will hurt you if you do something!
   
   A long story short: The protagonist is in a state of awakening and Mara/his inner demon will do anything to stop him - as far as threatening him to destroy both of them.
9. anonymous

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   Sep 11th 2010 !⃝

   I think the song is about the devil slowly taking control of your life and actions, by telling you that all your friends are gone or don't like you and that he is "your only true friend now"
   
   the second verse, the devil is in control, and the protagonist know it. and the devil make him/her do things that he's blamed for (You're my mask You're my cover, my shelter You're my mask
   You're the one who's blamed)and doing his dirty work.
   
   in the third verse, the devil abandon the
   protagonist to his/hers fate (hey, I'm your life, I'm the one who took you there, hey I'm your life, and I no longer care)
   
   FINALLY in the fourth verse, the protagonist realise (or the devil tells him)that he has become just as bad as the devil (I'm your truth, telling lies I'm your reasoned alibis I'm inside, open your eyes I'm you)
10. anonymous

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    Apr 27th 2010 !⃝

    This song is saying that life is crap and there is nothing that you can do about it so get use to it and there no escaping reality and that is the sad but true truth of life.

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

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    Jun 22nd 2009 !⃝

    this song was written when Lars Ulrich had depression. This song is a testament to the haunting memory of when Lars failed the "Juuman Genkotsu Nagurimasu Ninja Shiken" or the "10,000 Fist Punch Ninja Test" and his regret for not concentrating harder. (He even cried about it.)

    This interpretation has been marked as poor. view anyway

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