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"Sad but True" is a heavy metal
Heavy metal music

Heavy metal is a genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely in England and the United States. With roots in blues-rock and psychedelic rock, the bands that created heavy metal developed a thick, massive sound, characterized by highly amplified Distortion , extended guitar solos, emphatic beats, and overall...
 song recorded by Metallica
Metallica

Metallica is an American heavy metal music band that formed in 1981 in Los Angeles. Founded when drummer Lars Ulrich posted an advertisement in a local newspaper, Metallica's line-up has primarily consisted of Ulrich, rhythm guitarist and vocalist James Hetfield, and lead guitarist Kirk Hammett, while going through a number of bassists....
 for their fifth studio album Metallica
Metallica (album)

Metallica is the fifth studio album by the American Heavy metal music band Metallica, released August 12, 1991 through Elektra Records. It features some of Metallica's most popular songs, "Enter Sandman", "The Unforgiven ", "Nothing Else Matters" , "Wherever I May Roam" and "Sad but True"....
. The song was released as the album's fifth single
Single (music)

In the record industry, a single is a song usually used from a current or upcoming album to promote the album. Singles are distributed through a number of ways; originally, they were packaged as "single" records with one or two other songs and sold before the release of the album....
 in mid-1992. It is one of Metallica's first attempts at tuning down guitars, in this case, tuning down to D standard. They would use this tuning later on their cover of "Whiskey in the Jar
Whiskey in the Jar

"Whiskey in the Jar" is a famous Ireland folk music about a highwayman , who is betrayed by his wife or lover. One of the most widely performed traditional Irish songs, it has been recorded by professional artists since the 1950s, but was first given wide exposure by the Irish folk band The Dubliners who performed it internationally as a sign...
" from Garage Inc, and would utilise drop C tuning (D standard with the bottom string tuned another full step) on St. Anger
St. Anger

'St. Anger' is the eighth studio album by American heavy metal music band Metallica. Released on June 5, 2003, this album marks the longest time span between studio albums from Metallica, with the nearly six years between the release of ReLoad and St....
.

The lyrical theme of this song is dissociative identity disorder
Dissociative identity disorder

Dissociative identity disorder , as defined by the American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders , is a psychiatric Medical diagnosis that describes a condition in which a single person displays multiple distinct identity or Personality psychology , each with its own pattern of perceiving and inter...
 and schizophrenia
Schizophrenia

Schizophrenia , from the Ancient Greek Root schizein and phren, phren- is a psychiatry diagnosis that describes a mental disorder characterized by abnormalities in the perception or expression of reality....
, inspired by the 1978 Anthony Hopkins
Anthony Hopkins

Sir Philip Anthony Hopkins, Order of the British Empire is a Welsh People film, theater and television actor. Considered by many to be one of film's greatest living actors, he is best known for his portrayal of cannibalism serial killer Hannibal Lecter in the 1991 in film blockbuster The Silence of the Lambs , its sequel, Hannibal ,...
 film Magic
Magic (film)

Magic is a 1978 film starring Anthony Hopkins and Ann-Margret. It was written by William Goldman, who also wrote the Magic ....
, and James Hetfield sings from the point of view of an evil personality (I'm your hate when you want love).






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Encyclopedia


"Sad but True" is a heavy metal
Heavy metal music

Heavy metal is a genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely in England and the United States. With roots in blues-rock and psychedelic rock, the bands that created heavy metal developed a thick, massive sound, characterized by highly amplified Distortion , extended guitar solos, emphatic beats, and overall...
 song recorded by Metallica
Metallica

Metallica is an American heavy metal music band that formed in 1981 in Los Angeles. Founded when drummer Lars Ulrich posted an advertisement in a local newspaper, Metallica's line-up has primarily consisted of Ulrich, rhythm guitarist and vocalist James Hetfield, and lead guitarist Kirk Hammett, while going through a number of bassists....
 for their fifth studio album Metallica
Metallica (album)

Metallica is the fifth studio album by the American Heavy metal music band Metallica, released August 12, 1991 through Elektra Records. It features some of Metallica's most popular songs, "Enter Sandman", "The Unforgiven ", "Nothing Else Matters" , "Wherever I May Roam" and "Sad but True"....
. The song was released as the album's fifth single
Single (music)

In the record industry, a single is a song usually used from a current or upcoming album to promote the album. Singles are distributed through a number of ways; originally, they were packaged as "single" records with one or two other songs and sold before the release of the album....
 in mid-1992. It is one of Metallica's first attempts at tuning down guitars, in this case, tuning down to D standard. They would use this tuning later on their cover of "Whiskey in the Jar
Whiskey in the Jar

"Whiskey in the Jar" is a famous Ireland folk music about a highwayman , who is betrayed by his wife or lover. One of the most widely performed traditional Irish songs, it has been recorded by professional artists since the 1950s, but was first given wide exposure by the Irish folk band The Dubliners who performed it internationally as a sign...
" from Garage Inc, and would utilise drop C tuning (D standard with the bottom string tuned another full step) on St. Anger
St. Anger

'St. Anger' is the eighth studio album by American heavy metal music band Metallica. Released on June 5, 2003, this album marks the longest time span between studio albums from Metallica, with the nearly six years between the release of ReLoad and St....
.

The lyrical theme of this song is dissociative identity disorder
Dissociative identity disorder

Dissociative identity disorder , as defined by the American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders , is a psychiatric Medical diagnosis that describes a condition in which a single person displays multiple distinct identity or Personality psychology , each with its own pattern of perceiving and inter...
 and schizophrenia
Schizophrenia

Schizophrenia , from the Ancient Greek Root schizein and phren, phren- is a psychiatry diagnosis that describes a mental disorder characterized by abnormalities in the perception or expression of reality....
, inspired by the 1978 Anthony Hopkins
Anthony Hopkins

Sir Philip Anthony Hopkins, Order of the British Empire is a Welsh People film, theater and television actor. Considered by many to be one of film's greatest living actors, he is best known for his portrayal of cannibalism serial killer Hannibal Lecter in the 1991 in film blockbuster The Silence of the Lambs , its sequel, Hannibal ,...
 film Magic
Magic (film)

Magic is a 1978 film starring Anthony Hopkins and Ann-Margret. It was written by William Goldman, who also wrote the Magic ....
, and James Hetfield sings from the point of view of an evil personality (I'm your hate when you want love). The personality takes control of the person whilst they are asleep (I'm your dream, mind astray/I'm your eyes while you're away), commits evil acts (do my dirty work scapegoat/do my deeds, for you're the one who's blamed), and incites paranoia (they betrayed, I'm your only true friend now/they'll betray, I'm forever there), ultimately taking over the person completely (I'm inside, open your eyes / I'm you).

"Sad but True" is one of five songs released as a single off Metallica. The song was included on Metallica's live collaboration with the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra (conducted by Michael Kamen
Michael Kamen

Michael Kamen was an United States composer , orchestral arranger, orchestral conductor, song writer, and session musician....
), entitled S&M
S&M (album)

S&M is a live album by the United States heavy metal music band Metallica, recorded with the San Francisco Symphony on April 21 & April 22 1999 at Berkeley Community Theatre....
.

Formats and track listings

These are the formats and track listings of major single releases of "Sad but True".

UK Single #1


  1. "Sad but True" (James Hetfield
    James Hetfield

    James Alan Hetfield is the main songwriter, co-founder, vocalist and rhythm guitarist of the American heavy metal music Musical ensemble Metallica....
    , Lars Ulrich
    Lars Ulrich

    Lars Ulrich is a Denmark drummer best known as the co-founder of the United States Heavy metal music band Metallica. He was born in Gentofte, Denmark to an upper-middle class family....
    ) - 5:27
  2. "Harvester of Sorrow
    Harvester of Sorrow

    "Harvester of Sorrow" is the sixth song from the Metallica album ...And Justice for All .Metallica debuted this song live prior to the release of ...And Justice for All while on the summer Monsters of Rock Tour in 1988 with Van Halen, Scorpions , Dokken and Kingdom Come ....
     (Live)" (Hetfield/Ulrich) - 6:43
  3. "So What
    So What?

    So What is an album released by the electronica/new wave music punk rock band, Le Shok, on Tigersuit Records....
    " (Nick "Animal" Kulmer, Chris "Magoo" Exall, Clive "Winston" Blake
    Clive Blake

    Clive Blake was the bass guitarist for the Punk rock band the Anti-Nowhere League between 1981 and 1997. Blake was universally known as 'Winston'....
    ) - 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
    Nothing Else Matters

    "Nothing Else Matters" is a song by heavy metal music band Metallica. It was first released in 1991 on the self-titled Metallica . The song reached #11 on the Mainstream Rock Tracks Charts in 1992....
     (Elevator Version)" (Hetfield, Ulrich) - 6:31
  3. "Creeping Death
    Creeping Death

    "Creeping Death" is a song by Metallica and is the seventh track on their 1984 in music album Ride the Lightning. Written from the perspective of the Angel of Death, it describes the Plague of the Firstborn ....
     (Live)" (Kirk Hammett
    Kirk Hammett

    Kirk Lee Hammett is the lead guitarist and a songwriter in the band Metallica and has been a member of the band since 1983. Before joining Metallica he formed and named the band Exodus ....
    , Hetfield, Cliff Burton
    Cliff Burton

    Clifford Lee Burton was a bassist best known for his work with the American Heavy metal music band Metallica from 1982 until his death in 1986....
    , Ulrich) - 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

UK Single #3 Picture Disc

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


US Cassette

  1. "Sad but True" (Hetfield, Ulrich)
  2. "So What" (Nick "Animal" Kulmer, Chris "Magoo" Exall, Clive "Winston" Blake
    Clive Blake

    Clive Blake was the bass guitarist for the Punk rock band the Anti-Nowhere League between 1981 and 1997. Blake was universally known as 'Winston'....
    )


Other appearances and covers

The instrumental structure of the song was sampled by rap
Hip hop music

Hip hop music is a music genre typically consisting of a rhythmic vocal style called rapping which is accompanied with backing beats. Hip hop music is part of hip hop culture, which began in the Bronx, in New York City in the 1970s, predominantly among African Americans and Latino Americans....
/rock
Rock music

Rock music is a loosely defined genre of popular music that entered the mainstream in the mid 1950's. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rhythm and blues, country music and other influences....
 musician Kid Rock
Kid Rock

Robert James Ritchie , known by his stage name Kid Rock, is a rapper turned singer/songwriter with five Grammy nominations. He was born in Romeo, Michigan on January 17, 1971....
 in his song "American Bad Ass
American Bad Ass

"American Bad Ass" is a Heavy metal music song from American musician Kid Rock, released from his 2000 album The History of Rock. "American Bad Ass" samples the instrumental structure of Metallica's "Sad But True" Kid Rock's musical inspirations such as AC/DC and ZZ Top....
" in 2000. This song was, at one point, used as entrance theme of World Wrestling Entertainment
World Wrestling Entertainment

World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. is a publicly traded, privately controlled integrated arts and sports entertainment company dealing primarily in professional wrestling, with major revenue also coming from film, music, product licensing, and direct product sales....
 wrestler The Undertaker. It was later parodied by the rock band Tuff
Tuff (band)

Tuff is an American Glam metal band formed in 1985 in Phoenix, Arizona, by guitarist Jorge DeSaint and bassist Todd Chaisson . The band was completed with the arrival of drummer Michael Lean and short lived vocalist Terry Fox , who left the band shortly afterwards to pursue an ice skating career....
 in a song called "American Hair Band" from their album The History of Tuff. Kid Rock covers the song on his 2008 Rock N Roll Jesus Tour.

A snippet of "Sad but True" was performed live by Snoop Dogg
Snoop Dogg

Cordozar Calvin Broadus, Jr. , better known by his stage name Snoop Dogg , is a Grammy Award-nominated American rapper, record producer, and actor....
 on the tribute show MTV Icon
MTV Icon

MTV Icon was an annual tribute show held by MTV, running from 2001 to 2004. Each year bands inspired by the Icon at hand performed some of the Icon's songs....
 Metallica edition in 2003.

The song was covered
Cover version

In popular music, a cover version, or simply cover, is a new rendition of a previously recorded, commercially released song.In its current use, it can sometimes have a pejorative meaning — implying that the original recording should be regarded as the definitive version, usually in the sense of an "authentic" rendition, and all...
 by Joey Belladonna
Joey Belladonna

Joey Belladonna is a heavy metal singer and drummer, best known as former vocalist for the heavy metal music band Anthrax ....
, Bruce Kulick
Bruce Kulick

Bruce Howard Kulick is an United States guitarist and a member of the band Grand Funk Railroad. Previously Kulick had been a long time member of the band Kiss ....
, Marco Mendoza
Marco Mendoza

Marco Mendoza is an American musician - bass player and vocalist. He was born in San Diego, California, in 1956. He spent his formative years living with his grandmother in Tijuana, Mexico....
, and Eric Singer
Eric Singer

Eric Doyle Mensinger , better known as Eric Singer, is a Hard rock and Heavy metal music drummer for the rock band Kiss and singer Alice Cooper....
 for Metallic Assault: A Tribute to Metallica. It was also covered by In Strict Confidence
In Strict Confidence

In Strict Confidence are a Germany electro-industrial band. Formed in 1989/1990, they were previously known as Seal of Secrecy until 1992. In Strict Confidence has been signed to several record labels, including Metropolis Records and WTII Records....
 on An Industrial Tribute to Metallica and by Nickelback
Nickelback

Nickelback is a Canadian Rock music band formed in Hanna, Alberta by Chad Kroeger, Mike Kroeger, Ryan Peake and then-drummer Brandon Kroeger ....
 at Rock am Ring, a rock music festival held annually in Germany.

"Sad but True" is a favorite among Chicago Bears players, and can often be heard at games during intermissions.It is also a favorite among poeople to break up with their girlfriend.