The Story Behind “Nothing Else Matters” by Metallica

Metallica needs no introduction. Formed in 1981 in Los Angeles, the metal band has sold over 125 million albums, making them one of the best-selling bands in history. One of their most iconic songs is the rock ballad “Nothing Else Matters”. In this article, we’ll explore the story, meaning, and legacy behind the song!

The Story Behind the Song

“Nothing Else Matters” was written by Metallica’s lead vocalist James Hetfield. He wrote the song while on the phone with his then-girlfriend, feeling homesick and missing her while on tour. He began playing a melody on the guitar, which eventually became the intro of the song. Funnily enough, the fingerpicking intro of “Nothing Else Matters” can be played with one hand, which supports the story of Hetfield composing the melody while on the phone.

Hetfield originally wrote the song for himself, as a personal expression of his feelings and emotions. He was hesitant to share it with the rest of the band, as Hetfield considered it ‘too soft’ for the band’s genre and style. Drummer Lars Ulrich, however, was impressed by “Nothing Else Matters” and suggested the band should work on the piece.

“At first I didn’t even want to play it for the guys,” James Hetfield said in an interview with Mojo. “I thought that Metallica could only be the four of us. These are songs about destroying things, head banging, bleeding for the crowd…”

Producer Bob Rock saw potential in “Nothing Else Matters” too, but felt the song needed a bigger sound. Therefore, he advised the band to add a string section to the song. Appropriately, Metallica recruited composer Michael Kamen to write the orchestral arrangement, which provided the large sound “Nothing Else Matters” needed.

The song was eventually released on the band’s self-titled fifth studio album Metallica (often referred to as The Black Album). “Nothing Else Matters” initially displeased Metallica fans for its commercial ‘non-metal’ sound. But the song, together with the entire Metallica album, was extremely successful with the generic crowd. “Nothing Else Matters” was a top-10 hit in most European countries and reached number 34 on the US Billboard Hot 100. The Black Album would eventually sell over 17 million copies in the US.

The Meaning of the Song

James Hetfield wrote “Nothing Else Matters” about his then-girlfriend, who he missed while touring with Metallica. The song is often interpreted as a love song, but can also be perceived as a song about the strong emotional connection between two individuals. In more recent years, Hetfield considered the song to be about Metallica’s fans.

The opening lines of the song, “So close, no matter how far / Couldn’t be much more from the heart”, suggest a sense of separation between two loving individuals, but also a powerful emotional bond that exceeds the existing physical distance.

The lines of the second verse, “Never opened myself this way / Life is ours, we live it our way”, suggest a feeling of vulnerability and honesty, as well as a determination to live life on one’s own terms.

It is often speculated the song is about a musician’s life in general. A theory that finds support through certain lines of the song. The song’s title, for instance, could be interpreted as a musician’s willingness to suffer emotionally in order to live the musician’s life. Some of the lyrics also heavily suggest the theme of change, which could be a message to die-hard Metallica fans, and the band’s change towards more mainstream music.

Overall, the lyrics convey raw emotions, with an emphasis on the personal struggles and experiences of Metallica’s frontman James Hetfield.

“It’s a true testament to honesty and exposing yourself, putting your real self out there, and taking the risk, taking a gamble that someone’s either going to step on your heart with spikes on or they’re going to put their heart right next to it, and you never know until you try,” Hetfield said about the song in an interview with Chris Steffen. “That solidified, I think, that we were doing the right thing, writing from the heart about what we felt, and you can’t go wrong that way.”

The Legacy of Nothing Else Matters

 “Nothing Else Matters”, alongside The Black Album, was a departure from Metallica’s signature thrash metal sound. Despite the initial skepticism from die-hard Metallica fans, it became one of the band’s most popular and enduring songs. The music video for “Nothing Else Matters” even surpassed a billion views on YouTube.

The song isn’t easy to cover, but many tried regardless. The most notable cover is from Miley Cyrus, who recorded the song together with Elton John and Chili Peppers drummer Chad Smith.

Overall, the song is certainly one of Metallica’s most iconic songs. Its emotional and personal lyrics, combined with the song’s extraordinary composition, have made “Nothing Else Matters” a timeless classic that continues to resonate with fans.

Interested in more stories behind Metallica songs? Click here