“Sad but True” was the fifth and final single from Metallica’s 1991 album, commonly called The Black Album.
The single was released in February 1993, well after the album’s August 1991 arrival. Its heavy, slow groove made it a distinctive choice for the final single campaign, contrasting with the more immediate radio profile of “Enter Sandman” and the ballad style of “Nothing Else Matters.”
The song’s origins reached back to the Master of Puppets era. During pre-production, producer Bob Rock encouraged the band to tune the song down from E standard to D standard, which gave its central riff a deeper and more imposing sound.
“Sad but True” was also issued with “So What?” as a B-side in the United States. It reached number 15 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart, while its music video premiered in October 1992.