Master of Puppets

Track 2 on Master of Puppets (Deluxe Box Set)

Producers

The title track off Metallica’s seminal Master of Puppets album is about the negative effects drugs can have on a person’s life, written from the perspective of the drug… Read More

Mar. 3, 19861 viewer1M views

Master of Puppets Lyrics

[Verse 1]
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

[Refrain]
Taste me, you will see
More is all you need
Dedicated to
How I'm killing you

[Pre-Chorus]
Come crawling faster (Faster)
Obey your master (Master)
Your life burns faster (Faster)
Obey your

[Chorus]
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

See Metallica Live

Get tickets as low as $61

[Verse 2]
Needlework the way, never you betray
Life of death becoming clearer
Pain monopoly, ritual misery
Chop your breakfast on a mirror

[Refrain]
Taste me, you will see
More is all you need
Dedicated to
How I'm killing you

[Pre-Chorus]
Come crawling faster (Faster)
Obey your master (Master)
Your life burns faster (Faster)
Obey your

[Chorus]
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

[Post-Chorus]
(Master, master, master, master)

[Instrumental Bridge]

[Bridge]
Master, master
Where's the dreams that I've been after?
Master, master
You promised only lies
Laughter, laughter
All I hear or see is laughter
Laughter, laughter
Laughing at my cries
Fix me

[Guitar Solo]

[Verse 3]
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

[Refrain]
I will occupy
I will help you die
I will run through you
Now I rule you too

[Pre-Chorus]
Come crawling faster (Faster)
Obey your master (Master)
Your life burns faster (Faster)
Obey your

[Chorus]
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

[Laughter]

Embed

About

Genius Annotation

The title track off Metallica’s seminal Master of Puppets album is about the negative effects drugs can have on a person’s life, written from the perspective of the drug itself. It is the single most performed song in Metallica’s career, and always provides a great reaction from audiences, as Hetfield will leave the singing of the MASTER! exclamations to the audience (to great effect!).

The guitar riff between the last guitar solo section and final verse was heavily influenced by David Bowie’s song “Andy Warhol,” which Burton and Hammett were big fans of.

Q&A

Find answers to frequently asked questions about the song and explore its deeper meaning

What did Metallica say about "Master of Puppets"?

Genius Answer

Why are you saying “Master of Puppets”? Is it something that you’ve felt has been done to you or that you see being done to your friends?

Nah, I see it done to different people. Some of the stuff… well, “Master of Puppets” deals pretty much with drugs. How things get switched around, instead of you controlling what you’re taking and doing its drugs controlling you. Like, I went to a party here in S.F., there were all these freaks shooting up and geezin' and this other girl was real sick.

—James Hetfield

How did the song perform on the Billboard charts?

Genius Answer

“Master of Puppets” debuted at #40 on the Billboard Hot 100 during the chart week ending of July 16, 2022, after just over 36 years of its release.

The song marks Metallica’s first entry on the Hot 100 since 2008.

Is there a live performance of "Master of Puppets" by Metallica?

Genius Answer

Who produced “Master of Puppets” by Metallica?

When did Metallica release “Master of Puppets”?

Who wrote “Master of Puppets” by Metallica?