Sad but True

"Sad But True"
Single by Metallica
from the album Metallica
B-side"So What?"
ReleasedFebruary 8, 1993
Recorded1990–91
StudioOne on One (Los Angeles)
Genre
Length5:24
Label
Composers
LyricistJames Hetfield
Producers
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"

"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. The song peaked at number 15 on the US Billboard Mainstream Rock chart.

Music

According to Lars Ulrich, the initial idea for "Sad But True" dates as far back as 1986 during the Master of Puppets era. The song is in D Standard tuning, however the song was originally written and demoed in E Standard. Bob Rock, who produced Metallica, 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."

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

Music video

The music video filmed in January 1992 in San Diego and directed by Wayne Isham. It premiered on October 5, 1992.

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, except where noted.

Metallica
Additional Performer

Cover versions

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

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.

The soundtrack of EA Sports College Football 27 features a cover of this song recorded by the Carolina Band of the University of South Carolina, who won Metallica's "For Whom the Band Tolls" college marching band contest in 2025.

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)48
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)50
Canada Retail Singles (The Record) 34
Denmark (IFPI) 3
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100) 22
Finland (Suomen virallinen lista) 1
Germany (GfK)42
Ireland (IRMA)13
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)17
Netherlands (Single Top 100)10
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)42
Norway (VG-lista)5
Portugal (AFP) 2
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)31
UK Singles (Official Charts)20
US Billboard Hot 10098
US Mainstream Rock (Billboard)15
Chart (2026) Peak
position
Greece International (IFPI) 29

Certifications

Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Australia (ARIA) 2× Platinum 140,000‡
New Zealand (RMNZ) Platinum 30,000‡
United States (RIAA) 2× Platinum 2,000,000‡
Streaming
Greece (IFPI Greece) Gold 1,000,000†

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.
† Streaming-only figures based on certification alone.

References

  1. ↑ Metallica. "Sad But True". Archived from the original on April 10, 2011. Retrieved November 5, 2013.
  2. ↑ Enis, Eli (June 29, 2021). "METALLICA: HEAR PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED VERSION OF "SAD BUT TRUE"". Revolver. Retrieved November 2, 2024.
  3. ↑ Miller, Gerry (November 1991). "Lars Ulrich talks about the new album, tour and more". Metal Edge. p. 60.
  4. ↑ "Sad But True by Metallica". Songfacts. Retrieved April 6, 2023.
  5. ↑ Metallica - Sad But True, 1993, retrieved February 27, 2023
  6. ↑ Metallica (October 26, 2009). Metallica: Sad But True (Official Music Video). Retrieved September 27, 2025 – via YouTube.
  7. ↑ Metallica (liner notes). Metallica. Vertigo Records. 1991. 510 022-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  8. ↑ "The secrets behind James Hetfield's guitar sound on Metallica's Sad But True". Guitar World. 2019.
  9. ↑ 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.
  10. ↑ "For Whom The Band Tolls – The Winners! | Metallica.com". www.metallica.com. Retrieved January 30, 2026.
  11. ↑ "Metallica announces collegiate winners of marching band competition". Yahoo Entertainment. January 30, 2026. Retrieved January 30, 2026.
  12. ↑ Bertrand, Damian (July 2, 2026). "USC Carolina Band songs on soundtrack for new EA College Football '27 video game".
  13. ↑ "Metallica – Sad But True". ARIA Top 50 Singles.
  14. ↑ "Metallica – Sad But True" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
  15. ↑ Lwin, Nanda (2000). Top 40 Hits: The Essential Chart Guide. Mississauga, Ontario, Canada: Music Data Canada. p. 188. ISBN 9781896594132.
  16. ↑ "Top 10 Sales in Europe" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 10, no. 13. March 27, 1993. p. 28. Retrieved March 22, 2018.
  17. ↑ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 10, no. 13. March 27, 1993. p. 27. Retrieved October 30, 2020.
  18. ↑ Nyman, Jake (2005). Suomi soi 4: Suuri suomalainen listakirja (in Finnish) (1st ed.). Helsinki: Tammi. ISBN 951-31-2503-3.
  19. ↑ "Offizielle Deutsche Charts" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. To see the peak chart position, click 'TITEL VON', followed by the artist's name. Retrieved October 30, 2020.
  20. ↑ "Sad But True | IRMA". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved October 30, 2020.
  21. ↑ "Nederlandse Top 40 – Metallica" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40.
  22. ↑ "Metallica – Sad But True" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved October 30, 2020.
  23. ↑ "Metallica – Sad But True". Top 40 Singles.
  24. ↑ "Metallica – Sad But True". VG-lista.
  25. ↑ "Top 10 Sales in Europe" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 10, no. 15. April 10, 1993. p. 24. Retrieved October 30, 2020.
  26. ↑ "Metallica – Sad But True". Singles Top 100.
  27. ↑ "Official Singles Chart on 27/2/1993 – Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved October 30, 2020.
  28. ↑ "Metallica Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved October 30, 2020.
  29. ↑ "Metallica Chart History (Mainstream Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved October 30, 2020.
  30. ↑ "Official IFPI Charts − Digital Singles Chart (International) − Εβδομάδα: 19/2026" (in Greek). IFPI Greece. Archived from the original on May 20, 2026. Retrieved May 20, 2026.
  31. ↑ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2024 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved March 8, 2024.
  32. ↑ "New Zealand single certifications". Radioscope. Retrieved December 31, 2024.
  33. ↑ "American single certifications – Metallica". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved May 28, 2025.
  34. ↑ "IFPI Charts – Digital Singles Chart (International) – Εβδομάδα: 19/2026" (in Greek). IFPI Greece. Retrieved May 20, 2026.