Song Meaning: Nothing Else Matters by Metallica

ARTIST: Metallica | ALBUM: Metallica aka black album | RELEASED: 1991

Arguably Metallica's only "love" song, "Nothing Else Matters" breaks away from the rest of songs on Black Album in terms of lyrics and melody. The distortion is, of course, tuned down to match well with the romantic feelings of the lyrics. This isn't the first time Metallica had experimented with new styles of music. They plugged the acoustic guitar for "Fade to Black," which was quite unusual for a heavy metal band.

James Hetfield supposedly wrote the song when he was on the phone with his girlfriend at the time, whom he didn't get see often because James is usually on the road touring with the band. Since the lyrics didn't reflect typical Metallica materials, such as death, demons and drugs, he kept the song to himself. But it was included on the album, nonetheless, upon the insistence of the producer Bob Rock.

With an interview with MTV, James has said the song is about "brotherly love." So he smartly deviates from romantic love, which is what he should've said because that's initial basis of the lyrics. Nevertheless, listener could interpret the song anyway he/she wishes.

The song was, in fact, very well received by rock n' roll fans. Accordingly it was a hit on rock and classic rock radio. But the song didn't sit well with hardcore metal fans. This was the beginning of the "sell-out" label that went on to attach with Metallica for years to come. Although they lost some metal fans, meaning they didn't show up for live concerts, the band managed to reach out to a new generation of headbangers who are still following the band. I'm part of that generation. I like the Black Album just as much as anything of the previous Metallica albums, because I'm not a hardcore 80's metal person; I'm just a rock n' roll person. However I'll just say that my favorite Metallica album is Ride the Lightening, and favorite song is a tossup between "Ride the Lightening" ( title track ) and "That Was Just Your Life."

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1. So close no matter how far
2. Couldn't be much more from the heart
3. Forever trusting who we are
4. And nothing else matters
5. 
   
6. Never opened myself this way
7. Life is ours, we live it our way
8. All these words I don't just say
9. And nothing else matters
10. 
    
11. Trust I seek and I find in you
12. Every day for us something new
13. Open mind for a different view
14. And nothing else matters
15. 
    
16. Never cared for what they do
17. Never cared for what they know
18. But I know
19. 
    
20. So close no matter how far
21. Couldn't be much more from the heart
22. Forever trusting who we are
23. And nothing else matters
24. 
    
25. Never cared for what they do
26. Never cared for what they know
27. But I know
28. 
    
29. Never opened myself this way
30. Life is ours, we live it our way
31. All these words I don't just say
32. And nothing else matters
33. 
    
34. Trust I seek and I find in you
35. Every day for us something new
36. Open mind for a different view
37. And nothing else matters
38. 
    
39. Never cared for what they say
40. Never cared for games they play
41. Never cared for what they do
42. Never cared for what they know
43. And I know
44. 
    
45. So close no matter how far
46. Couldn't be much more from the heart
47. Forever trusting who we are
48. No nothing else matters