Classical Composer Reacts to No Leaf Clover (Metallica) | The Daily Doug (Episode 297) 

The first S&M version of this is one of the greatest Metallica songs ever for me personally. Can't convince me otherwise.

One of my most beloved lower profile songs together with "bleeding me" and "outlaw torn"

I shed a tear every fucking time I hear this song. It's that powerful to me.

This song has some of the most depressing lyrics in Metallica's catalogue. When I was in school and still learning English, I used to get bullied and this song used to crush me. There really seemed to be no end to that tunnel, and every light turned out to be a freight train coming my way.

I think the key of E flat minor was a choice to cater to James Hetfield who prefers to play with guitars tuned down to Eb because it makes it easier for him to sing their songs.

This is easily one of my most favorite songs of Metallica. It's poweful, eerie, and an incredible peace of work with its pacing.

Kamen's arrangements are a gift to mankind. The songs he did with Metallica, the dozens of movies he's supplied music to and of course almost every orchestra arrangement for Pink Floyd after AHM. I was fortunate enough to see him play keyboards for Roger Waters on his first solo tour. He and a small team of geniuses recreated all of Rick's synth/keyboard sounds perfectly. After that tour, whenever Roger's band - The Lonely Hearts - played old Floyd songs, they remade them for themselves. But that first tour of Pros and Cons of Hitchhiking was a perfect recreation of an entire set of Pink Floyd music, as if just to prove they could...before making it their own. Anyway, Kamen... such a sad loss, but again these arrangement being used again makes me very happy and keeps him in my heart. Of course IMO the Cliff songs that were done with the orchestra are my favorites. Call of Cthulu and The Thing That Should Not Be, shine with the full orchestra and it makes me cry that Cliff never got to hear it that way. Rich the Ancient Metal Beast

Kirk’s solo is next level here. Gave me goosebumps.

They've been tuning to Eb live since 1995, with exceptions for some songs, but absolutely to help James reach notes that he struggled with.

That lyric that you pointed out… it speaks to me today in my life more than any other song lyric I can think of. I got engaged last year and my fiancé wanted out last month. Don’t know why I chose to share that here, but that soothing light that I thought I had in my life truly just ended up being a freight train of hurt coming my way. Deep. Love your videos though. They help!

Another E flat song from this era of Metallica you might want to try is Bleeding me. It’s awesome. It’s from their Load album and I think deserves a good breakdown. Great content Doug!

20 years later and the song and the band still sound kickass.

I prefer the first S&M. And in "The Call of Ktulu" there's a very fun thing, especially for a classical musician. At the end of the song there's a transition, Michael Kamen looks to Lars Ulrich who makes the 1,2,3,4 with the sticks... Helm? You have a drummer XDDDD

Should've reacted to the original version from the first S&M, wayyyyyy better! 🤘

This has always been one of my favorite Metallica songs. They absolutely crushed this song, the lyrics and the audio. And the symphony was unreal. Together it made a flawless song.

I bought S & M shortly after graduating high school in the early 2000's and absolutely loved it. No Leaf Clover is my favorite Metallica song. In my History of Rock Music class in college, I wrote my final report on the S & M album (every single song) and picked this song to do a deep analysis of (the lyrics are great and the fact that it was composed FOR this collaboration gave me a lot to talk about). The professor loved it and I aced the final assignment!

The other song's name is actually MINUS HUMAN, Doug. Great video!

"HERE IT COMES" Right b4 the solo is just perfect

Next : Dream Theater In the Presence Of Enemies part 1 and part 2 please Doug, i'm sure you love it

Michael Kamen touched so many areas of rock music and modern culture... and most will never realise. One of the absolute greats of the modern age, RIP.

Such a powerful song this one, I always loved it.

One of the most underrated performances by any band in moder history. Playing metal with a full ensemble orchestra is such sync.

I was at work in a kitchen when they performed this for the first time. Our local rock station played the performance no interruptions. The S&M album got a bunch of crap from the “purists” saying it was so awful for the band to do literally anything post justice. In my opinion, this album and this song in particular is absolutely amazing.

Everything I know about Metallica is from this channel. I really liked this song! I’m no metal head but that was great! Loved the lyrics that Doug pointed out about the freight train. Very ingenious. SFO was beautifully blended with the band. Nice job again Doug!

Your reaction to this video is by far my favorite. I always come back to this reaction for this song. I found it as a learning experience with your reaction. Thanks!

Bleeding Me live with the SFO is a great experience as well. Probably Metallicas best song in my opinion

The lyric "light at the end of your tunnel is a freight train coming your way" is taken from Murphy's Law.

There’s another song written for the original S&M concert called: -Human you should check that out as well

It makes sense that metal and classical go well together since they both have very intense instrumentals.

the only band in the world that could pull this kind of thing off and nail it

You should listen to the Unforgiven III next! The original recording doesn’t have the best mix but the guitar solo is amazing! They also did it at S&M 2 where it’s the SFO and only James singing, no one else in the band plays. Such a bold and powerful choice to really showcase the stellar lyrics! Also, the trumpet and trombone trade off playing the guitar solo! 🤘🏻 I really enjoy your channel, especially when you do Metallica on Metal Mondays! Thank you!

Metallica is amazing live!!

This is not a reaction. It's an analysis. Amazing analysis. Lyrics, chords, progression, sound. I really enjoy your channel, Doug, Saludos desde Argentina!

This is my GO-TO song whenever I'm feeling frustrated or dejected by circumstance.. It just unlocks a hidden reservoir of courage and resilience to fight back and push back harder..

For me the best song of Metallica with the Orchestra! \m/ Thanks Doug!

One of my favorite Metallica songs and I got to hear them play it live at Welcome to Rockville 2021. What a severely underrated song.

The first time I heard this song, I had to pull off the road because it was so beautiful I couldn't focus on the road. The one and only time that has ever happened.

Absolutely love this song, it feels to me like a reminder to not get too cocky as life has a tendency to go from great to shit a lot quicker than it takes to go the other way, like a not so subtle reality check. I also always think that this would be an epic movie soundtrack piece especially the intro.. Great reaction 👍

Great performance! Kirk Hammett plays the Les Paul guitar he bought for $2,000,000 previously owned by Gary Moore and Peter Green.

I loved this song from the first time I heard it.

4:25 that’s why James is one of the best frontmen. He comes out swinging and just gets you pumped. Dudes a fuckin tank.

I love this song. The one thing I've wondered is what the orchestra really thought of working with Metallica and of the fusion of the music. As a classical musician and composer, what do you think the orchestra thought? Also, based on your background, what do you think of Kamen's arrangement?? ^^^^^ I watched the behind the scenes from 1999, and the opinion of the orchestra really wasn't covered on their thoughts about Metallca. Michael Kamen was fabulous in that documentary. Thank goodness for his vision. I've always thought that rock and classical mesh, and we have the Beatles to thank for that I think to begin with. And, of course the progressive rock giants who carried it forward in their own way. Metal and classical go very well together.

You know what? Your interpretation of the lyrics here hit home with me. Sucker for that quick reward... taking a shortcut and it turns out it was a bad idea. The freight train. Thank you. I'll keep this one in mind.

Absolute fave song ever..

My #1 Metallica song. Masterpiece.

I was at this concert and let me tell you that being there was epic and I was in awe. Outlaw torn brought me to tears and Pulling teeth tribute had every hair on my body stand on end!! keep’em coming man great choices 🤘🏼

I LOVE James so much! "This is a NO leaf clover!" "Sooooo, that's...just a stem, bruv." And James replies "it's just SO MESSED UP! You gotta FEEL this thing!" And I'm like, "Oh, I HEAR YOU, bruv! We GUNNA get through it...if it breaks our hands!"

One of my fav songs ever

The song is about addiction and that it feels right at the moment and you might think you can see the ligh at the end of the tunnel, but it's just a freight train coming your way - a hangover and all the problems you were trying to escape coming back your way

The original version of this was THE best track on the S&M album. Still love to turn this up in the car. Glad you reviewed this!

I remember when this came out, one it was so cool to hear Metallica with a symphony behind them, but two this song is particular, I thought was one of the best songs they had written in years

Michael Kamen was spectacular. Rest in power to that man. edit: you should definitely should check out the original S&M version from 1999. it is far superior.

Michael Camen said in an interview that Metallica songs were written as though they were meant for a symphony and it was fairly easy for him to just fill in the orchestra's part. (I'm paraphrasing, its been like 15 years since I heard the interview)

It's got a fantasy vibe to it in some spots especially the start with the orchestra hell the whole song as a whole

first time i heard this song was actually in the middle of 2023 so not that long ago actually somehow, i just never gave it a chance. but when i listened to it, that year had already been going pretty bad for me and i was kina like 'oh no i just found an omen' cause at that point i didnt think the year could get much worse. well come november and december i lose both my brother and uncle. brother to cancer and uncle to heart failure. i had only saw my uncle after 3 years because he was at my brothers funeral. some other stuff happened that year too and yeah, no leaf clover was absolutely a bad omen for me at the time. i uncontrollably cry every time i hear this song

This is among my favorite Metallica songs of the last 30 years. That said, I've always felt like it starts in the middle and the lyrics are all chorus, no verse, if that makes sense. Which honestly kinda lends to it's strength.

The lyrics is deadly.. shake the soul till deepest piece

If you can, watch as much of that show as possible. I saw it when they showed it in theaters and it was phenomenal.

Mondays are Mandatory Metallica! Local radio station played three Metallica songs in a row every Monday night at ten for 20 years.....miss it.

This song has come out perfectly with orchestra, even more this the previous one, with Michael Kamen ...put an hear there, Master ;-)

I just found you and I absolutely adore this reaction! I'm not educated in music, but you are, and I'm so happy to learn from you. Many years ago I saw a film that spoke of a certain chord that is used almost exclusively in metal and orchestra. Can't remember what it was, but seeing how perfectly this song flows, I think they were onto something

I’ve always ‘felt’ this song by Metallica. It’s always been one of my favourite song of theirs. A lot of their songs lead to an orchestral arrangement but seeing as this was written for the S&M album it does have an extra dimension to it. It’s also worth noting that at the time James Hetfield was dealing with alcohol issues and bassist Jason Newsted left Metallica not long after the original S&M recording. In hindsight this was probably a cry for help from Hetfield and one of his most heartfelt songs. I’ll always appreciate their musical and song writing talents and despite being tinged with sadness for the loss of Newsted and seeing Hetfield being vulnerable to addiction it is still one of my top 5 Metallica songs

I just said a final goodbye to my father yesterday after a decade of suffering medically, and caring for my Mum in her journey through Early Onset Dementia. Mum and Dad definately picked up a no leaf clover in their 50's. RIP Dad, and may your final stage of dementia be less harrowing Mum. Xxx

What i would have given to see the original concert in person... I love s&m. A metal and orchestral mashup masterpiece.

Some of my friends that played in Highschool Band & Orchestra still play music today. That was 30yrs ago.

This comparison with the dangerousness of the shortcuts we take in certain situations and that sometimes end badly or go wrong but end up in a happy ending reminds me of the famous story of Little Red Riding Hood.

No matter what..."It's a good day to be alive sir"

Love the Metallica videos I love watching them from you though

Doug, you should check out the 1999 -Human (Minus Human). Who knew low brass was so very metal?

I am not the biggest fan of Metallica. But. But this one I really love. It's a fantastic song with lirycs that makes me thinking of life....

Thanks. Here is a clear demonstration of why, at the height of their powers, Metallica could not be touched. This is something I think of as "beating around the bush". The orchestra actually plays the 'main riff' (or big payoff riff) at the very beginning, but in a very subdued way. Then, the verse riff jumps around, seeming to settle nowhere in particular. The chorus riff is so mild as to almost be a capella. But near the very end, they hit the "big riff" with full-on guitars and orchestra. Wham! Genesis did something very like this with "Second Home by the Sea" from their 1983 self-titled record. But here it's delayed even more, saving it only for the very end. Metallica has done delayed gratification before as well, such as with the cymbal crashes on "Enter Sandman" (count 'em - I dare ya!), but this takes the cake. But I do think the older performance is better. For what it's supposed to do, I just think it hits harder. tavi.

That Les Paul that Kirk is playing is almost as famous as the band. It is called Greeny after it was originally owned by Peter Green of Fleetwood Mac. He later sold it to Gary Moore who used it until he had to sell it. Then Kirk managed to buy it a few years later. Great video as always with the added bonus of this being an all time favourite of mine, albeit the original version. Thank you!

My high school concert band(83 members including drumline) played this in 2001 with myself & buddies on drum set, bass, guitar. Maybe the most fun I've ever had. Amazing song.

I love this Metallica concert! I’ve watched this a dozen times. Thanks for that! Also, check out Outlaw Torn from this same concert-incredible! The whole concert with the orchestra is freaking awesome. 🤩💫✨

Thx to u very much!!

This song encompasses the whole Metallica S&M experience. It can only truly be performed live with the two musical groups together. It might be my favorite song period. It also has Hetfield's best "yeahs".

Minus Human never gets respect...

Doug I'm sure someone has suggested it already but you gotta check out The Unforgiven 3 from this show. James sings it alone with the orchestra behind him. No guitars, drums, or bass. It's amazing.

The original S&M Album is one of the best live albums ever, in my opinion.

This is a good message, even for today. A lot of the teenagers and young adults that I see you just don’t simply want to take ownership of anything. They need to hear this.

Bleeding Me & Outlaw Torn. My god

When I first heard the original performance of this is 1999, I didn't digest it well at first. But after a few more listens, the lyrics really are catchy and the song really is well-written. I think the thing that threw me off the most back then was James' voice... most previous Metallica songs (besides Load) he was barking out lyrics, powerful and grounded, and this song when he sings "comes to be" his inflection goes into that higher register where the rasp is gone and it's purely just hitting a note. I didn't like it then but I appreciate it a lot more now. It's kind of like listening to "Nothing Else Matters" for the first time where it stands so far apart from their previous work, you knee-jerk and say "WTF is this???" But after taking time to digest it, you realize just how balsy-brilliant it was for James to write it that way. Metallica Rules The World.

this is so good

Great to watch as always! A suggestion for your next reaction. Gong 'I never glid before'. French avant garde psychedelic rock. :)

You should check out Minus Human as well, from the first S&M. It's a really under-appreciated piece, and it uses Orchestra really to it's advantage while sounding heavy like any Metal song. It's played very few times. (i don't think it's been ever played anywhere outside of that original event)

i would think that the tunnel James is singing about is the one we all pass away to traveling to the light after death that runs us over and brings us back faster than we try to leave.

You should react to Outlaw Torn from the same album, is a masterpiece imo

Damn! I’ve not seen this version, beyond powerful

I take the lyric "soothing light at the end of your tunnel" to suggest a saviour or addiction- something you're reaching to for salvation or escape, but then it knocks you down.

I love this song so much. The lyrics are so good!

Kirk is playing his 1959 Les Paul "Greeny" which was owned by both Peter Green and the great Gary Moore.

7:57 is exactly right. I almost always listen to their live stuff especially when it comes to the older tracks

Reminds me of the intro to Knights in White Satin by the Moody Blues

Also they were probably inspired by Alice In Chains to tune down to E-flat, 'cause they thought it sounded good when they were at AIC's MTV Unplugged performance.

Good Stuff, Maynard!

The difference I see and hear between the first and second collaboration - I always had a feeling, that Michael Kamen was almost the only member, that wanted to do this and then there was Metallica and there was SFO. A few songs really sounded like they're playing together. Now, at S&M2, they're really playing together, enjoying the music and songs sound amazing.

Luv the flat cap.

You know it’s a good reaction when someone hears the first chord progression and go “oh this is Eb minor” that’s a trained ear

From what I understand Metallica tunes a tone and a half down to match James' voice register. Great analysis of the tune, I loved it as a kid, and now that I'm older I understand it even more.

Man, I appreciate the lyrics explanations