Metallica - Master of Puppets "Master of Puppets" is a well known song by thrash metal band Metallica. It is the title track of their 1986 album. It is also following the tradition of Ride the Lightning in having the title track as the second track, preceded by a shorter, high-speed typical thrash metal track. There are several such track similarities on Ride the Lightning, Master of Puppets, and ...And Justice for All. "Master of Puppets" is also notable for its long and complex instrumental section beginning about three and a half minutes into the song. The song, as Lars Ulrich explained, is about being controlled by some kind of manipulative force relentlessly. The song features a chromatic introduction riff and a change into a Spanish phrygian interlude. Before the second solo of the song, bassist Cliff Burton, can be vaguely heard in the background reciting the verse, in a deep gruff voice. * During the recording of the main guitar solo, Kirk Hammett pulled the E string off of the fret board while hitting the wammy bar, making a high pitch sound. Because they thought it sounded cool, they left it in there. He could never figure out exactly what he did, so he often played an artificial harmonic when playing the song live to substitute. * The song has been ranked as the 3rd greatest heavy metal song ever by VH1.[1] In March 2005, Q magazine placed it at number 22 in its list of the 100 Greatest Guitar Tracks. * The song was ranked #2 in Martin Popoff book The Top 500 Heavy Metal Songs Of All Time. Popoff put together this book by requesting thousands of metal fans, musicians, and journalists to send in their favorite heavy metal songs. Almost 18,000 individual votes were tallied and entered into a database from which the final rankings were derived. * The song was said to be bassist Cliff Burton's favorite Metallica song. MASTER OF PUPPETS End of passion play, crumbling away I'm your source of self-destruction Veins that pump with fear, sucking darkest clear Leading on your death's construction Taste me, you will see More is all you need You're dedicated to How I'm killing you Come crawling faster Obey your master Your life burns faster Obey your master Master Master of puppets, I'm pulling your strings Twisting your mind and smashing your dreams Blinded by me, you can't see a thing Just call my name, 'cause I'll hear you scream Master Master Just call my name, 'cause I'll hear you scream Master Master Needlework the way, never you betray Life of death becoming clearer Pain monopoly, ritual misery Chop your breakfast on a mirror Taste me you will see More is all you need You're dedicated to How I'm killing you Come crawling faster Obey your master Your life burns faster Obey your master Master Master of puppets, I'm pulling your strings Twisting your mind and smashing your dreams Blinded by me, you can't see a thing Just call my name, 'cause I'll hear you scream Master Master Just call my name, 'cause I'll hear you scream Master Master Master, master Where's the dreams that I've been after? Master, master You promised only lies Laughter, laughter All I hear and see is laughter Laughter, laughter Laughing at my cries Fix me Hell is worth all that, natural habitat Just a rhyme without a reason Never-ending maze, drift on numbered days Now your life is out of season I will occupy I will help you die I will run through you Now I rule you, too Come crawling faster Obey your master Your life burns faster Obey your master Master Master of puppets, I'm pulling your strings Twisting your mind and smashing your dreams Blinded by me, you can't see a thing Just call my name, 'cause I'll hear you scream Master Master Just call my name, 'cause I'll hear you scream Master Master Words and Music by James Hetfield, Lars Ulrich, Kirk Hammett and Cliff Burton Copyright © 1986 Creeping Death Music (ASCAP) International Copyright Secured All Rights Reserved