One – English Lyrics

• By: Apocalyptica, James Hetfield, Rob Trujillo
• Album: Plays Metallica Vol. 2

Lyrics & Translation

Dive into the profound and haunting narrative of "One" by Apocalyptica, James Hetfield, and Rob Trujillo. This unique cello-driven rendition of a metal classic offers an exceptional opportunity to engage with English lyrics delivered as powerful spoken word, providing a rich context for understanding poetic language within a compelling, cinematic soundscape. Discover how a song can transcend genre and invite deep emotional connection through its innovative musical and vocal interpretation.

[English]

(I can't remember anything)

(Can't tell if this is true or a dream)

(Deep down inside, I feel to scream)

(This terrible silence stops me)

(Now that the war is through with me)

(I'm waking up, I cannot see)

(That there's not much left of me)

(Nothing is real but pain now)

(Nothing is real but pain now)

...

I can't remember anything

Can't tell if this is true or a dream

Deep down inside, I feel to scream

This terrible silence stops me

Now that the war is through with me

I'm waking up, I cannot see

That there's not much left of me

Nothing is real but pain now

I hold my breath as I wish for death

Oh, please, God, wake me

Back in the womb, it's much too real

In pumps life that I must feel

But can't look forward to reveal

Look to the time when I'll live

Fed through the tube that sticks in me

Just like a wartime novelty

I'm tied to machines that make me be

Cut this life off from me

I hold my breath as I wish for death

Oh, please, God, wake me

Wake me

...

Now the world is gone, I'm just one

Oh God, help me

I hold my breath as I wish for death

Oh, please, God, please, God, help me, help me

...

Darkness, imprisoning me

All that I see, absolute horror

I cannot live, I cannot die

Trapped in myself, body, my holding cell

Landmine has taken my sight

Taken my speech, taken my hearing

Taken my arms, taken my legs

Taken my soul, left me with life in hell

...

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
remember /rɪˈmembər/ A2	verb - to be able to bring back a piece of information into your mind
dream /driːm/ A2	noun - a series of thoughts, images, and sensations occurring in a person's mind during sleep verb - experience dreams during sleep
scream /skriːm/ A2	verb - to give a long, loud, piercing cry or sound, typically expressing extreme emotion or pain. noun - a long, loud, piercing cry
silence /ˈsaɪləns/ B1	noun - the complete absence of sound
war /wɔːr/ A2	noun - a state of armed conflict between different countries or different groups within a country
pain /peɪn/ A2	noun - a physical suffering or discomfort caused by illness or injury.
breath /breθ/ B1	noun - the air that is taken into or let out of the lungs
death /deθ/ A1	noun - the end of life
wake /weɪk/ A2	verb - to stop sleeping
world /wɜːrld/ A1	noun - the earth and all the people and things on it
one /wʌn/ A1	adjective - being a single unit or thing noun - the number 1
darkness /ˈdɑːrknəs/ A2	noun - the state of being without light
horror /ˈhɔːrər/ B1	noun - an intense feeling of fear, shock, or disgust.
die /daɪ/ A1	verb - to stop living; to become dead
body /ˈbɒdi/ A1	noun - the physical structure of a person or animal
life /laɪf/ A1	noun - the condition that distinguishes animals and plants from inorganic matter
sight /saɪt/ B1	noun - the ability to see
speech /spiːtʃ/ B1	noun - the expression of or the ability to express thoughts and feelings by articulate sounds.
hearing /ˈhɪərɪŋ/ B1	noun - the faculty of perceiving sounds.
arms /ɑːrmz/ A1	noun - the upper limbs of the human body
legs /leɡz/ A1	noun - each of the lower limbs of the human body
soul /səʊl/ B2	noun - the spiritual or immaterial part of a human being or animal
hell /hel/ B1	noun - the place regarded in various religions as the abode of evil spirits and the place of punishment of the wicked after death

Key Grammar Structures

• (I can't remember anything)

  ➔ Present continuous with negation

  ➔ The phrase uses "can't" (contraction of 'cannot') with the present participle "remember" to indicate an ongoing inability.

• Now that the war is through with me

  ➔ Present perfect with 'now that'

  ➔ "Now that" introduces a completed action (the war being through) with present relevance.

• Nothing is real but pain now

  ➔ Emphasis with 'but'

  ➔ The use of "but" emphasizes the contrast between 'nothing is real' and 'pain now'.

• I hold my breath as I wish for death

  ➔ Present simple with 'as'

  ➔ "As" is used to show two actions happening at the same time.

• Darkness, imprisoning me

  ➔ Present participle as adjective

  ➔ The present participle "imprisoning" is used to describe the noun "darkness" as an adjective.

• Taken my speech, taken my hearing

  ➔ Past participle in a series

  ➔ The past participle "taken" is repeated to list actions in a series.

• I cannot live, I cannot die

  ➔ Parallel structure with negation

  ➔ The sentence uses parallel structure with "cannot" to emphasize the duality of the situation.

• Oh, please, God, wake me

  ➔ Interjection and imperative

  ➔ The interjection "Oh" and the imperative "wake" express strong emotion and a direct request.