Pull Me Under
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| “Pull Me Under” | |||||
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| Song by Dream Theater | |||||
| Album | Images and Words | ||||
| Released | 1992 | ||||
| Format | CD, Cassette, Vinyl |
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| Recorded | December, 1991 | ||||
| Genre | Progressive metal | ||||
| Length | 8:11 | ||||
| Label | ATCO Records | ||||
| Writer | Kevin Moore | ||||
| Producer | David Prater | ||||
| Images and Words track listing | |||||
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"Pull Me Under" (whose working title was "Oliver's Twist") is the first track from Dream Theater's 1992 album Images and Words. It is also featured on the Live at the Marquee CD, Once in a LIVEtime CD, Live at Budokan CD and DVD and the Images and Words: Live in Tokyo VHS and DVD. It was very well received, radio friendly, and received extensive MTV rotation.
The song is widely considered to be the band's biggest and most well known song. Although the band did enjoy its success with MTV and radio play during the release and there after, 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 charts. It was also released as a promotional release.
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. Scott Hansen (otherwise known as Setlist Scotty), on drummer Mike Portnoy's forum [1] recently stated that the abrupt ending was inspired by a track from The Beatles. 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[citation needed].
Kevin Moore's lyrics refer to Shakespeare's Hamlet, and are told from Prince Hamlet's point of view. The lyrics allude heavily to the play and echo Hamlet's desire to give in to his desire to gain revenge for his father at the cost of his own sanity. Over the final moments of the song (from time 7'50'' until the end) 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.
The song has been played upwards of 650 times live.
"Pull Me Under" has been announced as a playable track in the upcoming Konami music video game Rock Revolution.
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