Master of Puppets, Political and Musical Analysis on an All-Time Classic

Have you ever listened to a classic song hundreds of times, but sometimes stopped and wondered what the artist was really trying to convey? For my "Music and Laughter" course, I was tasked with analyzing a popular song with laughter in it and found myself enjoying the assignment way more than I thought I would. Metallica's "Master of Puppets" and the band in general had influenced my music taste heavily pretty much since I started listening to music at the age of 10. The following essay is my take on the political and musical undertones in the song.

Laughter has long been a powerful tool for political critique, used by oppressed communities to challenge dominant power structures and oppressive regimes. In its iconic heavy metal song "Master of Puppets," Metallica leverages the use of laughter as a means of political expression and resistance. The song, released in 1986, is a scathing commentary on the drug problem that had gripped the United States during the 1980s. Against the backdrop of the Cold War and the increasing social unrest of the era, Metallica captures the feelings of disillusionment and hopelessness that permeated American society at the time. This essay will examine the significance of the distinct laughter that concludes the song through musical, political, and societal lenses. It will also explore how laughter contributes to the song's overall socio-political message of critiquing both the drug epidemic of the 80s and the U.S. government's questionable ways of dealing with it.

We must understand the lyrical context "Master of Puppets" before linking it back to the global issue of drug abuse in 1980s America. In the song, cocaine is being personified and turned into an image of the "master," a demonic entity which possesses the protagonist and takes control of all aspects of the person's day-to-day life. The structure of the song is a never-ending cycle of cocaine withdrawal and repeated use while being constantly reminded of the dire consequences of letting the addiction persist. This sentiment is represented by the lines "Where's the dreams that I've been after? …You promised only lies" (Metallica). The listener goes through this violent and fast-paced cycle without knowing exactly who is talking (the protagonist or the "master"). This sense of "confusion" reinforces the idea that drugs reshape and poison the user's brain, often replacing their core personality traits. The song's culminating laughter builds on top of this unending cycle, as the listener can hear the "master" finally prevailing over the protagonist. As an aggregate, the lyrics of the song aim to communicate the feeling of drug use: the highs of total power and infinite energy, the lows of gripping suicidal thoughts, and the rinse-and-repeat nature of being disappointed in oneself only to give in to the pervasive desire to use again.

At the time of the creation of "Master of Puppets," America was suffering from a surging drug epidemic, particularly of cocaine and crack use. This epidemic took centerstage as one of the most controversial legislative issues of the 80s. The government implemented some of the most stringent drug possession and distribution regulations to combat this drug surge. It introduced mandatory sentences of 5–10 years for the possession of Schedule I drugs which included crack and cocaine (Office of Justice Programs). However, the implemented policies were not as effective as the government had hoped. According to Whitman Knapp, the policies implemented under the program of "War of Drugs" were not effective at best and catastrophic at worst. He compares these policies to the war in Vietnam: "[The War on Drugs] hasn't had any appreciable effect on the availability of drugs in practically any community, and its devastating effect on our people is distinguishable from Vietnam's only in that it shows no sign of abating." (Knapp). The consequences of this drug epidemic could be observed at the global level, through the disproportionate number of incarcerations in poorer communities, and at the local level, with the amount of street drugs holding steady and continuing to destroy people's lives. Metallica's "Master of Puppets" provides a first-person account of the effect of drug abuse on a person and provides social commentary on the increasing trend of drug abuse. The song emerged as a reflection of the zeitgeist of the era, and it continues to deliver a powerful critique of the drug problem in the contemporary United States.

The melody and rhythm of "Master of Puppets" serve as a word-less view, a feeling of the cycle of drug abuse and submerge the listener into an energized yet agitated state. Metallica accomplishes this by utilizing the combination of a fast rhythm produced by the drums and gritty distortion guitar in the verses. The extensive use of the down-picking by the rhythm guitar combined with a cranked out distortion creates a sense of urgency and power since the guitarist can pick the strings faster producing violent riffs. The combination of the drums and the guitar creates the feeling of the main character's impending doom, as he grapples with his cocaine addiction. The music conveys the venomous energy which the protagonist is feeling throughout the song. However, the high doesn't last for long, the fast sections of verses and choruses crash abruptly into a bridge where the main character is exclaiming "Master… Master," and the music grinds to a halt. This abrupt stop indicates the powerlessness he feels during the withdrawal and complete reliance on the drug to continue functioning. Here, we have to acknowledge the masterful lead lines by Kirk Hammett which start after the bridge breaks and continue to build up tension right up to the following verse. His eerie, slow solos give the listener a moment of respite before the next section of the song returns with a heightened force - just like an addict might feel between two drug-using sessions. The slow section of the song continues into faster, distorted riffs and more exclamations to the "master", indicating that the drugs took control over the main character once again and he is feeling the violent influx of energy after using again.

The laughter heard at the conclusion of "Master of Puppets" serves as a fitting end to the song, providing closure to the narrative. It consists of two distinct laughs, one which could be attributed to the "master" and another which mimics the collective voices of many others who have fallen victim to drug addiction. The laughter may symbolize the protagonist's descent into madness after numerous cycles of substance abuse or the satisfaction of the "master" in corrupting yet another victim. While either interpretation is plausible given the song's context, it is more likely that the final laughter is a form of mockery directed towards the main character by the intensifying addiction. This is in line with the "superiority theory" of humor, which suggests that laughter is often used to ridicule and establish feelings of relative superiority, as philosopher Sheila Lintott notes. The "master" constantly belittles and taunts the addict throughout the song, reminding him of his complete submission and lack of control. Thus, the laughter at the end may serve as a final demonstration of the "master's" power and the addict's powerlessness in the face of drug addiction.

In conclusion, Metallica has been a significant voice in criticizing American politics and society in the 20th century, focusing on issues like war, government control, and oppression. With "Master of Puppets," the band sheds light on the problem of drug abuse in the country using a unique blend of melody and distortion to convey the impact of drugs through lyrics, rhythm, and riffs. In addition, laughter has historically been a powerful tool used by marginalized groups to challenge dominant power structures, such as women's empowerment through operatic laughter and black laughter in jazz and blues to fight against racial oppression. Similarly, in "Master of Puppets," derisive laughter serves as a stark reminder of the devastating effects of drugs and how only drug producers and the "master" benefit from the ruined lives of addicts.