The Unforgiven II – English Lyrics

• By: Metallica
• Album: Reload

Lyrics & Translation

Delve into the emotional depth of Metallica's "The Unforgiven II," a powerful ballad that explores the universal human struggles of forgiveness, trust, and self-reflection. Its rich, evocative lyrics and somber tone provide an excellent opportunity to engage with English vocabulary related to complex emotions and interpersonal relationships. Through James Hetfield's vulnerable storytelling, you can uncover nuances of expression and immerse yourself in a narrative that resonates with the journey of self-discovery.

[English]

Lay beside me

Tell me what they've done

Speak the words I wanna hear

To make my demons run

The door is locked now

But it's opened if you're true

If you can understand the me

Then I can understand the you

...

Lay beside me, under wicked sky

Through black of day, dark of night

We share this, paralysed

The door cracks open

But there's no sun shining through

Black heart scarring darker still

But there's no sun shining through

No, there's no sun shining through

No, there's no sun shining

What I've felt, what I've known

Turn the pages, turn the stone

Behind the door, should I open it for you?

Yeah, what I've felt, what I've known

Sick and tired, I stand alone

Could you be there?

'Cause I'm the one who waits for you

Or are you unforgiven too?

...

Come lay beside me

This won't hurt, I swear

She loves me not, she loves me still

But she'll never love again

She laid beside me but she'll be there when I'm gone

Black heart scarring darker still

Yes, she'll be there when I'm gone

Yes, she'll be there when I'm gone

Dead sure she'll be there

What I've felt, what I've known

Turn the pages, turn the stone

Behind the door, should I open it for you?

Yeah, what I've felt, what I've known

Sick and tired, I stand alone

Could you be there?

'Cause I'm the one who waits for you

Or are you unforgiven too?

...

Lay beside me

Tell me what I've done

The door is closed, so are your eyes

But now I see the sun

Now I see the sun

Yes, now I see it

What I've felt, what I've known

Turn the pages, turn the stone

Behind the door, should I open it for you?

Yeah, what I've felt, what I've known

So sick and tired of staying alone

Could you be there?

'Cause I'm the one who waits

The one who waits for you

What I've felt, what I've known

Turn the pages, turn the stone

Behind the door, should I open it for you?

(So I dub thee unforgiven)

Oh, what I've felt

Oh, what I've known

I take this key (never free)

And I bury it (never me) in you

Because you're unforgiven, too

(Never free, never me)

'Cause you're unforgiven, too

...

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
demons /ˈdɛmənz/ B2	noun - evil or wicked spirits, often imagined as causing trouble
door /dɔːr/ A1	noun - a movable barrier that allows entry into a place
heart /hɑːrt/ A1	noun - the organ that pumps blood; also the centre of emotions
black /blæk/ A1	adjective - the darkest colour, lacking light
sun /sʌn/ A1	noun - the star at the centre of the solar system that gives light and heat
scar /skɑːr/ B1	noun - a mark left on the skin after a wound has healed verb - to mark the skin with a lasting wound
stone /stoʊn/ A1	noun - a hard piece of rock
key /kiː/ A1	noun - a device used to open a lock
love /lʌv/ A1	noun - a deep affection or strong feeling of attachment verb - to feel deep affection for someone or something
alone /əˈloʊn/ A2	adjective - by oneself; without others
wait /weɪt/ A1	verb - to stay in one place or remain inactive until something happens
understand /ˌʌndərˈstænd/ B1	verb - to grasp the meaning, significance, or nature of something
run /rʌn/ A1	verb - to move quickly on foot
speak /spiːk/ A1	verb - to say words or express thoughts aloud
unforgiven /ˌʌnˈfɔːrɡɪvən/ C1	adjective - not forgiven; still bearing blame or guilt
locked /lɒkt/ B1	verb - to secure something with a lock adjective - fastened or secured so it cannot be opened
opened /ˈoʊpənd/ B1	verb - to make something no longer closed adjective - in a state of being not closed
tired /ˈtaɪərd/ A2	adjective - feeling a need for rest or sleep

Key Grammar Structures

• Lay beside me

  ➔ Imperative sentence (command)

  ➔ The verb "Lay" is in the imperative form, used to give a direct command or invitation.

• Tell me what they've done

  ➔ Imperative + indirect question; present perfect

  ➔ The verb "Tell" is an imperative, followed by an indirect question "what they've done" in the present perfect.

• If you can understand the me, then I can understand the you

  ➔ First conditional (type 1) with modal "can"

  ➔ "If" introduces a real possibility; both clauses use the modal "can" to express ability.

• There’s no sun shining through

  ➔ Existential there + present continuous (negative)

  ➔ "There’s" introduces existence; "no sun shining" uses the present continuous to describe an ongoing state in the negative.

• Could you be there?

  ➔ Modal verb question (polite request/inquiry)

  ➔ "Could" is a past form of "can" used here to make a polite question; the subject "you" follows the modal.

• I'm the one who waits for you

  ➔ Relative clause with "who"

  ➔ "who" introduces a relative clause that describes "the one"; "waits" is the verb of the clause.

• What I've felt, what I've known

  ➔ Present perfect (negative/affirmative) with ellipsis

  ➔ "I've" = "I have" + past participle forms "felt" and "known"; the repetition shows ellipsis of the rest of the clause.

• Behind the door, should I open it for you?

  ➔ Inverted question with modal "should" for polite suggestion

  ➔ The modal "should" is placed before the subject "I" to form an inverted question, softening the request.