What was the fifth and final commercial single from Metallica’s The Black Album?

“Sad but True” was the fifth and final commercial single from Metallica’s The Black Album.

The single was released on February 8, 1993, after “Enter Sandman,” “The Unforgiven,” “Nothing Else Matters,” and “Wherever I May Roam.” “Don’t Tread on Me” received promotional rock-radio exposure but was not issued as a commercial single, which explains why it is not counted among the album’s five singles.

“Sad but True” grew from an idea that Lars Ulrich had considered as early as the Master of Puppets era. During pre-production, Bob Rock suggested tuning the song down from standard E to D. The lower tuning gave its central riff a heavier and more forceful character.

The song reached number 15 on the U.S. Billboard Mainstream Rock chart. Its music video was directed by Wayne Isham and premiered in October 1992, several months before the single’s commercial release.