“The Unforgiven” is the Metallica song from The Black Album that spawned “The Unforgiven II” and “The Unforgiven III.”
The original song was released as the album's second single in 1991, after “Enter Sandman.” Its lyrics address the struggle of an individual against people or forces attempting to control him, giving the track a more reflective theme than many conventional metal singles.
The sequel idea continued on later Metallica albums. “The Unforgiven II” appeared on Reload in 1997, while “The Unforgiven III” appeared on Death Magnetic in 2008. The numbering identifies them as related songs, but each has its own arrangement and album context.
The original “The Unforgiven” reached number 35 on the Billboard Hot 100 and became one of the defining songs from Metallica’s breakthrough record.