Pull Me Under

Infobox Song
Name = Pull Me Under


Artist = Dream Theater
Album = Images and Words
track_no = 1
Released = 1992
Format = CD,
Cassette,
Vinyl
Recorded = December, 1991
Genre = Progressive metal
Length = 8:11
Label = ATCO Records
Composer = Dream Theater
Writer = Kevin Moore
Producer = David Prater
prev =
prev_no =
next = "Another Day"
next_no = 2"Pull Me Under" (which had the working title "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 "" 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 [http://www.mikeportnoy.com/forum] recently stated that the abrupt ending was inspired by "I Want You (She's So Heavy)", 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 followingFact|date=December 2007.

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. According to drummer Mike Portnoy that shirt actually got the band contacted with Napalm Death.

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," and as a master track in .

References