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Enter Sandman
Metallica
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- Album
- Metallica
- Released
- 1991
- Genres
- metal, thrash metal, rock, heavy metal
- Length
- 5:32
- Tempo
- 123 BPM
- Label
- Blackened Recordings
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About this song
"Enter Sandman" was the lead single from Metallica's self-titled album and was certified platinum, selling over one million copies. It is the band's biggest radio hit and is considered their signature song. Producer Bob Rock said the original lyrics were more literal, and that James Hetfield rewrote some of them in a more poetic and open way before the song became the first single.
What it's about
The song deals with childhood fear of nightmares, with the Sandman standing for the sleep the narrator dreads. The text notes that the Sandman of European folklore is instead a bringer of good dreams.
Fun facts
- Sampled in 18 other songs, like “Evacout by Cosmic Latte”.
- Covered 51 times, including “Enter Sandman by Ramin Djawadi”.
- Written by James Hetfield, Kirk Hammett and Lars Ulrich.
- Produced by Bob Rock, Lars Ulrich and James Hetfield.
- Recorded at One on One Studios.