[5] Metallica was inspired for the song by the second half of the film The Ten Commandments, which is based on the Bible tale of the Plagues of Egypt.

The band liked the sound of "creeping death" and decided to write a song about the plagues, with the phrase as its title.

Kirk Hammett had seen the picture hanging up at Petty's house and remarked that it would be perfect for the single and picture-disk that were about to be finished.

Moses, through his older brother Aaron, insisted he was sent by God and repeatedly demanded that Pharaoh should set the Hebrew slaves free from Egypt to the promised land of Canaan.

The references to the plagues in the song include: The single was released through Music for Nations in the UK and France.