It turns out Metallica has had unique inspiration for their songs throughout the years.
Believe it or not, five of their song titles have come from books!
“For Whom The Bell Tolls” is Ernest Hemingway’s 1940s novel that described the brutality of the Spanish Civil War.
“One” was based on the movie “Johnny Got His Gun”, but the movie itself was based on Dalton Trumbo’s 1938 novel.
“Creeping Death” takes inspiration from both the book of Exodus in the Bible and it is also referenced in the Torah.
“The Call of Cthulhu” is a short story written by H.P. Lovecraft in 1926. Hetfield’s interest with the work of Lovecraft lead to the inspiration of songs “Thing That Should Not Be” and “All Nightmare Long”.
“The God That Failed” is based on a Christian Science doctrine, which is based on the Bible and Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, which was written by the religion’s founder, Mary Baker Eddy in 1875.
James Hetfield’s mother was a devout follower of Christian Science doctrine, so when she was diagnosed with cancer she turned to her religion, which strongly discourages medicine. His mother denied treatments and turned to prayer, ultimately leading to her death. Hetfield later wrote “The God That Failed” about the situation.
