Sad but True

"Sad but True" 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."^[3]

Rock, Hetfield, and Ulrich are all credited as producers, and Randy Staub and his assistant, Mike Tacci.^[4]

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

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 adapted from Metallica liner notes,^[6] except where noted.

Metallica

• James Hetfield – rhythm guitar, baritone guitar,^[7] vocals
• Kirk Hammett – lead guitar
• Jason Newsted – bass
• Lars Ulrich – drums

Additional Performer

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

In 2020, the Mongolian hunnu band The HU released a cover of the song translated entirely into Mongolian.^[8]

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.

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