10 Hidden Details You Never Noticed In Metallica Tracks

1988's ...And Justice for All was the first album to drop after the saddening death of Metallica's genius bassist, Cliff Burton, in a bus accident two years prior. When it came out with Jason Newsted now manning the low end, a lot of fans were somewhat surprised that the record did not contain more overt references to the sorely missed Burton.

However, a sombre and very heartfelt tribute to him can be found in the form of the instrumental "To Live Is to Die". Just over ten minutes long and packed with tear-jerking riffs and solos, the track's bassline is a medley of riffs and sections that Cliff had written before his death that were never able to be used on any other recording.

Despite being an instrumental, the song also has a spoken word section: "When a man lies, he murders some part of the world. These are the pale deaths which men miscall their lives. All this I cannot bear to witness any longer. Cannot the kingdom of salvation take me home?"

Burton received a writing credit for this in ...And Justice for All's liner notes, although the first two lines were originally written by poet Paul Gerhardt in the 17th century. "Cannot the kingdom of salvation take me home" can also be found on Cliff Burton's memorial headstone at the site of his death, near Ljungby, Sweden.

Although it doesn't mention Burton by name, another brilliant piece of music dedicated to the late bassist is Megadeth's "In My Darkest Hour", the lyrics of which frontman (and ex-Metallica guitarist) Dave Mustaine wrote in one session after learning about the untimely passing of his ex-bandmate.