Which Metallica song was written by James Hetfield while he was touring before appearing on The Black Album?

“Nothing Else Matters” was written by James Hetfield while he was touring before appearing on Metallica's 1991 album, commonly called The Black Album.

Hetfield initially wrote the song for himself while feeling the distance from home during a tour. He did not originally intend it to become a Metallica song, but drummer Lars Ulrich heard the idea and encouraged its development for the album.

The song became one of Metallica's best-known power ballads. Hetfield and Ulrich received the composition credit, while Hetfield wrote the lyrics and performed the guitar solo on the studio recording. Kirk Hammett does not play on the studio version, an unusual detail in Metallica's catalog.

The track was released as the album's third single in 1992. Its orchestral arrangement was written by Michael Kamen, adding a symphonic dimension to the band's otherwise guitar-centered recording.