Disposable Heroes - Lyrics and Theme

Lyrics and Theme

With "Disposable Heroes", Metallica continued their tradition of having a war-themed song on every album. Previously such songs were "No Remorse" on Kill 'Em All and "For Whom the Bell Tolls" on Ride the Lightning. This "tradition" would carry itself over in the band's next album, ...And Justice for All as well, with the song "One".

The lyrics deal with a soldier's thoughts, actions and experiences at the war front and are sung in the first person, except for the chorus, which reflects the words of the soldier's commanding officers, and is in the second person. The soldier briefly describes the dehumanizing conditions of war, the death of those around him and the helplessness that comes with the realization of his life's lack of meaning, but he also questions the madness of which he is part. During the chorus, we hear the domineering and abusive words of the person at the top of the military command, the perceived "puppet master": "You will do what I say / when I say 'Back to the front!'" At the end, the soldier has given up, emotionlessly accepting his fate and soon-to-come death.

The lyrics fit well with the album's general theme of feeling helpless and imprisoned, and lack of control over one's own actions. In fact, the album cover, depicting a seemingly endless war cemetery, with each gravestone attached to the hands of the puppet master via a string (reference to title track), relates more closely to this song than to any other song from the album.