Which Metallica song was originally written privately by James Hetfield while he was on tour?

“Nothing Else Matters” was originally written privately by James Hetfield while he was on tour.

Hetfield wrote the song in 1990 while feeling homesick and away from home. He initially did not intend to present it to Metallica because its personal subject and open, melodic approach differed from the band's established image.

After drummer Lars Ulrich heard the work, the band developed it for Metallica. The song became a power ballad and one of the group's best-known recordings, showing that the album could move from crushing riffs to intimate orchestration without abandoning its identity.

Kirk Hammett does not play guitar on the studio recording, making it unusual in Metallica's catalog. Michael Kamen wrote the orchestral arrangement, and James Hetfield played the guitar solo. The single reached number six on the UK Singles Chart and became a lasting live staple.