Unforgiven

This Metallica song has been in and out of my head for a few years now. From what I can gather, the song charts the memories of an old man, who has regretted being controlled as a child, and conforming as a young man/adult. I suppose to a certain extent, we all try to please others, and sometimes do not show what we really think or know. I know that I have been guilty of this. We do not want to offend, we want to please.

Those who exert unhealthy control or influence over the lives of others, also are in danger of ruining their own lives as well. They will probably be unforgiven by their victims, even though God teaches us to forgive. Forgiving a tormentor can be hard,and maybe humanly impossible. You do read stories though of people who have forgiven some pretty horrendous things that have been done to them. At the end of the day though, it is God who has the power to forgive, and He will forgive anyone who truly turns to Him. This may often go against our perceived sense of fair play, but God is God and we are not.

There is no reason why anyone should remain unforgiven, we all have the chance to enter into a loving relationship with our saving heavenly Father.

This does not take away though, the fact that this is a cracking good song!


New blood joins this earth
And quickly he's subdued
Through constant pained disgrace
The young boy learns their rules

With time the child draws in
This whipping boy done wrong
Deprived of all his thoughts
The young man struggles on and on he's known
A vow unto his own
That never from this day
His will they'll take away

What I've felt
What I've known
Never shined through in what I've shown
Never be
Never see
Won't see what might have been

What I've felt
What I've known
Never shined through in what I've shown
Never free
Never me
So I dub thee unforgiven

They dedicate their lives
To running all of his
He tries to please them all
This bitter man he is
Throughout his life the same
He's battled constantly
This fight he cannot win
A tired man they see no longer cares
The old man then prepares
To die regretfully
That old man here is me

What I've felt
What I've known
Never shined through in what I've shown
Never be
Never see
Won't see what might have been

What I've felt
What I've known
Never shined through in what I've shown
Never free
Never me
So I dub thee unforgiven

You labeled me
I'll label you
So I dub thee unforgiven

Brothers In Arms

This is the title track from the album by Dire Straits. The songs has been going around my head for a few months now. There is no "commentary" on the song that I wish to develop this time. The song,and the album, were however instrumental in helping me through a very hard time in April 1986. I think the reason for the song now being in my head, is the fact that I am now nearly older than my Dad was when he died in that month.

The whole album just seemed to me at the time to fit my mood. This song spoke to me as at the time I felt that I had brothers in arms. One was the person of Jesus Christ, as my faith was strengthened not tested in this difficult period. The other was a very good friend, who was there for me at the time. We shared a lot of time together whilst growing up, some good, some bad, and some ugly! Times change, people change, the bond is still there, maybe not as strong as it once was, but I don't think it will ever be totally broken.

This song goes out to my "brother" in arms.

These mist covered mountains
Are a home now for me
But my home is the lowlands
And always will be

Some day you'll return to
Your valleys and your farms
And you'll no longer burn
To be brothers in arms

Through these fields of destruction
Baptisms of fire
I've witnessed your suffering
As the battles raged higher

And though we were hurt so bad
In the fear and alarm
You did not desert me
My brothers in arms

There's so many different worlds
So many different suns
And we have just one world
But we live in different ones

Now the sun's gone to hell
And the moon's riding high
Let me bid you farewell
Every man has to die

But it's written in the starlight
And every line on your palm
We're fools to make war
On our brothers in arms