"Sad But True" is a heavy 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 (see 1992 in music). Its lyrical theme is based on the film Magic (1978).
A focal point of the song is its consistent bass riff. It is accompanied by heavy, 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 Metallica, and moves toward a heavy metal groove, rather than the speed-thrash metal scene. The song was included on 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 The Undertaker. This version was parodied by the rock band Tuff in a song called American Hair Band from their album The History of Tuff.
The song was also used by Rey Mysterio, Jr. during his run in ECW in 1995-1996.
A snippet of "Sad but True" was performed live by Snoop Dogg on the tribute show MTV Icon Metallica edition in 2003.
The song was covered by Joey Belladonna, Bruce Kulick, Marco Mendoza, and Eric Singer for Metallic Assault: A Tribute to Metallica It was also covered by In Strict Confidence on "An Industrial Tribute To Metallica" & by Nickelback at "Rock am Ring", the rock music festival held annually in Germany.
This song has an almost "funky" bouncing rhythm that steps away from Metallica's earlier "thrash metal" sound. It becomes an indication that Metallica was mildly changing its direction, and becoming more introspective and rounded in their musical repertoire and willingness to "step outside the box" of conventional thrash metal to express ideas with somewhat different sounds.
