Mama Said (Metallica song)

"Mama Said" is a country rock ballad by American heavy metal band Metallica from their sixth album, Load, with personal lyrics by James Hetfield and music by Hetfield and Lars Ulrich.

"Mama Said"
Single by Metallica
from the album Load
B-side	"Ain't My Bitch" (live)
Released	November 25, 1996[1]
Studio	The Plant (Sausalito, California)
Genre	Country rock[2] outlaw country[3] Southern rock[4]
Length	5:20
Label	Elektra
Composer(s)	James Hetfield Lars Ulrich
Lyricist(s)	James Hetfield
Producer(s)	Bob Rock James Hetfield Lars Ulrich
Metallica singles chronology
"Hero of the Day" (1996) "Mama Said" (1996) "King Nothing" (1997)
Music video
"Mama Said" on YouTube

Music video

The music video for the song features James Hetfield sitting in the backseat of a car while playing the song on an acoustic guitar. The vehicle appears to be driving along a Southwestern highway, and at one point the other members of Metallica are seen outside looking into the window as it passes by. As the song comes to an end, the view pulls back to reveal that Hetfield has been sitting in a stationary backseat inside a studio (probably what was used to film the vehicle scenes and only to make an appearance at end as there are brief appearances of what would be the front seat and windscreen while driving from the driver and passenger's perspective). He then walks over to a horse, takes its bridle, and walks off screen. It was filmed in November 1996 in London, England and directed by Anton Corbijn.

Track listing

International single part 1

1. "Mama Said" – 5:19
2. "King Nothing (Live – Irvine Meadows, California 4 August 1996)" – 6:50
3. "Whiplash (Live – Irvine Meadows, California 4 August 1996)" – 4:52
4. "Mama Said (Edit)" – 4:34

International single part 2

1. "Mama Said" – 5:19
2. "So What (Live – Irvine Meadows, California 4 August 1996)" – 3:00
3. "Creeping Death (Live – Irvine Meadows, California 4 August 1996)" – 7:15
4. "Mama Said (Early Demo Version)" – 6:52

International 7" vinyl single

1. "Mama Said" – 5:19
2. "Ain't My Bitch (Live – Irvine Meadows, California 4 August 1996)" – 5:59

Australian maxi single

1. "Mama Said (Edit)" – 4:34
2. "Mama Said (Early Demo Version)" – 6:52

UK promo single

1. "Mama Said (Edit)" – 4:43
2. "Mama Said" – 5:19

Japanese EP

1. "Mama Said (Edit)" – 4:42
2. "So What (Live – Irvine Meadows, California 4 August 1996)" – 2:58
3. "Creeping Death (Live – Irvine Meadows, California 4 August 1996)" – 7:14
4. "King Nothing (Live – Irvine Meadows, California 4 August 1996)" – 6:51
5. "Whiplash (Live – Irvine Meadows, California 4 August 1996)" – 6:01
6. "Mama Said (Early Demo Version)" – 6:53

Personnel

Credits are adapted from the album's liner notes.^[5]

Metallica

• James Hetfield – vocals, acoustic guitar, rhythm guitar
• Kirk Hammett – lead guitar
• Jason Newsted – bass
• Lars Ulrich – drums

Additional musician

• Jim McGillveray – tambourine^[6]

Charts

Weekly charts

Weekly chart performance for "Mama Said"

Chart (1996)	Peak position
Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)[7]	4
Ireland (IRMA)[8]	19
Norway (VG-lista)[9]	13
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[10]	24
UK Singles (OCC)[11]	19
UK Rock & Metal (OCC)[12]	1

Certifications

Certifications for "Mama Said"

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[13]	Gold	35,000‡
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.