“The Unforgiven,” the second single from Metallica’s 1991 album Metallica, was released on October 28, 1991.
The song followed “Enter Sandman” as the album’s second single. Its arrangement reverses the usual power-ballad pattern: the verses are heavy and distorted, while the chorus is softer and more melodic. That contrast gave the track a distinctive place in Metallica’s catalog.
James Hetfield, Kirk Hammett, and Lars Ulrich are credited as the song’s composers, with Hetfield credited for the lyrics. The band’s subject is the individual’s struggle against people or systems attempting to control or subjugate him.
The single is sometimes confused with the music video’s premiere date. The main video premiered on November 19, 1991, several weeks after the single’s release. “The Unforgiven” later inspired two sequels: “The Unforgiven II” on Reload and “The Unforgiven III” on Death Magnetic.