In a new episode of “The Metallica Report,” frontman James Hetfield opened up about the band’s song “Inamorata” (which was released in 2023) and the contention over of some of the track’s lyrics, including the word “cancer.”

While discussing how he has become “more comfortable” with his ability to express himself through lyrics and using specific words and phrases to “bring the point across”, Hetfield said:

“We have — Lars [Ulrich, drummer] and Greg Fidelman, co-producer. I come in with the lyrics. They’ll read through ’em. And they’ll just, ‘Oh, yeah, that word. I’m not sure.’ It’s, like, ‘Well, just let me sing it. Let me get it out there.’ Even something like ‘Inamorata’ [with the lyrics] ‘Resentment like a cancer grows.’ He’s, like, ‘Ah, the word ‘cancer’. Nah, you can’t sing that. It’s too…’ Like, dude, come on. I mean, I’m not trying to win any P.C. awards for anything. Cancer is a f*cking powerful word. It’s hated, and to apply it to something gives it that power.”

“I’m gonna write what I need to write,” he added. “I will listen to you and your opinion on it. If it doesn’t sing well, I get it, but I’m not gonna put in some fluff word just so it rhymes or whatever. And sometimes that is needed. Rhyming can be more important than the context in certain places, but I want the words to just be as powerful as possible.”

Hetfield also expressed frustration over having to write lyrics for 45 songs during the recording sessions for Metallica’s “Load” and “Reload.”

“I was discouraged when we did ‘Load’ and ‘Reload’ with the amount of songs. There were 45 songs I had to write lyrics for and I felt like, ‘Wait a minute. I’ve gotta write 45 songs’ worth of lyrics. It’s insane.’ All those 45 songs would not be as potent as one really well-written lyric — to me. And being more comfortable with stuff that I think brings the point across,” he said.