The God That Failed (song)

1991 song by Metallica

"The God That Failed"

Song by Metallica
from the album Metallica
Released| August 12, 1991
Recorded| October 1990 – June 1991
Studio| "One On One" studios, Los Angeles, California
Genre| Heavy metal
Length| 5:05
Label| Elektra
Songwriter(s)|

* James Hetfield
* Lars Ulrich

Producer(s)|

* Bob Rock
* James Hetfield
* Lars Ulrich

Metallica track listing

1. "Enter Sandman"
2. "Sad but True"
3. "Holier Than Thou"
4. "The Unforgiven"
5. "Wherever I May Roam"
6. "Don't Tread on Me"
7. "Through the Never"
8. "Nothing Else Matters"
9. "Of Wolf and Man"
10. "The God That Failed"
11. "My Friend of Misery"
12. "The Struggle Within"

"The God That Failed" is a song by American heavy metal band Metallica, from their 1991 self-titled album. The song was never released as a single, but was the first of the album's songs to be heard by the public. It is one of Metallica's first original releases to be tuned a half step down.

## Contents

* 1 Composition and recording
* 2 Meaning
* 3 Covers
* 4 Personnel
* 5 Live performance
* 6 References
* 7 Further reading

## Composition and recording[edit]

Composer and lyricist James Hetfield described the song as "very nice... Slow, heavy and ugly."[1] Lead guitarist Kirk Hammett recalls the inception of his solo in the song: "I had this whole thing worked out, but it didn't fit because the lead was too bluesy for the song, which is characterized by real heavy riffing and chording."[2] According to Hammett, he and producer Bob Rock worked out his guitar solo on the song. Together they composed a melody to which Hammett wanted to add harmony. The producer suggested that this would make the song sound too "pretty", and instead recommended playing the melody an octave higher. The final guitar solo was put together from over a dozen performances by the guitarist during the recording of the album. Hammett calls the resulting work one of his favorite solos on the album.[2]

## Meaning[edit]

The central theme of the song is faith and human reliance on it, and of unrewarded belief in a God that fails to heal. The lyrics and song material were inspired by Hetfield's anguish on the circumstances surrounding his mother's death.[3] She died of cancer after refusing medical attention, solely relying on her belief in God to heal her.[4] Hetfield felt that had she not followed her Christian Science beliefs, she could have survived.[5]

Baylor University Assistant Professor of Religion, Paul Martens points out that the song has been admired by some anti-religious groups, such as the websites "Alabama Atheist" and "The Secular Web".[6] Martens notes, however, that Hetfield does not celebrate God's failure in the song, but instead blames God, through his mother's faith and death, for contributing to the meaninglessness of life.[7]

## Covers[edit]

* In 2010, Finntroll covered this song and it's included on the limited edition of Nifelvind.[8]
* In 2012, Black Spiders covered this song for the Kerrang! album Kerrang! Presents Metallica The Black Album Covered.[9]
* In 2021, Idles and Imelda May covered this song for The Metallica Blacklist

## Personnel[edit]

* James Hetfield - lead vocals, rhythm guitar
* Kirk Hammett - lead guitar
* Jason Newsted - bass guitar, backing vocals
* Lars Ulrich - drums, percussion

## Live performance[edit]

The song was first played on the first date of the Shit Hits the Sheds Tour (May 30, 1994). It was played in E flat tuning from 1994 to 2006 - since 2010, the song has been played in D standard tuning. It received frequent live performance during the 2012 European Black Album Tour when it was played as a part of the Black Album.[10][11]

## References[edit]

1. ^ Hetfield, James (1997). Kitts, Jeff; Tolinski, Brad; Steinblatt, Harold (eds.). Guitar World Presents Metallica. Wayne, NJ: Music Content Developers. pp. 18–19. ISBN 0-7935-8079-X.
2. ^ a b Hammett, Kirk (1997). Kitts, Jeff; Tolinski, Brad; Steinblatt, Harold (eds.). Guitar World Presents Metallica. Wayne, NJ: Music Content Developers. p. 18\. ISBN 0-7935-8079-X.
3. ^ Smith, Sid. "Metallica Metallica (The Black Album) Review". BBC Music. Retrieved June 12, 2013.
4. ^ "Song info - The God That Failed", Encyclopedia Metallica.
5. ^ Chris, Ingham (2003). Metallica: Nothing Else Matters: The Stories behind the Biggest Songs. New York: Thunder's Mouth Press. pp. 108. ISBN 1-56025-536-6.
6. ^ Martens, Paul (2005). "Metallica and the God That Failed: An Unfinished Tragedy in Three Acts". In Gilmour, Michael J. (ed.). Call Me the Seeker: Listening to Religion in Popular Music. New York: Continuum. p. 98\. ISBN 0-8264-1713-2.
7. ^ Martens (2005), p. 103.
8. ^ O'Phil, Metal. "Finntroll : A unique band". Radio Metal. Retrieved June 12, 2013.
9. ^ Simon. "Download the artwork to this week's exclusive CD!". Kerrang!. Retrieved June 12, 2013.
10. ^ Quellette, Mary. "Metallica Power Through Black Album at Download Festival". Loudwire. Retrieved June 12, 2013.
11. ^ Merlin. "Download 2012 Review: Metallica, Killswitch Engage, Skindred, Biffy Clyro". Metal Hammer. Retrieved June 12, 2013.

## Further reading[edit]

* Martens, Paul (2005). "Metallica and the God That Failed: An Unfinished Tragedy in Three Acts". In Gilmour, Michael J. (ed.). Call Me the Seeker: Listening to Religion in Popular Music. New York: Continuum. pp. 95–114. ISBN 0-8264-1713-2.

* v
* t
* e

Metallica

* James Hetfield
* Lars Ulrich
* Kirk Hammett
* Robert Trujillo

* Dave Mustaine
* Ron McGovney
* Cliff Burton
* Jason Newsted

Studio albums|

* Kill 'Em All
* Ride the Lightning
* Master of Puppets
* ...And Justice for All
* Metallica
* Load
* Reload
* St. Anger
* Death Magnetic
* Hardwired... to Self-Destruct
* 72 Seasons

Cover albums|

* Garage Inc.

Collaboration projects|

* S&M (with the San Francisco Symphony)
* The Big Four: Live from Sofia, Bulgaria (with Anthrax, Megadeth & Slayer)
* Lulu (with Lou Reed)
* S&M2 (with the San Francisco Symphony)

Extended plays|

* The $5.98 E.P. – Garage Days Re-Revisited
* Beyond Magnetic

Live albums|

* Orgullo, Pasión, y Gloria: Tres Noches en la Ciudad de México
* Six Feet Down Under
* Six Feet Down Under Part II
* Live at Grimey's
* Through the Never

Box sets|

* The Good, the Bad & the Live
* Live Shit: Binge & Purge
* Limited-Edition Vinyl Box Set
* The Metallica Collection

Singles|

| 1980s|

* "Whiplash"
* "Jump in the Fire"
* "Creeping Death"
* "Master of Puppets"
* "Harvester of Sorrow"
* "Eye of the Beholder"
* "One"

|

1990s|

* "Enter Sandman"
* "The Unforgiven"
* "Nothing Else Matters"
* "Wherever I May Roam"
* "Sad but True"
* "Until It Sleeps"
* "Hero of the Day"
* "Mama Said"
* "King Nothing"
* "The Memory Remains"
* "The Unforgiven II"
* "Fuel"
* "Turn the Page"
* "Whiskey in the Jar"
* "Die, Die My Darling"
* "Nothing Else Matters '99" (with the San Francisco Symphony)

2000s|

* "No Leaf Clover" (with the San Francisco Symphony)
* "I Disappear"
* "St. Anger"
* "Frantic"
* "The Unnamed Feeling"
* "Some Kind of Monster"
* "The Day That Never Comes"
* "All Nightmare Long"
* "Broken, Beat & Scarred"

2010s|

* "The View" (with Lou Reed)
* "Lords of Summer"
* "Hardwired"
* "Moth into Flame"
* "Atlas, Rise!"
* "Now That We're Dead"
* "Spit Out the Bone"

Promotional singles|

* "Fade to Black"
* "For Whom the Bell Tolls"
* "...And Justice for All"
* "Don't Tread on Me"
* "Ain't My Bitch"
* "Bleeding Me"
* "Better than You"
* "My Apocalypse"
* "Cyanide"
* "The Judas Kiss"

Other songs|

* "Seek & Destroy"
* "Am I Evil?"
* "Battery"
* "Breadfan"
* "The God That Failed"
* "Astronomy"
* "Tuesday's Gone"
* "Last Caress/Green Hell"
* "Stone Cold Crazy"
* "So What?"
* "Overkill"
* "The Unforgiven III"

Video albums|

* Cliff 'Em All
* 2 of One
* A Year and a Half in the Life of Metallica
* Cunning Stunts
* S&M
* The Videos 1989–2004
* Français Pour une Nuit
* Orgullo, Pasión, y Gloria: Tres Noches en la Ciudad de México
* The Big Four: Live from Sofia, Bulgaria
* Quebec Magnetic
* Metallica: Through the Never
* S&M2

Tours|

* Damage, Inc. Tour
* Damaged Justice
* Wherever We May Roam Tour
* Guns N' Roses/Metallica Stadium Tour
* Nowhere Else to Roam Tour
* Shit Hits the Sheds Tour
* M2K Mini Tour
* Summer Sanitarium Tour
* Madly in Anger with the World Tour
* Sick of the Studio '07
* World Magnetic Tour
* 2012 European Black Album Tour
* Metallica By Request Tour
* Lords of Summer Tour
* WorldWired Tour

Related articles|

* Awards
* Discography
* Demos
* Songs recorded
* Apocalyptica
* Beatallica
* Big Mick
* Orion Music + More
* Echobrain
* Exodus
* Flotsam and Jetsam
* Megadeth
* Newsted
* Metallica v. Napster, Inc.
* A Tribute to the Four Horsemen
* Guitar Hero: Metallica
* songs
* Metallic Assault: A Tribute to Metallica
* Metallic Attack: The Ultimate Tribute
* Metallica: This Monster Lives
* Pianotarium
* Metallica: Some Kind of Monster
* For Those About to Rock
* Murder in the Front Row
* Johnny Got His Gun (book) (film)
* Murder of Morgan Dana Harrington
* Paradise Lost trilogy
* The Child Murders at Robin Hood Hills
* Revelations
* Purgatory
* The Metallica Blacklist

* Category

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Finntroll

* Samuli Ponsimaa
* Henri Sorvali
* Sami Uusitalo
* Mikael Karlbom
* Aleksi Virta
* Mathias Lillmåns
* Heikki Saari

* Mikael Harju
* Jan Jämsen
* Rauno Raimoranta
* Teemu Raimoranta
* Tomi Ullgren
* Samu Ruotsalainen
* Tapio Wilska

Albums|

* Midnattens widunder
* Jaktens tid
* Nattfödd
* Ur jordens djup
* Nifelvind
* Blodsvept

EPs|

* Visor om slutet
* Trollhammaren

Singles|

* Can You Forgive Her? (Pet Shop Boys cover)
* Insects (Oingo Boingo cover)
* The God That Failed (Metallica cover)

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* MusicBrainz
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