The Unforgiven

Song Details

Written by

  • James Hetfield
  • Lars Ulrich
  • Kirk Hammett

Total Performances

First Performed Live

Most Recent Performance

December 14, 2023

Lyrics

                        New blood joins this earth
And quickly he’s subdued
Through constant pained disgrace
The young boy learns their rules

With time, the child draws in
This whipping boy done wrong
Deprived of all his thoughts
The young man struggles on and on, he’s known
A vow unto his own
That never from this day
His will they’ll take away

What I’ve felt
What I’ve known
Never shined through in what I’ve shown
Never be
Never see
Won’t see what might have been

What I’ve felt
What I’ve known
Never shined through in what I’ve shown
Never free
Never me
So I dub thee Unforgiven

They dedicate their lives
To running all of his
He tries to please them all
This bitter man he is

Throughout his life the same
He’s battled constantly
This fight he cannot win
A tired man they see no longer cares
The old man then prepares
To die regretfully
That old man here is me

What I’ve felt
What I’ve known
Never shined through in what I’ve shown
Never be
Never see
Won’t see what might have been

What I’ve felt
What I’ve known
Never shined through in what I’ve shown
Never free
Never me
So I dub thee Unforgiven

You labeled me
I’ll label you
So I dub thee Unforgiven

© 1991 Creeping Death Music (Global Music Rights)

Live Performances

December 14, 2023

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Soundstorm Festival @ Banban

November 12, 2023

Detroit, MI, United States

Ford Field

September 9, 2023

Phoenix, AZ, United States

State Farm Stadium

August 6, 2023

East Rutherford, NJ, United States

MetLife Stadium

June 10, 2023

Castle Donington, England

Download Festival @ Donington Park

May 26, 2023

Hamburg, Germany

Volksparkstadion

May 19, 2023

Paris, France

Stade de France

April 29, 2023

Amsterdam, Netherlands

Johan Cruijff ArenA

December 16, 2022

Los Angeles, CA, United States

All Within My Hands Helping Hands Concert & Auction @ Microsoft Theater

September 24, 2022

New York, NY, United States

Global Citizen Festival @ Great Lawn in Central Park

May 27, 2022

Napa, CA, United States

BottleRock Napa Valley @ Napa Valley Expo

May 12, 2022

Belo Horizonte, Brazil

Mineirão