James likes to write his lyrics in a somewhat crptic manner so more people can relate to them. There's a literal sense to them but they're actually about being trapped in whatever vices you have in your life and wanting to escape them but you can't seem to shake them. For some people it can be some kind of addiction they're trying to kick for others it might be somebody they want out of their lives or whatever. I think all the postings I've seen are right in a sense but ultimately they don't have a specific meaning. He also likes to write lyrics based on movies (One) or stories from the Bible (Creeping Death), or even childhood fears like nightmares (Enter Sandman) but there are many other souces he draws from. I heard him talking about it on xm radio right before Death Magnetic was released. For the most part his lyrics can be interpreted by anybody to mean something to them personally which explains his reference to Bible stories or movies and what-not. Do some research and you'll find that James Hetfield really seems to get the human mind and how to relate to the masses in his lyrics.