Overload (album)/Until It Sleeps

These are the lyrics to Until It Sleeps, a song originally released on American heavy metal band Metallica's "Load" album in 1996. The song is about vocalist and rhythm guitarist James Hetfield's emotional pain surrounding his mother's death from cancer when he was young, and on the remastered album Overload, it's the thoughts of this that confirm the superstar's downfall, with it leading to their subsequent insanity.

Lyrics
'' Where do I take this pain of mine? I run but it stays right by my side

So tear me open, pour me out There's things inside that scream and shout And the pain still hates me So hold me until it sleeps

Just like the curse, just like the stray You feed it once and now it stays, now it stays

So tear me open but beware There's things inside without a care And the dirt still stains me So wash me until I'm clean

It grips you, so hold me It stains you, so hold me It hates you, so hold me It holds you, so hold me

Until it sleeps (Until it sleeps) (Until it sleeps)

So tell me why you've chosen me Don't want your grip, don't want your greed Don't want it

I'll tear me open, make you gone No more can you hurt anyone And the fear still shakes me So hold me until it sleeps

It grips you, so hold me It stains you, so hold me It hates you, so hold me It holds you, holds you, holds you

Until it sleeps (Until it sleeps) (Until it sleeps) (Until it sleeps) (Until it sleeps)

I don't want it, no Don't want it, want it, want it, no

So tear me open but beware There's things inside without a care And the dirt still stains me So wash me till I'm clean

I'll tear me open, make you gone No longer will you hurt anyone And the hate still shapes me So hold me until it sleeps

(Until it sleeps) (Until it sleeps) (Until it sleeps) Until it sleeps ''

Trivia

 * The song, among several others from Load and ReLoad, was given orchestral treatment in the album S&M.