The God That Failed (song)

{{Infobox song

| name = The God That Failed

| cover =

| alt =

| type =

| artist = Metallica

| album = Metallica

| released = August 12, 1991

| recorded = October 1990 – June 1991

| studio = One on One Studios, Los Angeles

| genre = Heavy metal

| length = 5:05

| label = Elektra

| composer =

| lyricist = James Hetfield

| producer =

Bob Rock
James Hetfield
Lars Ulrich

}}

"The God That Failed" is a song by American heavy metal band Metallica from their 1991 self-titled album (often called "the Black 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.

Composition and recording

Composer and lyricist James Hetfield described the song as "very nice... Slow, heavy and ugly."{{cite book |first=James|last=Hetfield|author-link=James Hetfield|editor=Kitts, Jeff |editor2=Tolinski, Brad |editor3=Steinblatt, Harold|title=Guitar World Presents Metallica|pages=18–19|year=1997|publisher=Music Content Developers|location=Wayne, NJ|isbn=0-7935-8079-X}} 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."{{cite book |first=Kirk|last=Hammett|author-link=Kirk Hammett|editor=Kitts, Jeff |editor2=Tolinski, Brad |editor3=Steinblatt, Harold|title=Guitar World Presents Metallica|pages=18|year=1997|publisher=Music Content Developers|location=Wayne, NJ|isbn=0-7935-8079-X}} 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.

Meaning

The central theme of the song is the Christian Science 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.{{cite web|last=Smith|first=Sid|title=Metallica Metallica (The Black Album) Review|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/music/reviews/8b8c|publisher=BBC Music|access-date=June 12, 2013}} She died of cancer after refusing medical attention, solely relying on her belief in God to heal her.[http://www.encycmet.com/songs/sbtgodtf.shtml "Song info - The God That Failed"], Encyclopedia Metallica. Hetfield felt that had she not followed her Christian Science beliefs, she could have survived.{{cite book|first=Ingham|last=Chris|title=Metallica: Nothing Else Matters: The Stories behind the Biggest Songs|pages=[https://archive.org/details/metallicanothing00ingh/page/108 108]|year=2003|publisher=Thunder's Mouth Press|location=New York|isbn=1-56025-536-6|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/metallicanothing00ingh/page/108}}

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".{{cite book |first=Paul|last=Martens|editor=Gilmour, Michael J.|chapter=Metallica and the God That Failed: An Unfinished Tragedy in Three Acts|title=Call Me the Seeker: Listening to Religion in Popular Music|pages=98|year=2005|publisher=Continuum|location=New York|isbn=0-8264-1713-2}} 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.Martens (2005), p. 103.

Covers

In 2010, Finntroll covered this song and it's included on the limited edition of Nifelvind.{{cite web|last=O'Phil|first=Metal|title=Finntroll : A unique band|url=http://www.radiometal.com/en/article/finntroll-a-unique-band,107021|publisher=Radio Metal|access-date=June 12, 2013}}
In 2012, Black Spiders covered this song for the Kerrang! album Kerrang! Presents Metallica The Black Album Covered.{{cite web|last=Simon|title=Download the artwork to this week's exclusive CD!|url=http://www.kerrang.com/blog/2012/06/download_the_artwork_to_this_w_1.html|publisher=Kerrang!|access-date=June 12, 2013}}
In 2021, Idles and Imelda May covered this song for The Metallica Blacklist

Personnel

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

Live performance

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.{{cite web|last=Quellette|first=Mary|title=Metallica Power Through Black Album at Download Festival|date=June 10, 2012 |url=http://loudwire.com/metallica-power-through-black-album-at-download-festival/|publisher=Loudwire|access-date=June 12, 2013}}{{cite web|last=Merlin|title=Download 2012 Review: Metallica, Killswitch Engage, Skindred, Biffy Clyro|url=http://www.metalhammer.co.uk/news/download-2012-review-metallica-killswitch-engage-skindred-biffy-clyro/|publisher=Metal Hammer|access-date=June 12, 2013}}