“Turn the Page” is a song originally written and executed by Bob Seger, released in 1973 as part of his album “Back in ’72.” However, it achieved refreshed attention and fashionability when Metallica shaded the song in 1998 for their album “Garage Inc.”
Metallica’s interpretation of “Turn the Page” was a departing from their usual heavy metal sound, showcasing their creativity as musicians. The band’s clarification added a cloudy, more worry about atmosphere to the song, with James Hetfield’s gruff vocals spread a sense of world-weariness and meditation.
The lyrics of “Turn the Page” depict the challenges and loneliness faced by a traveling musician, reflecting on the hardships of life on the road. Metallica’s version resonate with audiences, catch the universal themes of privacy and longing, while also paying homage to Seger’s original make-up.
The music video for Metallica’s “Turn the Page” further highlight the song’s themes, describe the earthy fantasy of a musician’s life on tour, complete with scenes of seedy motels, disturbing nights, and the boredom of infinite highways.
Metallica’s cover of “Turn the Page” received particular acclaim and achieved commercial success, further hardens the band’s status as one of the most critical acts in rock music. It remains a standout trail in Metallica’s album feature, showcasing their capacity to fill new life into classic songs while staying true to the original essence of the music.
Lyrics
On a long and lonesome highway
East of Omaha
You can listen to the engines moanin’
Out this one-note song
You’d think about the woman
Or the girl you knew the night before
But your thoughts will soon be wanderin’
The way they always do
When you’re ridin’ 16 hours
There’s nothin’ much to do
And you don’t feel much like ridin’
You just wish the trip was through
Here I am, on the road again
There I am, up on the stage
There I go playin’ the star again
There I go, turn the page
So you walk into this restaurant
All strung out from the road
And you feel the eyes upon you
As you’re shakin’ off the cold
You pretend it doesn’t bother you
But you just want to explode
Yeah, most times you can’t hear ’em talk
Other times you can
All the same old clichés
Is it woman, is it man?
And you always seem outnumbered
You don’t dare make a stand
Make your stand
Here I am, on the road again
There I am, up on the stage
Here I go playin’ the star again
There I go, turn the page
Oh-oh, out there in the spotlight
You’re a million miles away
Every ounce of energy
You try and give away
As the sweat pours out your body
Like the music that you play, yeah
Later in the evenin’
As you lie awake in bed
With the echoes of the amplifiers
Ringin’ in your head
You smoke the day’s last cigarette
Rememberin’ what she said
What she said
Yeah, and here I am, on the road again
There I am, up on the stage
Here I go playin’ the star again
There I go, turn the page
And there I go
Turn that page
There I go, yeah, yeah
There I go, yeah, yeah
Here I go, yeah
Here I go, yeah
There I go
There I go
And I’m gone