Love drove me crazy // James Hetfield

6. brooklyn baby

I had finished writing the song with James as I was in the recording booth with headphones on, about to sing.

"Whenever you're ready, sing," James told me.

(Skip if you want to, Brooklyn Baby lyrics)

Ta-da-da-da-da-da-da
Ta-da-da-da-da-da-da
Da-da-da-da-da-da-da

They say I'm too young to love you
I don't know what I need
They think I don't understand
The freedom land of the seventies

I think I'm too cool to know ya
You say I'm like the ice, I freeze
I'm churnin' out novels like
Beat poetry on Amphetamines

I say
I say

Well, my boyfriend's in a band
He plays guitar while I sing Lou Reed
I've got feathers in my hair
I get down to Beat poetry
And my jazz collection's rare
I can play most anything
I'm a Brooklyn baby
I'm a Brooklyn baby

Ta-da-da-da-da-da-da
Ta-da-da-da-da-da-da
Pa-ta-da-da-da-da

They say I'm too young to love you
They say I'm too dumb to see
They judge me like a picture book
By the colors, like they forgot to read
I think we're like fire and water
I think we're like the wind and sea
You're burnin' up, I'm coolin' down
You're up, I'm down
You're blind, I see

But I'm free, ooh-ooh
I'm free

Well, my boyfriend's in a band
He plays guitar while I sing Lou Reed
I've got feathers in my hair
I get down to Beat poetry
And my jazz collection's rare
I can play most anything
I'm a Brooklyn baby
I'm a Brooklyn baby

I'm talking about my generation
Talking about that newer nation
And if you don't like it, you can beat it
Beat it, baby
You never liked the way I said it
If you don't get it, then forget it
'Cause I don't have to fuckin' explain it

And my boyfriend's in a band
He plays guitar while I sing Lou Reed
I've got feathers in my hair
I get high on hydroponic weed
And my jazz collection's rare
I get down to Beat poetry
I'm a Brooklyn baby
I'm a Brooklyn baby

Pa-da-pa-pa, pa-de-da
Te-de-de, da-da-ah
Ooh-ooh, woah

Yeah, my boyfriend's pretty cool
But he's not as cool as me
'Cause I'm a Brooklyn baby
I'm a Brooklyn baby

Pa-da-da-da-da-da-da
Da-da-da-da-da, baby
Ah-ta-da-da-da-da
Da-da-da-da, baby
Pa-da-da-da-da-da
Pa-pa-da-pa-da, yeah
Yeah, yeah

I finished singing while James stopped the tape.

"Holy shit, you sounded amazing," James said.

I smiled and blushed hard before I took the headphones off and walked back into the room. I sat with James as we began to put together music ideas. I checked the time, 12:57 AM. I'll be fine. I continued to stay with James and write music while we talked about it more. It was fun and it took up so long to the point I was so tired.

"And I think right here-"

"James...I'm so tired," I say and rest my face on his lap.

"Okay, okay, okay," he said worried while my face went to his lap, "Ummm...let's get you to bed. Okay?"

I nod as he picked me up bridal style and took me upstairs to his bedroom while laying me down and taking my shoes off. I sat up and took my shirt off while James looked away. I stood up and took my pants off while I pulled him to look at me.

"Do you have a shirt I can wear?" I ask.

James nods and went to his closet while he pulled out a shirt and gave it to me as I put it on. I went to bed and crawled in while I got on one side of the bed and got under the soft covers.

"Goodnight, James," I say and fall asleep.

Next morning // December 3rd, 2005

I rushed downstairs in stress while I was in only my bra and thong. I was pulling on my clothes from the night before which was a black tank top, low rise jeans, converse and a jacket. I woke up late and was rushing to get dressed.

"James! Can you please drive me to school today!"

"Yes! I can!" James said and rushed downstairs while also getting dressed.

I was getting ready but in the middle of it, I bumped into James and I looked up at him.

"Oh wow...you're-ummm...I- you're so...I-"

"Let's go!!" I say.

•••

I was getting off the motorcycle as James looked at me when I smiled at him.

"Thank you so much, I couldn't have done it without you. My professor might make me stay after my last class but I it's fine."

I kiss his cheek but James stopped me and looked at me, "Hey, it's okay. I'll take you any time."

I blush and nod as he kissed my cheek. My cheeks were so red at the point and I was stuttering.

"I-I'm gonna- umm...I'm gonna go now..." I say.

James nods and smiled at me before I left. I was blushing so hard and I looked back at James as he pulled away. I smiled and ran into University.

•••

I was walking out after school and was approached by a group of jocks. I stopped walking as they stood in front of me.

"Hey, you're Y/n right?"

I nod, "Yeah...why?"

"I'm Nick. This is Jay and Roman. We were having a party Friday night if you were wanting to come? Bring your guitar. We heard you're good too."

I hesitate, "Uhhh, sure...? Yeah."

"Nice. Here's the address."

He gave me the address and walked away to which I was confused about. I saw James pull up and wave at me, so I went to him and got on the back and so we left.

"Let's go to the studio! I want to write more!" I say to James.

He nods, "Of course, darling!"

I ran my arms tighter around his waist and rest my chin on his shoulder. I was thinking about this weekend. The gig. Was I going to do good? I also turned in my last song, my one about a boy and video games into my teacher and she took it, so I don't have to worry about the project anymore.