Sad but True

"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]
Format	CD single, Cassette, vinyl
Recorded	June 16, 1991 at One on One Studios, Los Angeles, California
Genre	Heavy metal
Length	5:24
Label	Elektra
Writer(s)	James Hetfield / Lars Ulrich
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 Music sample "Sad But True"

"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 eponymous fifth album, Metallica. The music video from the single was released in October, 1992.

Content

Though the band had utilized the 'D standard' tuning for the recording and subsequent performances of covers such as "Crash Course in Brain Surgery" and "The Small Hours", this was the second instance of the band utilizing such a low guitar tuning for an original piece ("The Thing That Should Not Be" was the first, utilizing the same tuning in the studio, and tuning down to C# Standard live). Bassist Jason Newsted tuned his 5-string bass down to 'A standard' for this song, which is essentially the equivalent of D standard, i.e. one whole step down.

In popular culture

• The instrumental structure was used in Kid Rock's 2000 single, "American Bad Ass". The song is on Rock's compilation, The History of Rock. A different version of the instrumental structure was used in the song's parody track "American Hair Band" by rock band Tuff.
• Snoop Dogg has covered the song live paying tribute to the band at MTV Icon: Metallica, held in Universal City, California in 2003.
• In 2004, Guitar Player listed James Hetfield's tone (most likely produced by an ESP MX-220 with a Mesa Boogie Mark IV along with a Danelectro Longhorn bass) as one of the "50 Greatest Tones of All Time".^[2]
• The song was played in the background as Kurt Russell introduced the Seattle Seahawks in an opening segment for Fox Sports's TV coverage of Super Bowl XLVIII.^[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 & Germany Vinyl 7" 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 Vinyl Single

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

Personnel

• James Hetfield - lead vocals, rhythm guitar
• Kirk Hammett - lead guitar
• Jason Newsted - bass, backing vocals
• Lars Ulrich - drums
• John Marshall - guitar on Nothing Else Matters (Live)

Chart performance

Weekly charts

Chart (1993)	Peak position
Australia (ARIA)[4]	48
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[5]	50
Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)[6]	1
Germany (Official German Charts)[7]	42
Ireland (IRMA)	13
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[8]	17
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[9]	42
Norway (VG-lista)[10]	5
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[11]	31
UK Singles (The Official Charts Company)	20
U.S. Billboard Hot 100	98
U.S. Mainstream Rock Tracks (Billboard)	15

References

1. Metallica. "Sad But True". Retrieved 5 November 2013.
2. Blackett, Matt (October 2004). "The 50 Greatest Tones of All Time". Guitar Player. pp. 44–66.
3. Kurt Russell Seattle Seahawks introduction Super Bowl XLVIII 2014 - Metallica HD Stereo. February 2, 2014.
4. "Australian-charts.com – Metallica – Sad But True". ARIA Top 50 Singles.
5. "Ultratop.be – Metallica – Sad But True" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
6. Nyman, Jake (2005). Suomi soi 4: Suuri suomalainen listakirja (in Finnish) (1st ed.). Helsinki: Tammi. ISBN 951-31-2503-3.
7. "Musicline.de – Metallica Single-Chartverfolgung" (in German). Media Control Charts. PhonoNet GmbH.
8. "Nederlandse Top 40 – Metallica search results" (in Dutch) Dutch Top 40.
9. "Charts.org.nz – Metallica – Sad But True". Top 40 Singles.
10. "Norwegiancharts.com – Metallica – Sad But True". VG-lista.
11. "Swedishcharts.com – Metallica – Sad But True". Singles Top 100.