The Unforgiven II

Infobox Single
Name = The Unforgiven II


Artist = Metallica
from Album = ReLoad
B-side = Helpless (live)/The Four Horsemen (live)/Of Wolf and Man (live)
The Thing That Should Not Be (live)/The Memory Remains (live)/King Nothing (live)
No Remorse (live)/Am I Evil? (live)/The Unforgiven II (Demo)
Released = 1998
Format = CD single
Recorded = 1996, at The Plant Studios, Sausalito, California
Genre = Heavy metal
Hard rock
Length = 6:36
Label = Elektra Records
Writer = Kirk Hammett
James Hetfield
Lars Ulrich
Producer = Bob Rock
James Hetfield
Lars Ulrich
Chart position = * #59 (U.S. Hot 100)
* #2 (U.S. Mainstream Rock)
* #15 (U.K. Singles)
Last single = "The Memory Remains"
(1997)
This single = "The Unforgiven II"
(1998)
Next single = "Fuel"
(1998)"The Unforgiven II" is a song performed by Metallica. It was written by James Hetfield, Lars Ulrich, and Kirk Hammett, and appears in the album "ReLoad", as a sequel to "The Unforgiven" (which appears on the album "Metallica"). Both songs have similar musical themes. The chord progression during the verses is similar to the one used in the chorus on "The Unforgiven". The lyrics "What I've felt, what I've known," "Never free, never me" and "So I dub thee unforgiven" make a reappearance. However, it has a heavy chorus and a soft verse, unlike its predecessor, which used the opposite. The song has since been followed by a second sequel, "The Unforgiven III", from the album "Death Magnetic".

The song has only been performed once live at the 1997 Billboard Music awards (the band played after they won the Artist of the Year award).

Track listing

CD single 1
#"The Unforgiven II"
#"Helpless (Live)"
#"The Four Horsemen (Live)"
#"Of Wolf and Man (Live)"

CD single 2
#"The Unforgiven II"
#"The Thing That Should Not Be (Live)"
#"The Memory Remains (Live)"
#"King Nothing (Live)"

CD single 3
#"The Unforgiven II"
#"The Thing That Should Not Be (Live)"
#"The Memory Remains (Live)"
#"No Remorse (Live)"
#"Am I Evil? (Live)"
#"The Unforgiven II (Demo)"

The Unforgiven II, Pt. 3
#"The Unforgiven II"
#"The Thing That Should Not Be (Live)"

Lyrics

When asked the song's meaning by a fan, Hetfield replied, "Forgiving no one and ending up alone." [Metallica & Chirazi, Steffan. "", p.128 Broadway (Aug 17, 2004).] The lyrics also refer frequently to a "she".

References