Enter Sandman

"**Enter Sandman**" is a 1991 song by American heavy metal band Metallica, from their fifth self-titled studio album, commonly known as *The Black Album*. Rina Sawayama covered the song, produced by Clarence Clarity, for the band's album *The Metallica Blacklist*, a reissue of *The Black Album*, released on 10 September 2021. Sawayama's rendition of the song was released on 26 August 2021.

All proceeds of her cover go to Metallica's All Within My Hands foundation and Positive East, the latter being by Sawayama choice.

## Background

On 22 June 2021, Metallica announced *The Metallica Blacklist*, celebrating "the enduring influence of Metallica with an unprecedented 50+ artists spanning an unbelievably vast range of genres, generations, cultures, continents and more, each contributing a unique interpretation of their favorite *Black Album* cut." It was also announced that Rina Sawayama would be featured on the reissue, covering "Enter Sandman". It will be the featured as the album's fifth track on the disc one.

## Recording

Sawayama recorded the song in 2021 with Clarence Clarity. She stated that the recording of the song was two days before her Tiny Desk performance. Sawayama also revealed that there will be a key-change.

## Critical reception

Writing for *Paper* magazine, Trey Alston described the rendition as "bigger, bolder, and more electric" than the original itself. "Sawayama's has always been successful at the intersection of rock and pop, as evidenced by 2020's *Sawayama*, so being able to immerse herself in the high energy world of Metallica proves no problem. She practically flies over the guitars on 'Enter Sandman,' creating a stunning rendition that earns its place on the LP."

## Lyrics

Say your prayers, little one, don't forget, my son

To include everyone

I tuck you in, warm within, keep you free from sin

'Til the Sandman, he comes

Sleep with one eye open

Gripping your pillow tight

Exit light

Enter night

Take my hand

We're off to never-never land

Something's wrong, shut the light, heavy thoughts tonight

And they aren't of Snow White

Dreams of war, dreams of liars, dreams of dragons' fire

And of things that will bite, yeah

Sleep with one eye open

Gripping your pillow tight

Exit light

Enter night

Take my hand

We're off to never-never land

Ha-ha-ha

Now, I lay me down to sleep (Now, I lay me down to sleep)

Pray the Lord my soul to keep (Pray the Lord my soul to keep)

If I die before I wake (If I die before I wake)

Pray the Lord my soul to take (Pray the Lord my soul to take)

Hush, little baby, don't say a word

And never mind that noise you heard

It's just the beast under your bed

In your closet, in your head

Exit light

Enter night

Grain of sand

Oh-oh-oh

Exit light

Enter night

Take my hand

We're off to never-never land (yeah, haha haha)

Oh! Yeah-yeah

We're off to never-never land

We're off to never-never land

We're off to never-never land

We're off to never-never land

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "RINA SAWAYAMA on Instagram". Instagram (22 June 2021). “All proceeds from my cover of Enter Sandman will go to Metallica’s All Within My Hands foundation and my charity of choice @positiveeast !!”
2. ↑ "The Metallica Blacklist. Coming to Digital September 10th, Vinyl & CD on October 1st". Metallica. Retrieved on June 22, 2021.
3. ↑ Hartmann, Graham (22 June 2021). "Metallica Announce 'Black Album' Reissue With 53 Massive Artists". Loudwire.
4. ↑ Moore, Sam (22 June 2021). "Metallica announce special reissue of 'The Black Album' and star-studded covers album". *NME*.
5. ↑ Alston, Trey (26 August 2021). "Listen to Rina Sawayama Cover Metallica's "Enter Sandman"". *Paper*. Retrieved on August 29, 2021.