"If Darkness Had a Son" is the ninth track and third single from eleventh studio album, 72 Seasons , released in 2023. Spanning seven minutes, it is often described as one of the darkest and most intense tracks on the record. Core Themes & Lyrics
: The lyrics portray darkness and temptation as a father-son relationship, with James Hetfield positioning himself as the "son" born of temptation. 01 If Darkness Had a Son.m4a
: The chorus mentions "bathing in holy water," representing a desperate attempt to wash away these inner demons and begging temptation to "leave me be". Musical Composition "If Darkness Had a Son" is the ninth