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Band members James Hetfield, Lars Ulrich, and Kirk Hammett wrote this. According to James, he wrote the song about a girlfriend he once had, but when he looks back at it, he can't remember why he wrote it. Now, Metallica just considers it a song about their fans, because nothing else matters but their fans.
The orchestration in the song was arranged by Michael Kamen, who also conducted the San Francisco Symphony orchestra. This song appears on Metallica's 1999 live album S&M, which was recorded with the San Francisco Symphony orchestra. (thanks, Nick - Paramus, NJ, for all above)
Hetfield later said this song is about their constant touring, which they wrote on the tour bus and numerous hotels. (thanks, Jon - Bolton, England)
This is one of the few Metallica songs where James Hetfield played the guitar solo rather than Kirk Hammett. (thanks, Bertrand - Paris, France)
Hetfield explained this song to Mojo magazine December 2008. Said the Metcallica singer: "It's about being on the road, missing someone at home, but it was written in such a way, it connected with so many people, that it wasn't just about two people, it was about a connection with your higher power, lots of different things."
Hetfield added: "I remember going to the Hell's Angels Clubhouse in New York, and they showed me a film that they'd put together of one of the fallen brothers, and they were playing Nothing Else Matters. Wow. This means a lot more than me missing my chick, right? This is brotherhood. The army could use this song. It's pretty powerful."
Hetfield told Mojo that after penning this love ballad, he was initially concerned about playing it to the rest of the band. He explained: "At first I didn't even want to play it for the guys. I thought that Metallica could only be the four of us. These are songs about destroying things, head banging, bleeding for the crowd, whatever it is, as long as it wasn't about chicks and fast cars, even though that's what we liked. The song was about a girlfriend at the time. It turned out to be a pretty big song."
Comments (109):
Charlie Benante of Anthrax
The drummer for Anthrax is also a key songwriter. He explains how the group puts their songs together and tells the stories behind some of their classics.
Steven Tyler of Aerosmith
Tyler talks about his true love: songwriting. How he identifies the beauty in a melody and turns sorrow into art.
listen to this...
Open mind 4 diffrent of view
Maybe im hopeless
"So close, no matter how far
Couldn't be much more from the heart
Forever trusting who we are
and nothing else matters "
It somehow defines our relationship. We two maybe physically thousands of miles apart from each other, yet we share everything and are very close to each other. And these feelings we have for each other are truly and completely from our hearts :) And we trust each other enough and for that reason, "nothing else matters" ;)
The first stanza is what I would like to call our mutual feeling. However, the rest of the song looks more like from her side. I really wish that she truly means whats in the rest of the song :)
And yeah, her name is, well its 'Alien' ;) That's what I love to call her :P
Never cared for what they know" i think its cool...
they mean that even though hes not physically there him and james will always stay close. no matter how far away he is
Just for trusting and Loyalty!!
Narrow cared for what they say, narrow cared how games they played, narrow care for what they do, never care now they know, cause I know
This language continieus all over the river.
An other favo of me is gone incein, that memorie remained. Damn right, because i'm unforgiven too!
contains the soft rock genre.. the guitar played by James is excellent..
it describes about wen u luv sumone, how important 'TRUST' is & well nothing else matters..
JEFF JOLIET IL
Metallaica rules!!
nothing else matters rules even more!!
Charlie, Norfolk, England.
It reminds me of lazy afternoon skiving off Games and chilling out with mates, (o just sleeping in the same room).
It always makes me cry.
One of my faves.
couldnt be much more from the heart
forever trust in who you are
and nothing else matters"
-James hetfeild's Grandfather's last words
Also the reason the intro is all open strings is because James started writing it while he was on the phone with his girlfriend and had only one hand free.
Kirk plays the intro as well as numerous pieces that James cannot play. Yes James did the solo and the rythm but Kirk also played his role as lead guitarist