"The Thorn Within" adalah lagu yang dibawakan oleh band heavy metal legendaris Metallica. Liriknya yang kuat menelusuri tema-tema penyesalan, kesalahan, dan pengorbanan. Lagu ini dimulai dengan pengakuan dosa yang gamblang, di mana sang narator meminta pengampunan dari "ayah" yang tidak disebutkan namanya. Narator mengaku bersalah karena "hidup yang [dirasakan] di dalam" dan menerima "tanda aib" yang diakibatkannya. Perjuangan internal ini berlanjut saat sang narator mempertanyakan apakah mereka harus "menunduk karena malu" atau "ke depan" dan menerima kesalahan mereka.
The Thorn Within Lyrics
Metallica
Forgive me father
For I have sinned
Find me guilty of the life I feel within
And when i'm branded
This mark of shame
Should I look down disgraced
Or straight ahead
And know that you must blame
I am the secret
I am the sin
I am the guilty
And I, I am the thorn within
Forgive me father
For I have sinned
Find me guilty when true guilt is from within
So point your fingers
Point right at me
For I am shadows and will follow me
One and the same are we
I am the secret
I am the sin
I am the guilty
And I, I am the thorn within
I do your time
I take your fall
I'm branded guilty
For us all
So point your fingers
Point right at me
For I am shadows and will follow you
One and the same are we
I am the secret
I am the sin
I am the guilty
And I, I am the thorn within
For I have sinned
Find me guilty of the life I feel within
And when i'm branded
This mark of shame
Should I look down disgraced
Or straight ahead
And know that you must blame
I am the secret
I am the sin
I am the guilty
And I, I am the thorn within
Forgive me father
For I have sinned
Find me guilty when true guilt is from within
So point your fingers
Point right at me
For I am shadows and will follow me
One and the same are we
I am the secret
I am the sin
I am the guilty
And I, I am the thorn within
I do your time
I take your fall
I'm branded guilty
For us all
So point your fingers
Point right at me
For I am shadows and will follow you
One and the same are we
I am the secret
I am the sin
I am the guilty
And I, I am the thorn within