Meaning of I Disappear by Metallica & Song Story

The song I Disappear (“I Disappear”) is known and loved not only by true Metallica fans. She was included in the soundtrack of the blockbuster Mission Impossible 2 (Mission: Impossible 2), which contributed to worldwide popularity.

The composition is not included in any of the legendary metal band’s studio albums, but was released as a single. The track topped the main American rock chart and hit the charts in other countries.

And I Disappear is remembered as the first song in the history of modern music and jurisprudence, which became the cause of a lawsuit between the copyright holders and the owners of the file-sharing network.

History of the creation of the song I Disappear Metallica

It was written by Lars Ulrich and James Hetfield. Sketches were ready in the mid-nineties. The band members may have included it on the album Load (1996) or Reload (1997). But there was no place for her on those records. As a result, I Disappear was presented to the public in 2000, when it sounded in the movie Mission: Impossible 2 OST.

What is the song I Disappear about? The authors did not explain the meaning of the composition. Fans expressed several versions, but two options are most common.

I Disappear made Metallica history as the last song to feature bassist Jason Newsted. Accordingly, many believe that she is connected with this event, although Jason left the group only in 2001, that is, much later than the release of the track. However, it is possible that colleagues knew about his intentions.

According to another version of the interpretation, the words of the song I Disappear are connected with the storyline of the thriller “Mission Impossible 2”. Say, it is performed on behalf of a special agent, who was played in the film by Tom Cruise.

Share your opinions about the meaning of the song I Disappear Metallica in the comments.

Metallica VS Napster

In 2000, even before the official release of the track I Disappear, its demo version appeared on the Napster file-sharing network. Members of the Metallica group heard it on the radio, investigated and went to this service, where they found a complete catalog of their songs.

At the initiative of Lars Ulrich, the group began a legal battle with Napster, demanding ten million dollars from the network. The musicians hired a consulting firm, NetPD, which identified over 300,000 users involved in the illegal distribution of Metallica songs. The prosecution demanded that all these accounts be closed.

The court ordered Napster to remove Metallica’s music from the network and block the profiles of anyone who shared the band’s songs. The parties also reached a financial agreement, the details of which were not disclosed. Napster was later bought out by Rhapsody.

Release and achievements

On May 9, 2000, the song I Disappear was released as a single from the Mission: Impossible 2 soundtrack album. Two releases are known: one contains only the regular version of the song, and the other also includes an instrumental version.

In 2000, I Disappear was voted “Song of the Year from the Motion Picture Soundtrack” by Metal Edge readers.

Clip I Disappear Metallica

The music video was directed by American video director Isham Wayne, who has collaborated with numerous rock bands. In the video, members of Metallica appear in scenes that refer to famous films.

  • Kirk Hammett escaping a plane across the desert is an allusion to Alfred Hitchcock’s detective North by Northwest.
  • When Jason Newsted makes his way through the crowd of people in a huge mansion, Terry Gilliam’s dystopia “Brazil” comes to mind.
  • James Hetfield driving a 1967 Chevrolet Camaro through San Francisco is reminiscent of detective Peter Yates from the police thriller Bullitt.
  • And Lars Ulrich’s jump from an exploding building is, of course, a legendary episode from John McTiernan’s Die Hard.

You can watch the video clip of I Disapear Metallica and listen to the song below.

Interesting Facts

  • In the “I Disappear” video, the musicians play on top of Monument Valley in Utah.
  • Upon completion of filming the I Disappear video clip, the Chevy Camaro was presented to Hatfield. In September 2003, James sold it on eBay for more than seventy thousand and donated the money to charity.
  • This is the only Metallica song released as a single that was not included on a studio album.
  • Critics sarcastically joked that the title “I Disappear” was prophetic. After the song’s release, Metallica disappeared from the Billboard Hot 100 for eight years, returning to the charts with The Day that Never Comes (2008).

I Disappear Lyrics

Hey, hey, hey
Here I go now
Here I go into new days
Hey, hey, hey
Here I go now
Here I go into new days
I’m pain, I’m hope, I’m suffering
Yeah, hey, hey, hey, yeah, yeah
Here I go into new days

Hey, hey, hey
Ain’t no mercy
Ain’t no mercy there for me
Hey, hey, hey
Ain’t no mercy
Ain’t no mercy there for me
I’m pain, I’m hope, I’m suffering
Yeah, yeah, hey, hey no mercy
Ain’t no mercy there for me

chorus:
Do you bury me when I’m gone
Do you teach me while I’m here
Just as soon as I belong
Then it’s time I disappear
Ha!

Hey, hey, hey
And I went
And I went on down that road
Hey, hey, hey
And I went on
And I went on down that road
I’m pain, I’m hope, I’m suffering
Hey, hey, hey, yeah, and I went on
And I went on down that road

Chorus x2

I’m gone, I’m gone
I’m gone
Oh yeah, I’m gone
I’m gone
I’m gone baby
I’m gone, I’m gone

Chorus x2

James Alan Hetfield / Lars Ulrich
I Disappear lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group

I Disappear Lyrics

Hey Hey hey,
And now I’m leaving
I’m leaving for new days.
Hey Hey hey,
And now I’m leaving
I’m leaving for new days.
I am pain, I am hope, I am suffering
Yes, hey, hey, hey, yes, yes,
I’m leaving for new days.

Hey Hey hey,
No mercy,
They won’t spare me there.
Hey Hey hey,
No mercy,
They won’t spare me there.
I am pain, I am hope, I am suffering
Yes, yes, hey, hey, no mercy
They won’t spare me there.

Chorus:
Will you bury me when I’m gone?
Will you teach me while I’m here.
As long as I belong here
And when the time comes, I disappear
Ha!

Hey Hey hey,
And I’m gone
And I went down that road.
Hey Hey hey,
And I’m gone
And I went down that road.
I am pain, I am hope, I am suffering
Hey hey hey yeah and I’m gone
And I went down that road.

Chorus x2

I left, I left
I left.
Oh yes, I’m gone
I left,
I’m gone baby
I left, I left.

Chorus x2

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