“Enter Sandman” was the opening track and lead single from Metallica's 1991 album Metallica.
Elektra Records released the single on July 29, 1991, shortly before the album's August 12 release. The song's instantly recognizable guitar riff helped introduce The Black Album's heavier but more streamlined direction. It became one of Metallica's signature songs and has remained a regular part of the band's live performances.
James Hetfield wrote the lyrics, which center on a child's nightmares and bedtime fears. The music was written by Kirk Hammett, Hetfield and Lars Ulrich. The song's title refers to the Sandman, a folklore figure associated with sleep, but Metallica's lyrics give that familiar idea a darker, unsettling treatment.
Wayne Isham directed the music video, which premiered on July 30, 1991. It combines band performance footage with disturbing dream imagery. At the 1992 MTV Video Music Awards, the video won Best Hard Rock Video. “Enter Sandman” is therefore both the album's first track and its first promotional single.