Metalica was formed in 1981 when drummer Lars Ulrich posted an advertisement in a Los Angeles paper called The Recycler looking for musicians who were interested in forming a band.

The original members consisted of Ulrich, James Hetfield, Dave Mustaine and Ron McGovney. Mustaine and McGovney were later kicked out of the band and replaced by Kirk Hammet and Cliff Burton. Burton was killed when the tour bus skidded out of control and was later replaced by Jason Newsted, who eventually was replaced by Robert Trujillo.

Metalica is considered the pioneer of “thrash metal”, and some critics consider their 1986 release of Master of Puppets to be one of the most influential and heavy “thrash metal” albums.

Wherever I May Roam

“Wherever I May Roam” is a song by the American heavy metal band Metallica.

All stringed instruments featured in this song, both guitars and basses, are tuned in the standard tuning of E A D G B E. The original recording of the song is notable for its interesting instrumentation: Asian instruments such as a gong and sitar feature, along with an overdubbed Warwick twelve-string bass (as mentioned by the bassist Jason Newsted on the Classic Albums: Metallica – Metallica DVD). This instrument was only used for ‘effect’ during the intro to emphasize several accented notes and that a standardly tuned 4-string bass was used as the main bass instrument throughout the remainder of the recording.

The song is performed frequently during the band’s live concerts, and was performed with the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra (conducted by Michael Kamen) on the live S&M and its companion DVD. When performed live, the band has always relied on their original sitar recording for the intro (the band enters on the first accented note to dramatic effect), however for the S&M concerts guitarist Kirk Hammett utilised a Danelectro electric sitar for the intro before switching to his ESP electric guitar. Jason Newsted never reprised his use of the 12-string bass guitar for any live performances of the song.

http://djallyn.org/media/metallica-wherever-i-may-roam.mp4

(And the road becomes my bride)

And the road becomes my bride
I have stripped of all but pride
So in her I do confide
And she keeps me satisfied
Gives me all I need

And with dust in throat I crave
Only knowledge will I save
To the game you stay a slave

Rover, wanderer
Nomad, vagabond
Call me what you will

But I’ll take my time anywhere
Free to speak my mind anywhere
And I’ll redefine anywhere

Anywhere I roam
Where I lay my head is home

(And the earth becomes my throne)

And the earth becomes my throne
I adapt to the unknown
Under wandering stars I’ve grown
By myself but not alone
I ask no one

And my ties are severed clean
Less I have the more I gain
Off the beaten path I reign

Rover, wanderer
Nomad, vagabond
Call me what you will
Yeah, you wi-i-i-ill

But I’ll take my time anywhere
I’m free to speak my mind anywhere
and I’ll take my time anywhere

Anywhere I roam
Where I lay my head is home
heh-yeah

But I’ll take my time anywhere
I’m free to speak my mind
And I’ll take my time anywhere

Anywhere I may roam
Where I lay my head is home
That’s right

But I’ll take my time anywhere
I’m free to speak my mind anywhere
And I’ll redefine anywhere

Anywhere I may roam
Where I lay my head is home

Carved upon my stone
My body lies, but still I roam,
Yeah yeah!

Wherever I may roam
Wherever I may roam
Woah

Wherever I may roam
Wherever I may roam
Yeah!

Wherever I may wander, wander, wander
Wherever I may roam

Yeah, yeah, wherever I may roam

Yeah, yeah, wherever I may roam
Wherever I may roam
Wherever I may roam

• Audio from the 1991 album, Metalica S&M:

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Other songs posted for this artist

Nothing Else Matters ~ Metallica

Master of Puppets ~ Metallica

The Unforgiven ~ Metallica

Until It Sleeps – Metallica

For Whom The Bell Tolls – Metallica

Enter Sandman – Metallica

Fade To Black ~ Metallica

Whiskey in the Jar ~ Metalica