The Struggle Within

Album: Metallica (1991)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This was written and sung on Metallica's last day in the studio recording The Black Album (officially titled Metallica). The band's lyricist, James Hetfield, had run out of steam and he has since admitted that "the struggle within" was the trouble he had coming up with the words for this song. With the benefit of hindsight, he also sees the song as indicative of the anger he was feeling at the time, and his struggle to deal with it. Said Hetfield, "I'm no psychiatrist, but it's right there."

Comments: 2

  • Jakob from SwedenEpic song.
  • Jacob from Jackson, TnI like how the words "struggle within" are mentioned in "The Frayed Ends of Sanity." The words "nameless feeling" are also in it (Frayed Ends), which makes me think of "The Unnamed Feeling," one of my favorite songs ever.
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Chris Tomlin

Chris TomlinSongwriter Interviews

The king of Christian worship music explains talks about writing songs for troubled times.

John Kay of Steppenwolf

John Kay of SteppenwolfSongwriter Interviews

Steppenwolf frontman John Kay talks about "Magic Carpet Ride," "Born To Be Wild," and what he values more than awards and accolades.

Martyn Ware of Heaven 17

Martyn Ware of Heaven 17Songwriter Interviews

Martyn talks about producing Tina Turner, some Heaven 17 hits, and his work with the British Electric Foundation.

Sugarland

SugarlandSongwriter Interviews

Meet the "sassy basket" with the biggest voice in country music.

Song Titles That Inspired Movies

Song Titles That Inspired MoviesSong Writing

Famous songs that lent their titles - and in some cases storylines - to movies.

Director Paul Rachman on "Hunger Strike," "Man in the Box," Kiss

Director Paul Rachman on "Hunger Strike," "Man in the Box," KissSong Writing

After cutting his teeth on hardcore punk videos, Paul defined the grunge look with his work on "Hunger Strike" and "Man in the Box."