"Pull Me Under" is the debut single by

Dream Theater Dream Theater is an American progressive metal band formed in 1985 under the name Majesty by John Petrucci, John Myung and Mike Portnoy while they attended Berklee College of Music in Boston, Massachusetts. They subsequently dropped out o ...

from their 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, the '' Images and Words: Live in Tokyo'' VHS and DVD, and the '' Live at Luna Park'' DVD. It received positive critical reception and extensive

MTV MTV (Originally an initialism of Music Television) is an American cable channel that launched on August 1, 1981. Based in New York City, it serves as the flagship property of the MTV Entertainment Group, part of Paramount Media Networks, a di ...

rotation. It is widely considered to be Dream Theater's

signature song A signature (; from la, signare, "to sign") is a handwritten (and often stylized) depiction of someone's name, nickname, or even a simple "X" or other mark that a person writes on documents as a proof of identity and intent. The writer of a ...

Overview

During development, the song held the working title "Oliver's Twist". In a radio interview,

Mike Portnoy Michael Stephen Portnoy (born April 20, 1967) is an American musician who is primarily known as the former drummer, backing vocalist, and co-founder of the progressive metal band Dream Theater. In September 2010, Portnoy announced his departure ...

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's abrupt ending was modified in their ''Greatest Hits'' compilation. When asked about the abrupt ending while at a drum clinic in Atlanta in 1999, Mike Portnoy explained "We had all this tension, and it just kept building and building, and we had no idea where to take it, you know? So we decided to just pull the plug on it, like

The Beatles The Beatles were an English Rock music, rock band, formed in Liverpool in 1960, that comprised John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr. They are regarded as the Cultural impact of the Beatles, most influential band of al ...

did with ' She's So Heavy'." The song was released as a promotional single and as a music video. Based on a shortened version of the song at 4:48 in length, the video alternates between clips of the band performing and an obscure storyline. The band members were reportedly unhappy with the storyline, saying that it doesn't have anything to do with the song's subject matter. Because it was the only Dream Theater single to achieve such success, "Pull Me Under" is the "hit" referred to in the Dream Theater compilation '' Dream Theater's Greatest Hit (...and 21 Other Pretty Cool Songs)''.

Lyrics

Lyricist Kevin Moore refers to

Shakespeare William Shakespeare ( 26 April 1564 – 23 April 1616) was an English playwright, poet and actor. He is widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's pre-eminent dramatist. He is often called England's nation ...

's ''

Hamlet ''The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark'', often shortened to ''Hamlet'' (), is a tragedy written by William Shakespeare sometime between 1599 and 1601. It is Shakespeare's longest play, with 29,551 words. Set in Denmark, the play depicts ...

'', as told from Prince Hamlet's point of view. The lyrics allude heavily to the play, echoing Hamlet's desire to give in to his urge 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 the song's only direct quote from the play: "O, that this too, too solid flesh would melt". Therein, Prince Hamlet is pleading for escape from his mortal trappings.

Track listing

Personnel

* James LaBrie – background vocals, lead vocals * Kevin Moore – keyboards * John Myung – bass *

John Petrucci John Peter Petrucci (born July 12, 1967) is an American guitarist, best known as a founding member of the progressive metal band Dream Theater. He produced or co-produced (often with former member Mike Portnoy before he departed the band in 201 ...

– guitars *

– drums, percussion

Credits

* David Prater – production

Charts

Releases

* CD single, promo – Atco Records PRCD 4624-2, US 1992 * Vinyl, 12", 45 RPM single, promo – Rock Ahead SAM 1030, UK 1992 * CD single, promo – Atco Records PRCD 4724-2, US 1992 * CD single, promo – Atco Records PRCD 4928, US 1992

References

{{Authority control 1992 songs 1992 debut singles Dream Theater songs Atco Records singles