WHIPLASH

WHIPLASH

Lyrics:

Theory:

Late at night all systems go

You have come to see the show

We do our best, you're the rest

You make it real you know

There is a feeling deep inside

That drives you fuckin' mad

A feeling on a hammerhead

You need it oh so bad

Adrenalin starts to flow

You're thrashing all around

Acting like a maniac

Whiplash

Bang your head against the stage

Like you never did before

Make it ring, make it bleed

Make it really sore

In a frenzied madness

With your leathers and your spikes

Heads are bobbing around

It is hot as hell tonight

Adrenalin starts to flow

You're thrashing all around

Acting like a maniac

Whiplash

Here on stage the marshal noise

Is piercing through your ears

It kicks your ass, kick your face

Exploding feeling nears

Now is the time to let it rip

To let it fuckin' loose

We are gathered here

To maim and kill

Cause this is what we choose

Adrenalin starts to flow

You're thrashing all around

Acting like a maniac

Whiplash

The show is through the metal is gone

It is time to hit the road

Another town, another gig

Again we will explode

Hotel rooms and motorways

Life out here is raw

But we will never stop

We will never quit

Cause we are Metallica

Adrenalin starts to flow

You're thrashing all around

Acting like a maniac

Whiplash

The message is similar to that on "Hit The Lights". It’s set up on a concert and tells about how everybody gets fuckin’ crazy with Metallica music, banging their heads and loosing their minds.

This is somewhat of a theme song for early Metallica. It is about how people want to go crazy to Metallica’s music, and headbang, 'cause they’re the best!

”Whiplash” is about Metallica’s concerts and heavy-duty touring.
It is about how fun and crazy it is to be a metalhead. ”Whiplash?" Does it mean physical whiplash? Or perhaps a psychological version, as in a traumatic event causing a state of psychological shock? This actually led to a story idea about a member of a heavy metal band.

At one concert, his exhortations lead to a deadly riot, and this causes him to re-evaluate his life. So, the title "Whiplash" comes from getting whiplash from head-banging all night long!

It brings us to Metallica’s shows. It describes the crazy atmosphere out there and announces also that Metallica will always live for the music, the trashes and will continue to play kick ass metal!!!

That just symbolizes early on that no matter what happens they will keep on going regardless what people think:

"But we will never stop

We will never quit

Cause we are Metallica"

The song "Whiplash" was Metallica's first single release ever in North America.