"Written by band members Lars Ulrich and James Hetfield, the song portrays a World War I soldier who is severely wounded-arms, legs and jaw blown off by a landmine, blind and unable to speak or move-begging God to take his life." "The lyrics are based on the 1939 novel Johnny Got His Gun by Dalton Trumbo" bit of insight into the story behind the song and the inspiration.

This is the song that got me into heavy metal

This is my all time favorite Metallica song. It's about a wounded veteran, no arms, legs, vision or the ability to ask to be put out of his misery. Not only are the lyrics moving, but paired with the brilliant machine gun fire by the drums it draws you onto the battlefield and into the mayhem. It's a brilliant composition. You should listen to it afew more times. Loud is good here to feel those drums blasting out the gunfire.

Don’t blame you for getting so caught up in the music. But you missed the story. He lost his arms, legs, and most importantly, his face. Couldn’t see, hear, talk, communicate in any way or even know where he was. They thought he was brain dead and couldn’t feel anything while they did amputations and other surgeries without pain killers. They kept him alive to show how skillful they were. Then he started to send Morse Code by moving his head. He kept saying “Kill me.” but that couldn’t be done for religious reasons. The military chaplain said to the doctors “He’s a product of your profession, not mine.” A nurse understood and tried to kill him but was caught and stopped by a doctor. So they kept him alive in that state for how long? Decades maybe. The movie was based on the book Johnny Got His Gun, set in WW1. During WW2 it was of three books banned from Allied troops reading. The other two were enemy propaganda. The Axis troops were likewise forbidden to read it. Great vocals and instrumentals by Metallica as always but they really wanted to send a message in this one.

This song takes me back to a teen watching headbangers ball at midnight… this song has always just ripped at my soul

One of the best heavy metal anti-war songs ever

Not sure if you noticed but at around 6 minutes when it really turns out the drums mimic the sound of machine gun fire in the guitar solo is purposely chaotic to mimic the sound and feeling of war

Cemetery gates by Pantera is a must listen to

Nice reation guys try the four horsemen next time by them!

Just saw the comment by Jesse Smith. Hi Jesse! Good on ya. I should have read the comments before I started writing and I wouldn’t have had to say so much.

Thanks for the reaction guys!

I really like them. Suggust Shinedown “DEVIL & Monsters” . If you haven't listened to them you may be surprised. They are up for best rock band MTV Video Music Awards 🏆🌟🌟

Hola,megadeth,song ashes in your mouth live Hammersmith odeon 1992,great performance.

What up Cotton Fam!!

Hello, I'm new to you guys, trying to catch up lol I love your videos and your positive energy! ❤️

Great review! Damage Inc is a must view song from Metallica too 🔥💯

in 2014 i had a stroke and this song helped me recover

Book Johnny got a gun inspired this song....masterpiece

Great reaction to an absolutely epic song! Welcome to the club! New sub! There's tons of killer metal out there just waiting to be heard! Enjoy! A few Metallica suggestions (in no particular order): 1. Master Of Puppets 2. Welcome Home (Sanitarium) 3. Shortest Straw 4. Harvester Of Sorrow 5. Frayed Ends Of Sanity 6. Dyer's Eve 7. Orion (Instrumental) 8. Creeping Death 9. Wherever I May Roam 10. Fade To Black A few other metal suggestions (in no particular order): 1. Pantera ~ Cowboys From Hell 2. Testament ~ Practice What You Preach 3. MegaDeth ~ Holy Wars...The Punishment Due 4. Judas Priest ~ Painkiller 6. Lamb Of God ~ Momento Mori 7. Sepultura ~ Altered State 8. Iron Maiden ~ Hallowed Be Thy Name (live '82) 9. Death Angel ~ The Organization 10. Annihilator ~ Alison Hell Keep rockin' and stay heavy! Wishing everyone peace, love, and good happiness stuff from the mountains of northeastern Alabama 🤘

Watch the movie Johnny got his gun, that is the movie that is in the background

My man, I'm loving that 360 headbang 😅👌

A Lannister always pays his bills on time!

The movie in the video "Jonny got his gun" was & maybe still is on KZfaq.

The Kings 🤘

Johnny got his Gun.

The solace and intensity of war

As a lifelong lover of Metallica my answer to which Metallica songs you should listen to is…all of them but my favorite album is the black album

The song comes from the origin of an old book Jonny get your gun and movie of the same title

you should checkout creeping death live in seattle 1989

listen to "the unforgiven", or try "enter sandman live in russia", they played for like one million people.

One of the lines say at the end of Land mine has taken my sight taken my speech taken my hearing taken my arms taken my legs taken my soul left me in hell

yall need headphones for this song

Summer is over House Stark

If you want to ride the wave we'll then "Ride the lightning ". It's another Metallica song to react to. You just listen to a song about a war hero perspective that was mamed during war. I implore you to react to more Metallica and pay attention to the lyrics.

React to Metallica - The Unforgiven

This song was based on a movie Johnny gots a gun

I was really interested in what you were saying during the song but I couldn’t hear a single thing no matter what I tried! I love watching reactions but I want to hear your thoughts as you’re watching

I am 52. Been following the four horsemen for 40 years. Black Sabbath created metal Metallica perfected it. They are king. ACDC is God. Lol. I was lucky I grew up in the 80s when metal was just awesome. Big 4. Slayer. Metallica. Anthrax. Megadeth. It's fantastic music

No no no, the guy from Game of Thrones looks like this guy, this came first and was 30 years earlier.. :)

🎸

Here are my recommendations for metallica songs you need to hear: Master of Puppets Fade to Black Seek and Destroy Disposable Heroes Nothing Else Matters Hero of the Day The Day that never Comes Halo on Fire

Id love for them to bring out Jason Newstead and Dave Mustaine out for this song and eye of the beholder along with everybody currently in Metallica. That would be awesome.

We like fishing House Tully

also react to larry bird.

New to the Metallica world? Ook where have y'all been?

Dont apologize for pausing, we'd rather have you pause to say what you're thinking than to talk over a good part of the song.

"For Democracy any man would give his only begotten son" Is such a powerful statement and should be the family creed of every person on this planet

React METALLICA ONE LIVE SEATTLE 89 PLIS 😭😭

Master of Puppets is a good one to react to. Be sure to have the lyrics handy if you aren't used to metal voice lol

We don't grow vegetables House Greyjoy

U have watched One! U r baptised now.. n pliz no reference to GoT

You missed the entire premise

check out corpse husband and more metallica.

Megadeth hanger 18 or megadeth holy wars.

Always react to LYRIC videos first. ESPECIALLY with Metallica and even more so with One. Video is a movie in itself. Easy to get distracted. Lyrics, then video, and then live if you like. Peace!

When thrash was thrash.

Not sure I agree with your assessment of "One" as a ballad, Henry. Maybe it starts out as one, no pun intended, but those last two minutes or so...that's just not ballad material.

Got no patience for the ignorant.

Love the song, hate the video. The video is WAY too busy and distracting.