Confusion

Album: Hardwired... to Self-Destruct (2016)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This song explores the concept of post traumatic stress disorder, as James Hetfield sings of a soldier whose constant struggle with PTSD prevents him from living normally. The Metallica frontman explained to So What that the condition is widespread in today's society and not just restricted to the armed forces.

    "Shellshock in the military and being put into horrific scenes is one pretty obvious sign of PTSD, and coming home from that, trying to come home and still living that, and having a fear of seeing something that's affected you so greatly as a trauma inside you that it's carried home. The movie American Sniper [was] a great, great portrayal of that. Hooked on the, 'I gotta save my brothers, if I don't go back they're gonna die.' Using again that kind of 'martyr' as an excuse for the addiction of the drama of the war, and neglecting his family at home.

    So, it kinda ties into the other songs, but PTSD is everywhere, man. Things that happen to you in your childhood, or you know, sports figures, anyone who wears a uniform, who's gone out there and portrayed a life of service, giving, or using force, power. 'Go out there and kill. Go out there and get 'em.'"
  • The thrashy track originally had the working title of "Lima."
  • Metallica played the song live for the first time on January 18, 2017 at LeSports Center in Beijing, China.
  • The official video for "Confusion," in which one soldier's civilian life in an office blurs into a battlefield, was shot by Claire Marie Vogel. The director, photographer and editor is based in Los Angeles and also filmed the clip for Norah Jones' "Carry On."
  • This is the first Metallica album without a songwriting credit to Kirk Hammett. The guitarist's phone went missing, along with the 250 ideas for riffs contained on it. "It was devastating for me," he told the Seattle rock station KISW in 2016. "I had to start at zero again while everyone else had material for songs." >>>
    Suggestion credit:
    Bertrand - Paris, France

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Adam Schlesinger of Fountains of Wayne

Adam Schlesinger of Fountains of WayneSongwriter Interviews

The guy who brought us "Stacy's Mom" also wrote the Jane Lynch Emmy song and Stephen Colbert's Christmas songs.

Art Alexakis of Everclear

Art Alexakis of EverclearSongwriter Interviews

The lead singer of Everclear, Art is also their primary songwriter.

Bill Medley of The Righteous Brothers

Bill Medley of The Righteous BrothersSongwriter Interviews

Medley looks back on "Unchained Melody" and "You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'" - his huge hits from the '60s that were later revived in movies.

Dave Mason

Dave MasonSongwriter Interviews

Dave reveals the inspiration for "Feelin' Alright" and explains how the first song he ever wrote became the biggest hit for his band Traffic.

Michael W. Smith

Michael W. SmithSongwriter Interviews

Smith breaks down some of his worship tracks as well as his mainstream hits, including "I Will Be Here For You" and "A Place In This World."

Matt Sorum

Matt SorumSongwriter Interviews

When he joined Guns N' Roses in 1990, Matt helped them craft an orchestral sound; his mezzo fortes and pianissimos are all over "November Rain."