“The Unforgiven” was the second single from Metallica's The Black Album.
The single was released in 1991 after “Enter Sandman” and before “Nothing Else Matters.” Its arrangement reverses a familiar power-ballad pattern: the verses are heavy and distorted, while the chorus becomes softer and more melodic.
James Hetfield wrote the lyrics, which concern an individual's struggle against subjugation. The song was composed by Hetfield, Kirk Hammett, and Lars Ulrich, with Bob Rock credited as producer.
“The Unforgiven” later inspired two sequels. “The Unforgiven II” appeared on Reload in 1997, and “The Unforgiven III” appeared on Death Magnetic in 2008. The original therefore began a recurring three-song series across different eras of Metallica's career.