Which Metallica song was originally intended to be an instrumental on Metallica, known as The Black Album?

“My Friend of Misery” was originally intended to be an instrumental on Metallica, known as The Black Album.

Jason Newsted wrote the song's main riff, and the piece began as an instrumental idea. Earlier Metallica albums had included an instrumental track, so Newsted's concept fit an established pattern in the band's catalog. During development, however, the composition gained lyrics and became a full vocal song for the 1991 album.

The finished track closes the album's penultimate stretch before “The Struggle Within.” Its arrangement gives the bass and guitar parts a prominent role, while the lyrics examine isolation, dissatisfaction, and the difficulty of understanding another person's inner life.

The song is also significant because it reveals Newsted's songwriting contribution during his tenure. Metallica's songs were mainly written by James Hetfield and Lars Ulrich, but members such as Newsted and Kirk Hammett supplied important ideas and concepts. Newsted's riff for “My Friend of Misery” is one of the clearest examples on the album.