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Sad but True

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"Sad But True" is a thrash metal song recorded by Metallica for their fifth studio album Metallica (1991; also known as The Black Album). The song was released as the album's fifth single in mid-1992.

The song is based off of a 1978 movie directed by Richard Attenborough starring Anthony Hopkins, entitled "Magic". The movie is about a ventriloquist who is at the mercy of his vicious puppet.

A focal point of the song is its consistent bass riff. It is accompanied by heavy and sludgy, yet melodic guitars, and steady, booming drum beats alongside Hetfield's (at times) harmonious vocals. The guitars are tuned down a full step from the conventional "EADGBE" tuning, adding to the deeper, heavier sound.

"Sad But True" is one of five songs released as a single off The Black Album, and moves toward a heavy metal groove, rather than the speed-thrash metal scene. The song was included in Metallica's live collaboration with the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra (conducted by Michael Kamen), entitled S&M.

The bass riff in this song was sampled by American rap/rock/alternative country artist Kid Rock in his song American Badass, which was at one point used as entrance theme music by the World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) wrestler known as Undertaker. This version was parodied by the rock band Tuff in a song called American Hair Band from their album The History of Tuff.

A snippet of "Sad But True" was performed live by Snoop Dogg on the tribute show MTV Icon Metallica edition in 2003.

Track Listing

UK Single #1

  1. "Sad But True" (Hetfield/Ulrich) - 5.27
  2. "Harvester of Sorrow (Live)" (Hetfield/Ulrich) - 6.40
  3. "So What" (Exall/Culmer) - 3.09

"Harvester of Sorrow" recorded live on September 28, 1991 at Tushino Air Field, Moscow, Russia

UK Single #2

  1. "Sad But True" (Hetfield/Ulrich) - 5.27
  2. "Nothing Else Matters (Elevator Version)" (Hetfield/Ulrich) - 6.31
  3. "Creeping Death (Live)" (Hetfield/Ulrich/Burton/Hammett) - 8.01
  4. "Sad But True (Demo)" (Hetfield/Ulrich) - 4.53

"Creeping Death" recorded live on September 28, 1991 at Tushino Air Field, Moscow, Russia

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