The Memory Remains

“The Memory Remains”
Single by Metallica from the album ReLoad
B-side	Fuel for Fire/Memory For Whom the Bell Tolls (Haven't Heard it Yet Mix)
Released	1997
Format	CD single
Recorded	1995 - 1997
Genre	Heavy metal
Length	4:38
Label	Elektra Records
Writer(s)	James Hetfield Lars Ulrich
Producer	Bob Rock Metallica
Metallica singles chronology
"Bleeding Me" (1997) "The Memory Remains" (1997) "The Unforgiven II" (1998)

"The Memory Remains" is a song by Metallica from their 1997 album ReLoad. It was first performed live in a "jam" version on July 2, 1996. The song is about a once-great, now forgotten celebrity who is desperate to regain her fame but is driven half-mad with her obscurity. It may be a reference to the film Sunset Boulevard.

The song was the first single from the album. It was written by James Hetfield and Lars Ulrich and featured British singer/actress Marianne Faithfull as a guest vocalist. When played live, the band encourages the fans to sing Marianne's parts. It also contains lines spoken by Marianne taken from the Marilyn Monroe movie The Misfits ("Say yes... at least say hello...").

Some the aforementioned live, pre-ReLoad jams can be seen in Metallica's vault. The song was also performed on the December 6, 1997 edition of Saturday Night Live when Metallica was the musical guest along with Faithfull. It was later performed with the San Francisco Symphony (conducted by Michael Kamen) on S&M.