Sad but True

For the albums, see Sad but True (The Times album) and Sad but True (Tex, Don and Charlie album).

"Sad but True" is a song by American heavy metal band Metallica. It was released in February 1993 as the fifth and final single from their 1991 self-titled album. The music video for the single was released in October 1992.

"Sad but True"
Single by Metallica
from the album Metallica
B-side	"Harvester of Sorrow" (live)/"So What?" "Nothing Else Matters" (Elevator version)/"Creeping Death" (live)/"Sad but True" (demo)
Released	February 8, 1993^[1]
Recorded	1990-91
Studio	One on One (Los Angeles, California)
Genre	Heavy metal
Length	5:24
Label	Elektra, Vertigo (UK)
Composer(s)	James Hetfield Lars Ulrich
Lyricist(s)	James Hetfield
Producer(s)	Bob Rock James Hetfield Lars Ulrich
Metallica singles chronology
"Wherever I May Roam" (1992) "Sad but True" (1993) "Until It Sleeps" (1996)
Music video
"Sad but True" on YouTube
Audio sample
"Sad But True" file help

Music

"Sad but True" is in D Standard tuning, however the song was originally written and demoed in E Standard. Bob Rock, who produced The Black Album, recalled to Musicradar.com: "We were in pre-production, which was uncomfortable because nobody had ever made them go through their songs in such a deliberate way before, and six songs in 'Sad But True' came along. Suddenly, I realized that every song, including this one, was in the key of E. I brought this to the band's attention, and they said, 'Well, isn't E the lowest note?' So I told them that on Mötley Crüe's Dr. Feelgood, which I produced and Metallica loved, the band had tuned down to D. Metallica then tuned down to D, and that's when the riff really became huge. It was this force that you just couldn't stop, no matter what."^[2]

Rock, Hetfield, and Ulrich are all credited as producers, and Randy Staub and his assistant, Mike Tacci.^[3]

Track listing

US single

1. "Sad but True"
2. "So What?"

International single part 1

1. "Sad but True" – 5:27
2. "So What?" – 3:09
3. "Harvester of Sorrow" (live) – 6:41

International single part 2

1. "Sad but True" – 5:27
2. "Nothing Else Matters (Elevator Version)" – 6:31
3. "Creeping Death" (live) – 8:01
4. "Sad but True" (demo) – 4:53

UK picture single

1. "Sad but True" – 5:26
2. "Nothing Else Matters" (live) – 6:13
3. "Sad but True" (live) – 6:12

UK and German 7-inch single

1. "Sad but True" – 5:24
2. "Nothing Else Matters" – 6:29

French single

1. "Sad but True" – 5:27
2. "Nothing Else Matters (Edit)" – 6:29

International 7-inch single

1. "Sad but True"
2. "Nothing Else Matters" (live)
3. "Sad but True" (live)

Personnel

Personnel adapted from Metallica liner notes^[4]

Metallica

• James Hetfield – vocals, rhythm guitar
• Kirk Hammett – lead guitar
• Jason Newsted – bass
• Lars Ulrich – drums

Additional Performer

• John Marshall – guitar on "Nothing Else Matters" (live)

Cover versions

In 2020, the Mongolian hunnu band The HU released a cover of the song translated entirely into Mongolian.^[5]

The Metallica Blacklist, a compilation album released in 2021, features seven covers of the song, including a live version by Sam Fender and studio versions by Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit, Mexican Institute of Sound, Royal Blood, St. Vincent, White Reaper and YB.

Samples

Kid Rock sampled the track for his song "American Bad Ass" from his 2000 album The History of Rock.

Charts

Chart (1992–1993)	Peak position
Australia (ARIA)^[6]	48
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)^[7]	50
Denmark (IFPI)^[8]	3
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)^[9]	22
Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)^[10]	1
Germany (Official German Charts)^[11]	42
Ireland (IRMA)^[12]	13
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)^[13]	17
Netherlands (Single Top 100)^[14]	10
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)^[15]	42
Norway (VG-lista)^[16]	5
Portugal (AFP)^[17]	2
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)^[18]	31
UK Singles (OCC)^[19]	20
US Billboard Hot 100^[20]	98
US Mainstream Rock (Billboard)^[21]	15

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)^[22]	2× Platinum	140,000^‡
^‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References

1. Metallica. . Archived from the original on April 10, 2011. Retrieved November 5, 2013.
2. "Sad But True by Metallica". Songfacts. Retrieved April 6, 2023.
3. Metallica - Sad But True, 1993, retrieved February 27, 2023
4. Metallica (liner notes). Metallica. Vertigo Records. 1991. 510 022-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
5. Lewry, Fraser (December 4, 2020). "The Hu release spectacular Mongolian language cover of Metallica's Sad But True". Metal Hammer Magazine. Retrieved December 7, 2020.
6. "Metallica – Sad but True". ARIA Top 50 Singles.
7. "Metallica – Sad but True" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
8. "Top 10 Sales in Europe" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 10, no. 13. March 27, 1993. p. 28. Retrieved March 22, 2018.
9. "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 10, no. 13. March 27, 1993. p. 27. Retrieved October 30, 2020.
10. Nyman, Jake (2005). Suomi soi 4: Suuri suomalainen listakirja (in Finnish) (1st ed.). Helsinki: Tammi. ISBN 951-31-2503-3.
11. "Metallica – Sad but True" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved October 30, 2020.
12. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Sad but True". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved October 30, 2020.
13. "Nederlandse Top 40 – Metallica" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40.
14. "Metallica – Sad but True" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved October 30, 2020.
15. "Metallica – Sad but True". Top 40 Singles.
16. "Metallica – Sad but True". VG-lista.
17. "Top 10 Sales in Europe" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 10, no. 15. April 10, 1993. p. 24. Retrieved October 30, 2020.
18. "Metallica – Sad but True". Singles Top 100.
19. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved October 30, 2020.
20. "Metallica Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved October 30, 2020.
21. "Metallica Chart History (Mainstream Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved October 30, 2020.
22. "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2024 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved March 8, 2024.