From album
Metallica
Metallica · 1991 · Track 4
Details
TonalidadEm
Compás4/4
Tempo92 BPM
Duración6:47
CompositorJames Hetfield / Lars Ulrich
ÁlbumMetallica
Año1991
ISRCQMKHM1700184
Credits
Music James Hetfield, Lars Ulrich
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The story behind
The story told by Harvester of Sorrow is quite raw: it deals with the life of a man who, marked by childhood abuse, falls into alcoholism and drugs. He unleashes this bitterness against his own family, culminating in an ending where it is hinted that he loses his sanity and murders them. It is a dark theme, which departs from the usual and shows a more introspective and disturbing facet of the band. This piece, along with Breadfan (a cover of Budgie) and The Prince (original by Diamond Head) as B-sides, formed the first single released on August 28, 1988, anticipating the arrival of ...And Justice for All.
The recording of Harvester of Sorrow took place in 1988, at the One on One studios in Los Angeles. This single marked an important milestone for the band, as it was the first to feature Jason Newsted on bass, following the tragic death of Cliff Burton. The band had already presented the song live before the official album release, during the 1988 Monsters of Rock tour, sharing the stage with bands like Van Halen and Dokken. A curious detail of the single's edition is a mastering error: at the end of Breadfan, a distorted voice is heard saying "Mommy, where's Fluffy?", which actually belonged to the introduction of The Prince. The band decided to keep this error when they included both songs in the 1998 compilation Garage Inc.
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