To Live Is to Die
Encyclopedia
"To Live Is to Die" is a mostly instrumental composition by the American heavy metal
band Metallica
. It is the eighth track on the band's fourth album ...And Justice for All
(1988). Keeping up with the tradition of the band's previous two albums, the instrumental track comes late in the album and is long. For a little over 2 decades, "To Live Is to Die" was the longest original studio recording to be released on an album by Metallica at 9:49, just a fraction of a second longer than "The Outlaw Torn" from Load
clocking at 9:48 and change (note that the original recording of this song is 10:48, but the last minute was cut in order to fit the album within the length limitations of CDs at the time).
Since the release of Death Magnetic
, "Suicide & Redemption" claims the title for longest studio recorded Metallica song released on an album at 9:58, although "Mercyful Fate" from Garage Inc.
holds the title for longest studio song at 11:12, though not only is it a cover, it is a medley of 5 different songs.
"To Live Is to Die" contains a few spoken lyrics near the end of the song, starting at 7:35, that were written by German poet Paul Gerhardt
and popularized in the 1981 film Excalibur
, although in the album's booklet, the lyrics are misattributed to Cliff Burton
. The song was written as a tribute to the band's bassist Cliff Burton, who died in a bus accident in 1986. The music consists of riffs Burton had written that had not been incorporated into songs prior to his death. The song title is a phrase that Burton was fond of.
Hetfield plays the second guitar solo during the slower mid-section of the song. "To Live Is to Die" is the last song Metallica released in which Burton has songwriting credit, and is the band's only instrumental track with Jason Newsted
playing bass. The song was only played live during the "Damaged Justice Tour" but not in its entirety. They have played several parts of it combined with parts of other songs.
Heavy metal music
Heavy metal is a genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely in the Midlands of the United Kingdom and the United States...
band Metallica
Metallica
Metallica is an American heavy metal band from Los Angeles, California. Formed in 1981 when James Hetfield responded to an advertisement that drummer Lars Ulrich had posted in a local newspaper. The current line-up features long-time lead guitarist Kirk Hammett and bassist Robert Trujillo ...
. It is the eighth track on the band's fourth album ...And Justice for All
...And Justice for All (album)
...And Justice for All is the fourth studio album by the American heavy metal band Metallica. It was released on August 25, 1988 through Elektra Records. It is the first full-length Metallica album to feature bassist Jason Newsted following the death of Cliff Burton in 1986...
(1988). Keeping up with the tradition of the band's previous two albums, the instrumental track comes late in the album and is long. For a little over 2 decades, "To Live Is to Die" was the longest original studio recording to be released on an album by Metallica at 9:49, just a fraction of a second longer than "The Outlaw Torn" from Load
Load (album)
Load is the sixth studio album by the American heavy metal band Metallica. Released on June 4, 1996 through Elektra Records, it sold 680,000 units in its first week and debuted at #1 on Billboard 200. The album has sold over 5 million copies worldwide and is certified 5x platinum by the RIAA...
clocking at 9:48 and change (note that the original recording of this song is 10:48, but the last minute was cut in order to fit the album within the length limitations of CDs at the time).
Since the release of Death Magnetic
Death Magnetic
Death Magnetic is the ninth studio album by the American heavy metal band Metallica. It was released on September 12, 2008 through Warner Bros. Records. It was the band's first album to feature bassist Robert Trujillo and the first to be produced by Rick Rubin, making this Metallica's first album...
, "Suicide & Redemption" claims the title for longest studio recorded Metallica song released on an album at 9:58, although "Mercyful Fate" from Garage Inc.
Garage Inc.
-Disc two:These tracks are a collection of B-sides from artists Metallica were inspired by, throughout the early years of the band.-Personnel:* James Hetfield – lead vocals, rhythm guitar, lead guitar on "Whiskey In the Jar"...
holds the title for longest studio song at 11:12, though not only is it a cover, it is a medley of 5 different songs.
"To Live Is to Die" contains a few spoken lyrics near the end of the song, starting at 7:35, that were written by German poet Paul Gerhardt
Paul Gerhardt
Paul Gerhardt was a German hymn writer.-Biography:Gerhardt was born into a middle-class family at Gräfenhainichen, a small town between Halle and Wittenberg. At the age of fifteen, he entered the Fürstenschule in Grimma. The school was known for its pious atmosphere and stern discipline...
and popularized in the 1981 film Excalibur
Excalibur (film)
Excalibur is a 1981 dramatic fantasy film directed, produced and co-written by John Boorman that retells the legend of King Arthur and the knights of the Round Table. Adapted from the 15th century Arthurian romance, Le Morte d'Arthur by Thomas Malory, Excalibur features the music of Richard Wagner...
, although in the album's booklet, the lyrics are misattributed to Cliff Burton
Cliff Burton
Clifford Lee "Cliff" Burton was an American musician, best known as the bass guitarist for the American heavy metal band Metallica....
. The song was written as a tribute to the band's bassist Cliff Burton, who died in a bus accident in 1986. The music consists of riffs Burton had written that had not been incorporated into songs prior to his death. The song title is a phrase that Burton was fond of.
Hetfield plays the second guitar solo during the slower mid-section of the song. "To Live Is to Die" is the last song Metallica released in which Burton has songwriting credit, and is the band's only instrumental track with Jason Newsted
Jason Newsted
Jason Curtis Newsted is an American bassist known for his work with Metallica, Voivod and Flotsam and Jetsam. Joining Metallica in 1986 after Cliff Burton's death, Newsted remained a member until 2001, making him the band's longest-serving bassist...
playing bass. The song was only played live during the "Damaged Justice Tour" but not in its entirety. They have played several parts of it combined with parts of other songs.
Demo version
The demo version of the song features an introduction at the end into "Dyers Eve". It is also an all instrumental song, unlike the album version.Personnel
- James HetfieldJames HetfieldJames Alan Hetfield is the rhythm guitarist, co-founder, main songwriter, and lead vocalist for the American heavy metal band Metallica. Hetfield co-founded Metallica in October 1981 after answering a classified advertisement by drummer Lars Ulrich in the Los Angeles newspaper The Recycler,...
— rhythm guitarRhythm guitarRhythm guitar is a technique and rôle that performs a combination of two functions: to provide all or part of the rhythmic pulse in conjunction with singers or other instruments; and to provide all or part of the harmony, ie. the chords, where a chord is a group of notes played together...
, second guitar solo - Lars UlrichLars UlrichLars Ulrich is a Danish drummer, and one of the founding members of the American thrash metal band Metallica. He was born in Gentofte, Denmark to an upper-middle class family. A tennis player in his youth, Ulrich moved to Los Angeles, California at age sixteen to pursue his training; though rather...
— drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person .... - Kirk HammettKirk HammettKirk Lee Hammett is the lead guitarist and a songwriter in the heavy metal band Metallica and has been a member of the band since 1983. Before joining Metallica he formed and named the band Exodus. In 2003, Hammett was ranked 11th on Rolling Stones list of The 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time...
— lead guitarLead guitarLead guitar is a guitar part which plays melody lines, instrumental fill passages, guitar solos, and occasionally, some riffs within a song structure... - Jason NewstedJason NewstedJason Curtis Newsted is an American bassist known for his work with Metallica, Voivod and Flotsam and Jetsam. Joining Metallica in 1986 after Cliff Burton's death, Newsted remained a member until 2001, making him the band's longest-serving bassist...
— bassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....