Analysis of Metallica's 'If Darkness Had A Son'

The song 'If Darkness Had A Son' by Metallica explores the themes of temptation and the consequences of succumbing to it. The lyrics describe how temptation can be alluring and lead to 'unforgiven misbehaving', but also how it can be resisted by 'bathing in holy water'. The song paints a vivid picture of a battle between good and evil, and the power of temptation to lead one astray. The lyrics also suggest that the protagonist is aware of the consequences of succumbing to temptation and is struggling to resist it.

Themes:

  • Temptation
  • Yearning
  • Desire
  • Craving
  • Misbehaving
  • Nightmares
  • Infiltration
  • Domination
  • Captivation
  • Subjugation
  • Manipulation
  • Propagation

Analysis

The themes in "If Darkness Had a Son" by Metallica are similar to those found in other songs by the band, such as "Master of Puppets" and "Enter Sandman". In both of these songs, the themes of temptation, desire, and subjugation are explored. In "If Darkness Had a Son", the lyrics focus on the idea of a person struggling with temptation, and how they try to resist it in order to maintain their sense of morality. This is a common theme in Metallica's music, and it is explored in a more literal way in this song than in their other songs. The idea of a person being tempted by darkness and trying to resist it is a powerful metaphor, and it is one that Metallica has explored many times in their music.

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