“Enter Sandman” was the first single released from Metallica’s self-titled album, known as The Black Album.
The single arrived on July 29, 1991, shortly before the album’s August release. It introduced many listeners to the record’s tighter songwriting, memorable guitar riff, and more accessible production.
The song uses childhood nightmare imagery, including the familiar idea of the Sandman bringing sleep. James Hetfield wrote the lyrics, while the music was credited to Hetfield, Lars Ulrich, and Kirk Hammett. The song began with a guitar idea from Hammett that developed into the album’s opening statement.
“Enter Sandman” became one of Metallica’s signature songs and received a heavily rotated music video. It is sometimes confused with “Sad but True,” another major single from the album, but “Enter Sandman” was released first.