THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

730-Metallica-Enter Sandman.

1991-Number 5 single.

Best Bit-At 2.43. After the United States invaded Iraq in 2003, this was one of the songs chosen to be played continuously to try to break the will of the uncooperative supporters of Saddam Hussein, by American interrogators. Metallica drummer Lars Ulrich said. ‘I can name 30 Norwegian ‘Death Metal’ bands that would make Metallica sound like Simon & Garfunkel.’

Metallica (see also best songs 52) were formed in Los Angeles, California, United States, in 1981, by James Hetfield, and Lars Ulrich, at the time of writing Metallica remain active with both Hetfield and Ulrich being the the only remaining original members of the band. It was Ulrich who got the bands name from a friend called Ron Quintana, who was choosing names for a Heavy Metal fanzine he was creating, and ‘Metallica’ was one of the options, the other being ‘Metal Mania.’ Ulrich encouraged Quintana to choose ‘Metal Mania,’ and used the name ‘Metallica’ for himself. In their early days Metallica were influenced by the ‘Rock Music’ that came out of England in the 1970’s, from bands such as Black Sabbath, (see also best songs 814) Iron Maiden, (see also best songs 666) and Diamond Head, but with their fast tempos, and aggressive musicianship, they were pioneers of the musical genre ‘Thrash Metal,’ a term which was first used in the music press by the Heavy Metal magazine ‘Kerrang!’ journalist Malcolm Dome, (1955-2021) while describing the American group ‘Anthrax,’ (who like Metallica formed in 1981) and their song ‘Metal Thrashing Mad.’ Prior to that, James Hetfield had always referred to Metallica as ‘Speed Metal,’ or ‘Power Metal.’

‘Enter Sandman’ was the first of five singles released from Metallica’s self titled fifth studio Album, from August 1991, the song was written by Kirk Hammett, who has been a member of the group since 1983, along with James Hetfield, and Lars Ulrich, with the production credited to Hetfield, Ulrich, and Bob Rock (see also best songs 959.) The Album ‘Metallica’ which is now more commonly known as ‘The Black Album’ because of it’s black sleeve, marked a change in the band’s music from the ‘Thrash Metal’ style of their previous four albums to a slower, heavier, and more refined sound, due to the recruitment of Bob Rock who was brought in for that purpose. Bob Rock steered Metallica towards a more commercial, ‘Heavy Metal’ sound, but still kept characteristics of ‘Thrash Metal.’ Instruments not usually used by Heavy Metal bands, such as the cellos in ‘The Unforgiven,’ and the orchestra in ‘Nothing Else Matters,’ were added at Bob Rock’s insistence. The change in style paid off, elevating Metallica to the very top, with sales of the Album exceeding 30 million copies sold worldwide. In 2009 the Album became the best selling Album in America since 1990, with sales currently in that country in excess of 17 million copies sold.

‘Enter Sandman’ is a song about children being frightened of having nightmares. James Hetfield originally had written the lyrics about ‘Sudden Infant Death Syndrome,’ (Cot Death) when a baby dies inexplicably in its crib. The line, ‘Off to never never land, was, ‘Disrupt the perfect family,’ and the ‘sandman,’ kills the baby, but at the persuasion of Bob Rock, Hetfield re-wrote the lyrics, to be more accessible and meaningful. James Hetfield has spoken of the songs meaning,’I wanted more of the mental thing, where this kid gets manipulated by what adults say. And you know when you wake up with that s–t in your eye? That’s supposedly been put in there by the sandman to make you dream. So the guy in the song tells this little kid that and he kinda freaks. He can’t sleep after that and it works the opposite way. Instead of a soothing thing, the table’s turned.’ The line in the chorus, ‘Take my hand, we’re off to Never Never Land,’ is a reference to the children’s story Peter Pan, as Peter lives in the magical world of Neverland. In ‘Enter Sandman,’ the Sandman lives in Never Never Land, and it is a much less pleasant place.

Kirk Hammett has told how he wrote the riff to ‘Enter Sandman,’ ‘Soundgarden (see also best songs 614) had just put out ‘Louder Than Love.’ I was trying to capture their attitude toward big, heavy riffs. It was two o’clock in the morning. I put it on tape and didn’t think about it. When Lars Ulrich heard the riff, he said, ‘That’s really great. But repeat the first part four times.’ It was that suggestion that made it even more hooky.’

‘Say your prayers, little one, don’t forget, my son to include everyone. I tuck you in, warm within, keep you free from sin, till the Sandman he comes. Sleep with one eye open, gripping your pillow tight, exit light, enter night, take my hand, we’re off to never never land.’