In the earliest times spent on this website, my knowledge and experience with music, and more specifically classic rock, was extremely bland. Over six months ago, my favorite artist was AC/DC. I even dropped a comment on Coletrain's profile saying that The Doors weren't the best ever, and that AC/DC was. Since then, I've gotten into fights with Cardsox over AC/DC, grown farther and farther apart with that band, and expanded my horizons 10 fold. I've gone from a massive Metallica fan and not much else, to someone who still digs his 'Tallica but cant help but love some Floyd, Zeppelin, Doors, Maiden, Beatles, Stones, Creedence, and the list goes on and on...

Now, I'm not saying I'm a rock guru nowadays, as I've still got plenty left to explore...but I can say that you will probably be impressed by this revamped, redone, and another re-word that I cant think of right now, list. The last list I did was a Top 50 just like Coletrain's, and just like his, it only got one page of comments. In other words, both lists sucked. Ask Coletrain, he's been continually saying he needs to mess with his for months...and so have I. Mine didn't even have reasoning for each song featured.

During the few months it took me to produce this list, on numerous occasions I deliberated with myself over the idea of making this thing a Top 100 Songs list, and not just a Top 100 Classic Rock list. I felt it was sort of lame to limit it, but then I answered my own argument by stating that I'd embarrass myself if I did make it an all-time list, because maybe 10% of the list would have modern songs. So in the end, it stayed as a Top 100 Classic Rock songs list.

The only guidelines I set were the following:

1. If it's Rock, it's Here.

In other words, if it came from rock n' roll, it's here. Anything ranging from grunge, art, and progressive rock, to power and thrash metal. It's all here. If Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five, and even Madonna get into the Rock n' Roll Hall of Fame, then in my mind, Iron Maiden and Metallica is rock. I'll fight you over this, too.

and

2. Nobody knows exactly what classic is, so therefore...

If it was done over a decade ago, it's classic and it can be featured here. The two classic rock stations down here in Louisiana play stuff from as far back as the early 1960's, and as recent as 1998. I've heard Creed played on the radio before, so if they use a 10-year rule, so do I. I'm not a stiff about it.

So, with that, commencing list.

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100. Turn the Page - Bob Seger

Seger isn't anything special to me, so if I ever need to hear anything out of him it's this overly soft classic.

99. It's Only Rock n' Roll (But I Like it) - Rolling Stones

Okay, so this isn't even close to one of the Stones' best songs, but I like it. And it basically is an anthem for rock n' rollers. (sorta') Or at least it gives us all an excuse.

98. Panama - Van Halen

This songs only purpose must've been for driving too at speeds only done in convertibles.

97. My My, Hey Hey - Neil Young

I'm not the biggest fan of terribly weak old-man vocals (Neil, Bob, etc) but my tastes are so broad nowadays that I still can dig some Neil. Or maybe it's because he took a shot at the South, I don't know.

96. For What it's Worth - Buffalo Springfield

I swear I've heard this a ton of times during TV commercials...

95. Barracuda - Heart

Really cool tune of the '70's.

94. More Than a Feeling - Boston

Boston just isn't that special too me, nor is their huge self-titled album. But any overly critical Mac-isms aside, this one pwns.

93. Bulls on Parade - Rage Against the Machine

I'm sure this one will earn a few "Meh's."

92. Ace of Spades - Motorhead

Never hurts to jam to Lemme and the gang.

91. Your Song - Elton John

So simple, but yet so soothing to listen too. Sir Elton delivers.

90. A Day in the Life - The Beatles

I'm sure I'll regret putting this at #90 later, but for right now this soft Beatles classic is right here.

89. Small Town - John Mellencamp

Can't go wrong with some Mellencamp from time to time... not too much, though.

88. Hells Bells - AC/DC

I still wonder what got into me way back when when I thought AC/DC was better than the Doors. Sorry, Cole. Awesome song here, by the way.

87. Won't Get Fooled Again - The Who

What is considered to others a Top 10 song, isn't even in the Top 75 for me. But don't fret, the Who'll get their justice.

And I'm sure I'll look back on this one day and slap myself.

86. Paranoid Android - Radiohead

OK Computer is a nice album; very peaceful and intelligently done. This one is the best track next to maybe "Karma Police."

85. Band on the Run - Paul McCartney and the Wings

I love how it transitions from a slow and Beatles-y intro to an upbeat rocker.

84. Up Around the Bend - Creedence Clearwater Revival

I'm not the biggest Creedence fan, mostly due to the fact that they were so simple musically and lyrically. The songs are so short I'm not even sure how much I enjoyed them when they're finished. So, I just basically picked a few I knew for sure I had no issue with. Gotta have some CCR.

83. Trampled Under Foot - Led Zeppelin

Ohhhhh, kick ass from the LZ-meisters. Great track off Physical Graffiti.

82. Spirit in the Sky - Norman Greenbaum

Great guitar here - gotta love it.

81. Thunderstruck - AC/DC

Once upon a time I was a massive AC/DC fan... that's died down considerably, but this one still sticks with me. Last one by this noob rock band on the countdown, boys and girls. (Atroo!)

80. Stranglehold - Ted Nugent

Overkill with the guitar solo? Yeah, probably... but I love it anyway. Good for chilling while focused on other things like blogging.

79. Fortunate Son - Creedence Clearwater Revival

Yeah, yeah, fight the power... same 'ol same 'ol. But I like it.

78. China Grove - Doobie Brothers

There's another tune by them that's about JC, but this one is better. No, don't take that the wrong way, Jesus. Just stating the facts, man.

77. Stairway to Heaven - Led Zeppelin

Don't ask.

And as we wind on down the road, our shadows taller than our soul.
There walks a lady we all know who shines white light and wants to show.
How everything still turns to gold.
And if you listen very hard the tune will come to you at last.
When all are one and one is all.
To be a rock and not to roll.

And she's buying a stairway to Heaven.

76. Black Hole Sun - Soundgarden

Yay for Grunge. The lyrics are a bit too repetitive, but Cornell's vocals are tight so it's at #76.

------------------------------------------- Top 75 ---------------------------------------

75. American Pie - Don McLean

LIFER's favorite song is truly a classic. The lyrics are so creative, so intuitive, and tell a great tale from Buddy Holly to Bob Dylan -- very enjoyable tune.

Helter skelter in a summer swelter.
The birds flew off with a fallout shelter, eight miles high and falling fast.
It landed foul on the grass.
The players tried for a forward pass, with the jester on the sidelines in a cast.

74. Rooster - Alice in Chains

Dirt is the greatest Grunge album to date. There, I said it. And this song is awesome. So there, I said that too.

73. Riders on the Storm - The Doors

I know now why Coletrain has it as his #1 song. He somehow connects to it, saying that he has life changing moments where he thinks about what his place in this world is going to be and crap. I just think he's just going through puberty still. Cool song, though.

72. Smells Like Teen Spirit - Nirvana

Well, it's the ultimate grunge anthem. That's right, Pearl Jam.

71. Holy Wars... The Punishment Due - Megadeth

Ahhhh.... this probably isn't Megadeth's best song, but it's the one I take away from the album Rust in Peace, so it's here. I'm too lazy to check out more ‘Deth.

70. 25 or 6 to 4 - Chicago

I got curious one day, and hit up this song on Youtube. Thankfully, too.

69. Scenes From an Italian Restaurant - Billy Joel

"The Piano Man" is a bad-mama-jama. This one off The Stranger is one of his best.

68. Do You Feel Like We Do - Peter Frampton

This one is just like "Stranglehold" that it seems to go on forever. But it's the bloated length of this song, and its smooth ways as it goes about itself that captures you and forces me to slide it here.

67. Run to the Hills - Iron Maiden

RUN TO THE HILLS! RUN FOR YOUR LIVES!

66. Pride (In the Name of Love) - U2

Like a lot of songs on this list, it's the lead vocals that make it a Top 100'er. Bono rocks...

65. The Number of the Beast - Iron Maiden

666!!!

Woe to You Oh Earth and Sea, for the Devil sends the beast with wrath.
Because he knows the time is short.
Let him who hath understanding reckon the number of the beast, for it is a human number.
Its number is six hundred and sixty six.

64. School - Supertramp

Supertramp! Yay! The album Crime of the Century will be represented once again later in our countdown...

63. Masters of War - Bob Dylan

There aren't too many Bob Dylan songs I like. Hell, I can't stand songs like "Blowin' in the Wind" and "Like a Rolling Stone." Musically they bore me, and Dylan's vocals slay me. But somehow, someway this one is one I enjoy. I don't know how, but I do. The lyrics are pretty forceful, and I just like how the simple acoustic flows.

And I hope that you die.
And your death'll come soon.
I will follow your casket in the pale afternoon.
And I'll watch while you're lowered down to your deathbed.
And I'll stand o'er your grave ‘til I'm sure that you're dead.

62. Child in Time - Deep Purple

DP is known for Smoke, but I prefer this bloated song much more.

61. No More Tears - Ozzy Osbourne

Ozzy + Zakk Wylde + Disturbing Song Premise = No More Tears; great song

60. Metropolis Pt, 1: The Miracle and the Sleeper - Dream Theater

Power metal at its finest, baby.

59. Black Sabbath - Black Sabbath

This haunting track is what started it all for metal. And it's actually based on something that happened to Geezer Butler. Supposedly, he was having a nightmare one night and awoke to see a black figure at the end of his bed. He told Ozzy, and bam, it's a song.

What is this that stands before me?
Figure in black which points at me.
Turn around quick, and start to run.
Find out I'm the chosen one.
Oh nooo!

58. Comfortably Numb - Pink Floyd

The Wall is a very impressive concept album, but in no way shape or form Floyd's best work, nor is this song. I'm sure like many songs on here I'll regret being so harsh on it, but whatever. #58 it is.

57. War Pigs - Black Sabbath

Yeah, it can get a bit old, but it's Sabbath. Love the lyrics/vocals by Ozzy.

56. Purple Haze - The Jimi Hendrix Experience

Some of the most famous guitar playing in rock history right here.

55. Don't Stop Me Now - Queen

Just like a song coming up on this list by Queen, it's Mercury that makes this one so memorable.

I'm burning through the sky yeah!
Two hundred degrees...
That's why they call me Mister Fahrenheit!
I'm traveling at the speed of light!
I wanna' make a supersonic man out of you!

54. November Rain - Guns n' Roses

Easily GnR's best song, "November Rain" packs a big punch with Slash's solo work and a piano played by Axl.

53. Break On Through (To the Other Side) - The Doors

I'm sure this is a bit high, but this is how I felt at 3 AM the other night so it stays.

52. Damage, Inc. - Metallica

My God, this song beats you in the pit of your stomach. The bass play and the thundering drums are incredibly powerful. And this song features one the most kickass guitar solos in rock history. It starts right at the 3:48 mark. And man, it's got some of my all-time favorite lyrics.

and

And no, it's probably not better than half the songs behind it on the list - I just can't deny my need to head bang.

51. Fat Bottomed Girls - Queen

Freddie Mercury's voice is what makes this song. Especially this one liner:

Get on your bikes and ride!

--------------------------------------- Top 50 -------------------------------------------

50. Maybe I'm Amazed - Paul McCartney

Probably way too high, but so what. Great tribute by Paul to his wife.

49. Gimme Shelter - Rolling Stones

For a time, this song was the siht for me. It has obviously died down; still one of the Stones' best efforts.

48. All Along the Watchtower - Jimi Hendrix

Bob Dylan wrote it, Hendrix perfected it.

47. The Trooper - Iron Maiden

Up the Irons!

46. Master of Puppets - Metallica

In the early 1990's, Bob Rock -- Metallica's new producer -- prepared to bring the biggest name in the underground thrash metal movement world fame. He sat with Hetfield, Ulrich, Hammett, and Newsted, and told them that they were yet to capture what they did live in an album. That brash statement puzzled the band, and yet, he may have been right. He strove to help them find commercial success, and he did; Metallica released in 1991 their highest selling album, Metallica. If there was a song, or one that the "Four Horsemen" performed live that fueled Bob Rock with the audacity to challenge the band, it was "Master of Puppets."

45. Imagine - John Lennon

This list isn't complete without this.

Imagine there's no Heaven.
It's easy if you try.
No hell below us.
Above us only sky.
Imagine all the people living for today...

Imagine there's no countries.
It isn't hard to do.
Nothing to kill or die for.
And no religion too.
Imagine all the people living life in peace...

You may say I'm a dreamer.
But I'm not the only one.
I hope someday you'll join us and the world will be as one .

Imagine no possessions.
I wonder if you can.
No need for greed or hunger.
A brotherhood of man.
Imagine all the people sharing all the world...

You may say I'm a dreamer.
But I'm not the only one.
I hope someday you'll join us and the world will live as one.

44. Iron Man - Black Sabbath

Most recognizable opening riff in metal history.

Has he lost his mind?
Can he see or is he blind?
Can he walk at all, or if he moves will he fall?
Is he alive or dead?
Has he thoughts within his head?
Well just pass him there.
Why should we even care?

43. Hey Joe - The Jimi Hendrix Experience

Murder is a drink best served in Club Jimi, baby.

42. Let it Be - The Beatles

Like I say at work with Shrek, aka Caleb: Boo-yah-ka-sha!

41. Sympathy For the Devil - Rolling Stones

Mick's wailing is what catches me here.

40. Where is My Mind - Pixies

Thank you Cardsox and the film "Fight Club" for introducing me to this song.

39. Simple Man - Lynyrd Skynyrd

I'm a simple man, so yeah.

Like Amazed, I'm sure it's too high, but this one off The Joshua Tree is pretty cool. Love the chingy sounding guitar and Bono's vocals.

37. Hallowed Be Thy Name - Iron Maiden

Once again, UP THE IRONS!!!

36. Stinkfist - Tool

Tool is a very unique band. One labeled as art and progressive hard rock, they've been going since the early 1990's. "Stinkfist" is one of their best, which is one of many to have made the radio -- and I'm sure be cut down for air time. The lyrics below can easily be taken out of the context of the song, and used to sum up why I listen to music. Music is why such a large portion of my blogs (now well over 250) on this site are dedicated to music. My love for music may stretch further and deeper than my love for sports.

35. Cemetery Gates - Pantera

The outro to this song is absolutely, positively, undeniably epic.

34. Tom Sawyer - Rush

This one is for you, eagle. Or maybe the one coming up is...

33. L.A. Woman - The Doors

The way Morrison's vocals are in this song is so shagadelic. Great driving music.

32. Dream On - Aerosmith

Not nearly as epic as LIFER made it out to be (how many times have I referenced him now?), but it's easily the best song by a terribly overrated rock band, Aerosmith. How they got their own Guitar Hero game, I don't know? Nor do I know what is possesing Metallica to get their own either.

31. Voodoo Child (Slight Return) - Jimi Hendrix

Hendrix's best effort? Possibly.

30. Fade to Black - Metallica

Commencing Metallica Overload: In 1984, after a great thrash debut with Kill 'Em All, Metallica saw it was necessary, and maybe a must to show their true musical and lyrical talent. The entire album Ride the Lightning was a phenomenal showing of their excessive talents, but if there was one song that solidified it, it was this one.

29. Daniel - Elton John

OOooooh. (everyone in DPS shakes their heads collectively) Elton serves, come get some.

28. Hey Jude - The Beatles

Seriously, is there any other song out there that's better for crowd participation? Well, there is one coming up that tops it.

27. Sheep - Pink Floyd

I loved this song a lot more once, but then its spacey goodness started to bore me. Still great, though.

26. Crime of the Century - Supertramp

Upon the first few listens, this song was an instant Top 10'er. Then the lack of lyrics and how it left so much on the table came to light, and the song slowly started to dwindle down the list. It's a song that is 5:35 long that really should be at least 7:30. The sax/piano combo that closes it off is still enough to put it in a high spot.

-------------------------------------- Top 25 --------------------------------------------

25. ...And Justice For All - Metallica

This 9:47 long epitome of being pissed off (outside of maybe the 9th track of the album) is the second track to maybe the most pissed off album I've ever heard: ...And Justice For All. When I'm mad, I listen to that album and this song. Gets the blood pumping....

Apathy their stepping stone, so unfeeling.
Hidden deep animosity, so deceiving.
Through your eyes their light burns, hoping to find.
Inquisition, sinking you with prying minds.

24. Dazed and Confused - Led Zeppelin

Really cool how the guy who did my Senior portraits used this song on the CD tutorial that featured all the pics. I'm a sexy mofo already, but this song behind it brought it out much more.

Will your tongue wag so much when I send you the bill?

23. Pigs (Three Different Ones) - Pink Floyd

Great, no, epic song.

22. The End - The Doors

Honestly, I think I'd enjoy this song even more if I had access to acid -- or if I had the guts to use that acid once in my possession.

21. AEnima - Tool

Just read the lyrics.

F8ck L Ron Hubbard and f8ck all his clones.
F8ck all these gun-totin, hip gangster wannabes.

(Learn to swim x 7)

F8ck retro anything.
F8ck your tattoos.
F8ck all you junkies and f8ck your short memory.

(Learn to swim x 7)

F8ck smiley glad-hands with hidden agendas.
F8ck these dysfunctional, insecure actresses.

(Learn to swim x 6)

Cuz I'm praying for rain.
And I'm praying for tidal waves.
I wanna see the ground give way.
I wanna watch it all go down.
Mom please flush it all away.
I wanna see it go right in and down.
I wanna watch it go right in.
Watch you flush it all away.

Time to bring it down again.
Don't just call me pessimist.
Try and read between the lines.

I can't imagine why you wouldn't welcome any change, my friend.

I wanna see it all come down.
Suck it down.
Flush it down.

20. Angel of Death - Slayer

If there was anyone in the music business that was fit to portray Joseph Mengele and the horrors of his works in the Holocaust, it was Slayer.

Pumped with fluid, inside your brain.
Pressure in your skull begins pushing through your eyes.
Burning flesh, drips away.
Test of heat burns your skin, your mind starts to boil.
Frigid cold, cracks your limbs.
How long can you last
In this frozen water burial?

19. Rime of the Ancient Mariner - Iron Maiden

This long, drawn out epic just might be Maiden's greatest contribution to metal. And I still think Maiden is a band that anyone can enjoy, it's not like they're heavy.

18. One - Metallica

Does anyone remember how there was a theme to Chrono's Top 100 list? Yeah, I do; it was filled with songs that started off slowly, and crescendoed into an unforgettable masterpiece. For a while, this was my favorite Metallica song, and even my favorite song period. Then the slow introduction that really takes up nearly half the song started to be a total buzz killer. The song started to slip its way down the list...and then, suddenly, as James, Jason, and Kirk simultaneously begin to fire off in what can only be described as machine-gun fire, metal-gasmic epic riffage, the song shot back up my list.

17. Working Man - Rush

Here you go, eaglemaniac! The combo of that bass line and Neil Peart's AMAZING drum play is what puts this so freaking high.

16. With or Without You - U2

Simply put, it's Bono's invigoratingly powerful voice that captivates me, forcing my hand in putting it here. Bono has to be considered one of the best vocalists in rock history. Definitely in my Top 5, with the likes of Mercury and Plant.

And last time I did a list, Cardsox, you told me to listen to U2 more before I put them so high on my list. Heh, goober. Never listening to you again.

15. When the Levee Breaks - Led Zeppelin

The jazzy flow of this hits me right in the stomach... hard.

14. Born to Run - Bruce Springsteen

THE BOSS!!!!

13. Someone Saved My Life Tonight - Elton John

Thanks to Long John Baldry and other friends, Elton in 1969 turned away from a marriage to a then girlfriend and even suicide, and was able to eventually "come out" and be one of the most integral pieces to the music world.

I never realized the passing hours of evening showers.
A slip noose hanging in my darkest dreams.
I'm strangled by your haunted social scene.
Just a pawn out-played by a dominating queen.
It's four o'clock in the morning.
Damn it, listen to me good.
I'm sleeping with myself tonight.
Saved in time, thank God my music's still alive.

12. Time - Pink Floyd

Dark Side's best right here.

Home, home again.
I like to be here when I can.
And when I come home cold and tired it's good to warm my bones beside the fire.
Far away across the field.
The tolling of the iron bell, calls the faithful to their knees to hear the softly spoken magic spells.

11. Creeping Death - Metallica

This is the song that tops "Hey Jude" for crowd participation.

Die! Die! Die!

-------------------------------------------- Top 10 --------------------------------------

10. Losing My Religion - R.E.M.

Ahhhh... this song probably isn't better than a lot of the stuff that came before it, but you cant deny something you've become addicted to over the course of two or three weeks.

9. Echoes - Pink Floyd

This is really on a wim here. I heard the song for the first time when Irish posted a blog in the Chat Room Group, and instantly I was hooked. Granted, I was only able to hear a roughly 15-minute version of it, but it doesn't matter because the extra eight-minutes are great sound effects and so spacey that this song has to be the greatest track to listen too while cooped up in the house. Sit in a chair, with your mind set on something like a project for school or work and this song going in the background. Do it, you know you want to.

8. Free Bird - Lynyrd Skynyrd

It's the trio-guitar solo that puts it here. Skynyrd, man! Skynyrd! (shakes invisible mullet)

7. Baba O'Riley - The Who

Greatest intro to a song, EVER. Ever, ever. Ever.

Out here in the fields I farm for my meals.
I get my back into my living.
I don't need to fight to prove I'm right.
I don't need to be forgiven.
yeah,yeah,yeah,yeah,yeah...

Don't cry.
Don't raise your eye.
It's only teenage wasteland.

Sally, take my hand.
We'll travel south cross land.
Put out the fire and don't look past my shoulder.
The exodus is here.
The happy ones are near.
Let's get together before we get much older.

Teenage wasteland.
It's only teenage wasteland.
Teenage wasteland.
Oh, yeah.
Teenage wasteland.
They're all wasted!        

6. Bleeding Me - Metallica

There is so much damn emotion in this song. And I mean that musically, lyrically, and vocally. And no, I have no further explanation for how this is so high.

5. Wish You Were Here - Pink Floyd

Makes ya think of Syd, does this song.

So, so you think you can tell Heaven from Hell,
blue skies from pain.
Can you tell a green field from a cold steel rail?
A smile from a veil?
Do you think you can tell?

Did they get you to trade your heroes for ghosts?
Hot ashes for trees?
Hot air for a cool breeze?
Cold comfort for change?
Did you exchange a walk on part in the war,
for a lead role in a cage?

How I wish, how I wish you were here.
We're just two lost souls swimming in a fish bowl, year after year, running over the same old ground.
What have we found
The same old fears.
Wish you were here.

4. One - U2

I sort of wonder why there's any ambiguity involved in this. Just watch the damn music video and read the lyrics and it's clear - it's about a son coming home to his father, explaining him he's gay and getting nothing in return. The meaning to this song is why it's so high, regardless of how beautiful it is to my ears.

Did I ask too much?
More than a lot.
You gave me nothing, now it's all I got.
We're one.
But we're not the same.
See we hurt each other.
Then we do it again.
You say:
‘Love is a temple
Love a higher law
Love is a temple
Love is a higher law'
You ask me to enter but then you make me crawl.
And I can't keep holding on to what you got when all you've got is hurt.

3. Piano Man - Billy Joel

When you can't help but sing every single lyric to a song, you know it's a Top 5 favorite.

Now Paul is a real estate novelist who never had time for a wife.
And he's talkin' with Davy, who's still in the Navy.
And probably will be for life.

And the waitress is practicing politics, as the businessman slowly gets stoned.
Yes, they're sharing a drink they call loneliness.
But it's better than drinkin' alone.

Sing us a song you're the piano man.
Sing us a song tonight.
Well we're all in the mood for a melody and you got us all feeling alright.

2. Hotel California - The Eagles

Just read what I said for "Piano Man", the same description works for this one as well.

Mirrors on the ceiling; the pink champagne on ice.
And she said 'We are all just prisoners here, of our own device.'
And in the master's chambers, they gathered for the feast.
They stab it with their steely knives, but they just can't kill the beast.

Last thing I remember, I was running for the door.
I had to find the passage back to the place I was before.
'Relax,' said the night man, 'We are programmed to receive.
You can check-out any time you like,
But you can never leave!'

And now... it's time for the #1 song. You ready? It's been one hell of a roller coaster so far... here comes the double barrel roll loop-de-loop.

....

....                  Here it comes................

.........

         ......               ............................... ....              .

.             ....             ..

           ...................         You ready? .............   .. .    ...

 ......... 

             ........................

                   ....           Good   ....            ....................................

         .................

          .....         Because I am...                 .........         ...    .

1.  To Live is to Die - Metallica

I'm sure this is leaving every single person viewing this completely baffled. Yes, it's Metallica. That instantly sparked a collective rolling of the eyes like so many times on this list from everyone who's seeing this, but frankly I don't care. This is the only instrumental featured in my Top 100. With music, most people try to find bands and songs that relate to them and connect to their life. For me, this is my tribute to my late grandfather, Clifton "Paw" Melancon whom passed away on February 20th, 2008. There was a night after getting home from the hospital after seeing him, when I listened to this song. I already knew its meaning -- a tribute to former Metallica bassist Cliff Burton who died an extremely gruesome death in 1986 -- and as I was in bed listening to it in the darkness of my own room, I began to cry. It was the first time that I had let any emotion free in the days since seeing my grandfather in the hospital, basically with his days numbered on this Earth. In the days and weeks following his death and even now, every time I listen to the song it had/has the same effect. And I'm sure in the years to come with the passing of many family members and friends, this song will transform itself into an ode to the dearly departed.