Frantic – English Lyrics

• By: Metallica
• Album: St. Anger

Lyrics & Translation

Dive into Metallica's 'Frantic' and explore the raw emotion and personal struggles behind this intense track from the *St. Anger* album. Learn about addiction, regret, and the search for meaning as you uncover the Zen influences and chaotic creation of this controversial yet compelling song.

[English]

If I could have my wasted days back

Would I use them to get back on track?

Stop to warm at karma's burning

Or look ahead but keep on turning

Do I have the strength to know how I'll go?

Can I find it inside to deal with what I shouldn't know?

Could I have my wasted days back?

Would I use them to get back on track?

...

You live it or lie it

You live it or lie it

You live it or lie it

You live it or lie it

My lifestyle determines my death style

My lifestyle determines my death style

Keep searchin'

Keep on searchin'

This search goes on

This search goes on

Keep searchin'

Keep on searchin'

This search goes on

This search goes on

Frantic tick tick tick tock

Frantic tick tick tick tick tick tock

Frantic tick tick tick tick tick tock

Frantic tick tick tick tick tick tock

...

I've worn out always being afraid

An endless stream of fear that I've made

Treading water full of worry

This frantic tick tick talk of hurry

Do I have the strength to know how I'll go?

Can I find it inside to deal with what I shouldn't know?

Worn out always being afraid

An endless stream of fear that I've made

You live it or lie it

You live it or lie it

You live it or lie it

You live it or lie it

My lifestyle determines my death style

My lifestyle determines my death style

Keep searchin'

Keep on searchin'

This search goes on

This search goes on

Keep searchin'

Yeah, keep on searchin'

This search goes on

On and on

Frantic tick tick tick tick tick tock

Frantic tick tick tick tick tick tock

Frantic tick tick tick tick tick tock

Frantic tick tick tick tick tick tock

...

Do I have the strength to know how I'll go?

Can I find it inside to deal with what I shouldn't know?

...

Do I have the strength to know how I'll go?

Can I find it inside to deal with what I shouldn't know?

...

Oh, my lifestyle determines my death style

A rising tide that pushes to the other side

My lifestyle determines my death style

A rising tide that pushes to the other side

Keep searchin'

Keep on searchin'

This search goes on

On and on

Keep searchin'

Keep on searchin'

This search goes on

On and on

Frantic tick tick tick tick tick tock

Frantic tick tick tick tick tick tock

Frantic tick tick tick tick tick tock

Frantic tick tick tick tick tick tock

...

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
waste /weɪst/ B1	verb - to use something carelessly or extravagantly noun - something useless or unwanted
strength /streŋθ/ B1	noun - the quality or state of being physically strong
deal /diːl/ B1	verb - to take action to solve a problem
lifestyle /ˈlaɪfstaɪl/ B2	noun - the way in which a person lives
determine /dɪˈtɜːrmɪn/ B2	verb - to cause something to happen in a particular way
search /sɜːrtʃ/ B1	verb - to try to find something by looking or otherwise seeking carefully and thoroughly noun - an act of trying to find something
worn /wɔːrn/ B2	adjective - damaged or showing signs of wear
afraid /əˈfreɪd/ A2	adjective - feeling fear or anxiety
stream /striːm/ B1	noun - a small, narrow river noun - a continuous flow of something
worry /ˈwʌri/ B1	noun - a state of anxiety and concern verb - to feel or show anxiety and concern
tide /taɪd/ B2	noun - the rise and fall of the sea
push /pʊʃ/ A2	verb - to use force to move something
frantic /ˈfræntɪk/ C1	adjective - wild or distraught with fear, anxiety, or other emotion
tick /tɪk/ A1	noun - a slight, rapid sound
track /træk/ B1	noun - a path or route
go /ɡoʊ/ A1	verb - to move or travel

Key Grammar Structures

• If I could have my wasted days back

  ➔ Second Conditional

  ➔ The phrase uses the second conditional to express a hypothetical situation in the past with 'If I could have...'. It refers to an unreal or unlikely past situation.

• Would I use them to get back on track?

  ➔ Indirect Question

  ➔ This is an indirect question formed with 'Would I...?' after the conditional clause. It is used to ask a question in a more polite or less direct way.

• You live it or lie it

  ➔ Parallel Structure

  ➔ The phrase uses parallel structure with 'live it' and 'lie it', repeating the same grammatical form to emphasize contrast or balance.

• My lifestyle determines my death style

  ➔ Subject-Verb Agreement

  ➔ The sentence demonstrates subject-verb agreement with 'lifestyle' (singular) and 'determines' (singular verb form).

• Keep searchin'

  ➔ Imperative Mood

  ➔ The phrase 'Keep searchin'' is in the imperative mood, used to give a command or instruction.

• This search goes on

  ➔ Present Simple for Future

  ➔ The present simple 'goes on' is used here to indicate a future action, emphasizing continuity.

• Frantic tick tick tick tock

  ➔ Onomatopoeia

  ➔ The phrase uses onomatopoeia with 'tick tick tick tock' to imitate the sound of a clock, creating a vivid auditory image.

• Do I have the strength to know how I'll go?

  ➔ Direct Question

  ➔ This is a direct question starting with 'Do I...?', used to ask for information directly.