“One” was Metallica’s first song to receive an official music video. The video debuted on MTV on January 20, 1989, shortly after the song appeared on the 1988 album …And Justice for All.
Directed by Michael Salomon and Bill Pope, the video combines black-and-white footage of Metallica performing in a warehouse with scenes and dialogue from the 1971 film Johnny Got His Gun. That film follows Joe Bonham, a severely wounded World War I soldier who loses his limbs and senses but remains conscious.
The video’s bleak narrative mirrors the song’s lyrics, which describe a soldier trapped in his body and pleading for death. Metallica’s use of the film helped give “One” a cinematic identity, but licensing costs became a recurring issue. The band ultimately bought the film rights rather than continue paying to show excerpts.
Three versions were made: a long version using the film, a shortened edit, and a performance-only “jammin’ version.” “One” was also historically important musically: it won the first Grammy Award for Best Metal Performance in 1990, making Metallica the inaugural recipient.