Which Metallica song was the last Black Album track to receive its lyrics?

“Enter Sandman” was the last Black Album track to receive its lyrics.

This detail is notable because the song was also the first track written for the album. Its musical foundation, especially the central riff, existed early in the writing process, but the words came later. That unusual sequence helped produce one of Metallica's most instantly recognizable songs.

The lyrics focus on bedtime imagery, childhood fears, nightmares, and the Sandman figure. James Hetfield wrote the lyrics after the band had developed the instrumental framework. The contrast between a familiar bedtime subject and the song's imposing heavy-rock arrangement became a major part of its appeal.

Released as the lead single on July 29, 1991, “Enter Sandman” became a breakthrough hit. It reached number 16 on the Billboard Hot 100, earned a Platinum certification from the RIAA, and won the 1992 MTV Video Music Award for Best Rock Video.