Pull Me Under
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| "Pull Me Under" | ||
|---|---|---|
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| Single by Dream Theater | ||
| from the album Images and Words | ||
| Released | 1992 | |
| Format | CD, Cassette, Vinyl |
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| Recorded | December, 1991 | |
| Genre | Progressive Metal | |
| Length | 8:11 | |
| Label | Elektra Records | |
| Producer(s) | David Prater | |
| Chart positions | ||
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| Dream Theater singles chronology | ||
| "Pull Me Under" 1992 |
"Take the Time" 1992 |
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Pull Me Under is a single from Dream Theater's 1992 album Images and Words. It is widely considered to be the band's biggest hit. Although the band did enjoy its success with MTV and radio play during the release and thereafter, the band has continued to keep its distance from the mainstream scene. In a radio interview, Mike Portnoy stated that "...it was just an 8 and a half minute song, and it was just a fluke for [MTV and radio play] to happen." The song peaked at #10 on the Billboard Magazine Mainstream Rock Tracks Singles charts. It was also the lead track on "Images and Words".
A distinctive feature of the song is its lack of a conventional ending. The song simply stops, mid-note, at 8 minutes and 11 seconds. This emphasizes the song's theme of the sudden and unexpected nature of death. However, on closer listening, it can be noted that the ending is in 4/4 time, as emphasized by the 3 and 4 in the final bar being emphasized and then silence following.
The song's lyrics refer to Shakespeare's Hamlet, and is told from Prince Hamlet's point of view. The lyrics allude heavily to the play and echo Hamlet's desire to give into his desire to gain revenge for his father at the cost of his own sanity. Over the final moments of the song James LaBrie can be heard singing a direct quote from Hamlet:
"Oh that this too, too solid flesh would melt."
A shortened version of the song (clocking at 4:48) also featured a music video which alternated between clips of the band performing and an obscure storyline about someone, who is often described by band members and fans as a "wolfman". The band members were reportedly unhappy with the storyline, saying that it doesn't have anything to do with the song's subject matter. Lead singer James LaBrie can be seen wearing a Napalm Death shirt in the video. [1]
