Harvester Of Sorrow by Metallica

Album: ...And Justice for All (1988)

Charted: 20

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Common consensus indicates that the song tells the story of a drunken and drugged man who torments his family before cracking and murdering them. Other interpretations include abortion and slavery, although the latter is a bit of a stretch. By all accounts, the "harvester" is a metaphor for something - be it a figure or an object - that serves as a source of pain, misery, and anguish.
"Harvester Of Sorrow," written by Metallica frontman James Hetfield and drummer Lars Ulrich, is a track on ...And Justice For All, a transitional album for the band. It's their first with bass player Jason Newsted, who took over after Cliff Burton was killed in a 1986 tour bus accident.

"The whole Justice album was an exercise in grief and an exercise in defiance and power and sadness, and ultimately, triumph," Steffan Chirazi, editor of Metallica's magazine So What!, said on the Songfacts Podcast. "It was a an extremely potent, powerful, confusing album in many ways, emotionally. They were paralyzed with grief in many ways but they knew instinctively that they had to go on. Cliff wouldn't have had it any other way."

Comments: 26

Rebecca S. from WisconsinI always thought it was just about addiction, how it doesn't help anyone and all that becomes of it is sorrow. I mean, "Drink up, shoot in, let the beatings begin" is pretty obvious about how it harms your body. I would also argue that the ending about murder is killing yourself via addiction.
Jes Vil from UsaIts about an abusive drunk/high father. Drink up meaning alcohol. Shoot in meaning slamming drugs. Let the beating begin. You robbed me of my youth. Last part of the song the family says their prayers, father goes in and kills the baby. The word is whispered in the end "Infanticide". Harvester meaning produce, sorrow meaning sadness or distress.
Rodina from NjJHs wouldnt right something with a subject to obvious, so i would discount the abortion theory.
Oldmanmetalfan from EarthI thought the song was about addiction and the toll it takes on the addict. "Drink up,shoot in, let the beatings begin" is what Heroin and alcohol do to the body. Just my take
Joseph from CtI'm fairly certain it is about an abusive father as the child used to love his father "I've loved turned to hate" also "drink up, shoot in, let the beatings begin" lines up with my theory. The father ends up killing the child thus "infanticide:
Chris from FloridaThis song is about his father and home life. James wrote songs that intertwined lyrics in songs growing up about his father. Like Disposable Heroes and Welcome Home (Sanitarium). "My life suffocates, planting seeds of hate, my love turned to hate, trapped far beyond my fate." His father was very strict and religious.
Desert_rar from AzMy buddy and i were jamming to this song and he asked me you think theyre talking about the poppy fields used for heroine? and i said its possible. i feel when artists write music they put their own interpretation on whatever. and the same goes for the listener, whatever you perceive the song to be, then thats what it is. theres no right or wrong.
Murph from NcIts totally about abortion. 1st vs is the view of the aborted. 2nd is the view from the harvester (abortion dr). 3rd is the view from am anguished mother who killed her child.
Phantomlord from TxGeneric from Kingston, ON for the WIN. NAILED IT BRO.
Dorothy from EarthYou are all wrong. It’s the natural forces of good and evil. “And Justice for All” is about NOT tipping the scales. To make a critical difference. As the europeans moved into the lands of the Natives, they Took, took, took. Raping, pillaging, and forcing religion, slavery, and language to all who lay in their path. Every epic movie is an analogy for Christianity. Why are there so many different religions? Remains of “Humans” date as far back as 5 million years. Christianity is only a mere 2053 years old (2020 + 33 years for Christ's time on earth) 2020 A.D. Anno Domini (Medieval Latin) for “Year of The Lord” not “Our Lord”. Christmas is a time of greed for most and an excuse to clear inventory for TAXES. Christianity was made up to punish the “Bad” and Tax those who opposed. A money making scheme for the King. Think hard because for many years, solid proof is right in front of you. All you need to do, is open your eyes.
Magnus from NjI think that this song could be linked with the Holocaust, prisoners in the concentration/death camps, and the prison guards.

"Let the beatings begin
Distributor of pain
Your loss becomes my gain," is about the way the guards treated the prisoners, and how the deaths of the prisoners was appealing to prison guards. That one lyric, "Infanticide" is talking about all the children/babies that were murdered in those camps, and plenty of other places.
"My life suffocates
Planting seeds of hate
I’ve loved, turned to hate
Trapped far beyond my fate

I give, you take
This life that I forsake
Been cheated of my youth
You turned this lie to truth," is from the viewpoint of a prisoner.

"All have said their prayers
Invade their nightmares
To see into my eyes
You’ll find where murder lies," Is the prisoners about to be gassed.
Rick from Las Vegas, NvThis song is a classic Metallica tune! They first introduced it LIVE in concert before the album "And Justice For All" was released. They played it on the 1988 "Monsters of Rock" tour, when they played on the same bill as Dokken, Van Halen, and The Scorpions. It's always been a powerful song, and one of their slowest and heaviest tunes. It's definitely a dark tune.
Generic from Kingston, OnTwo years before this song's live debut, a book was written called The Harvester of Sorrow. It is almost definitely the inspiration for this song. Although the Grim Reaper is often called the Harvester of Sadness, the lyrics of the song seem to refer directly to the events of the book.

The book was about the Holodomor - the Ukrainian Holocaust which nobody ever hears about. Holodomor means "death by hunger" because most people starved or became sick due to lack of food. It happened during the Soviet "Collectivization" in which farms were shut down and centralized, and crops were confiscated in order to eliminate Ukrainian independence. The symbolism in the song, of sowing the seeds of death, are similar to references in the book to the mass killing disguised as improved farming.

At least five million people died, possibly as many as 10 million making it potentially a bigger massacre than the Holocaust.
Joe from St Paul, Mn Read "Misery" by Stephen King. I'm pretty sure the song is based on that book. Not the first time James has written a song about a story. "The Call of Kathulu" and "The Thing That Should Not Be" were written about stories by H.P. Lovecraft. Def check him out if you like authors.
Jacob from Jefferson, OhTo me this song sort of seems to be about how the devil feeds on sorrow when he ruins someone's life. It could also be seen as being about drugs because the dealers rely on your sorrow to buy them and they harvest your money.
Ashley from Panama City, Fli love this song!
james hetfield is the sexiest man ever.
& sings like no f--king other.
Grant from Bedford, TxThe title, Harvester of Sorrow, is a metaphor for a comb. Kirk Hammett came up with the title shortly after coming to grips with he fact that he is going bald. Read the lyrics with this in mind and you will see, anger, misery, been cheated of my youth, you'll suffer unto me, your loss becomes my gain, pure black (hair) looking clear (bald), my (the comb's) work is done soon here.
Matt from Struthers, Ohits just an amazing song. my 2nd fav song by them.
Aarron from Toledo, OhI personally believe this song refers to the draft in war. America sends out young soldiers as they fight for their country without choice and then return with no reward. Your life back at home begins in square one again after death and murder and disturbing images haunt u for the rest of your life. Its pretty much what war does to your life that you once knew. Read the lyrics for yourself.

My Life Suffocates
Planting Seeds of Hate
I've Loved, Turned to Hate
Trapped Far Beyond My Fate
I Give
You Take
This Life That I Forsake
Been Cheated of My Youth
You Turned this Lie to Truth

Anger
Misery
You'll Suffer unto Me

Harvester of Sorrow
Language of the Mad
Harvester of Sorrow

Pure Black Looking Clear
My Work Is Done Soon Here
Try Getting Back to Me
Get Back Which Used to Be
Drink up
Shoot in
Let the Beatings Begin
Distributor of Pain
Your Loss Becomes My Gain

Anger
Misery
You'll Suffer unto Me

Harvester of Sorrow
Language of the Mad
Harvester of Sorrow

All Have Said Their Prayers
Invade Their Nightmares
See into My Eyes
You'll Find Where Murder Lies

Infanticide

Harvester of Sorrow
Language of the Mad
Harvester of Sorrow
Language of the Mad
Harvester of Sorrow
Diego from Los Angeles, CaThis is an great song. I think it has to do with the a Grim Reaper. I think so because the Grim Reaper is the Harvester of Sorrow. Although it also may have reference to the Four Horsemen because they also bring about sorrow. Metallica does call themselves the Four Horsemen. It's one of the greatest songs ever!!!
Deco from Sligo, IrelandI know that "One" and "Justice are masterpieces but this is fastly becoming my favourite track on the album. Unfortunately in Russia a fan was beaten to death by guards in the crowd while Metallica played this live on stage. A little bit of histiry with the song that just wasnt needed. Metallica were irate when they discovered what had happened
Dee from Northfield, IlThe intro for this song is used as the walk-up music for Chicago White Sox first baseman Paul Konerko.
Justin from Monroeville, PaI don't know why more people haven't commented. This song is powerful At the beginning the build up slowly works you into it. Then you can just feel the evil and the hopelessness in the riff, and the guitar solo conveys the despair and sorrow so well its scary. This is my favorite song of all time.
Evan from Otway, OhPersonally my second favorite song on this album. Its one of their underrated songs, which is a shame...if only people would listen to the whole album!
Michael from Greenwood, Ini love when the palm muting come in on the main riff it rocks
Steven from Viking, CanadaI like this song i think it one of the best on the album

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