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"Pull Me Under"
Single by Dream Theater
from the album Images and Words
B-side	Metropolis—Part I: "The Miracle and the Sleeper"
Released	August 29, 1992 (1992-08-29)
Recorded	October 1991 – December 1991 at BearTracks Studios in Suffern, New York
Genre	Progressive metal
Length	8:11
Label	Atco
Songwriter(s)	James LaBrie Kevin Moore John Myung John Petrucci Mike Portnoy
Producer(s)	David Prater
Dream Theater singles chronology
"Afterlife" (1989) "Pull Me Under" (1992) "Another Day" (1993)
Music video
Official video on YouTube

"Pull Me Under" is the debut single by Dream Theater 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 rotation. Widely considered to be Dream Theater's signature song, Rolling Stone ranked it number No. 91 on their list of the 100 greatest heavy metal songs.

Overview

During development, the song held the working title "Oliver's Twist". 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'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 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's Hamlet, 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.

O, that this too, too solid flesh would melt,
Thaw, and resolve itself into a dew!
Or that the Everlasting had not fix'd
His canon 'gainst self-slaughter! O God! God!
How weary, stale, flat, and unprofitable
Seem to me all the uses of this world!

Track listing

All lyrics are written by Kevin Moore, except where noted; all music is composed by Dream Theater

Personnel

• James LaBrie – background vocals, lead vocals
• Kevin Moore – keyboards
• John Myung – bass
• John Petrucci – guitars
• Mike Portnoy – 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

1. Richter, Allan (August 22, 2004). "A Long Island Sound by Way of Topographic Oceans". The New York Times. Archived from the original on September 4, 2012. Retrieved September 4, 2009.
2. A.B. (March 13, 2023). "The 100 Greatest Heavy Metal Songs of All Time". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on January 18, 2024. Retrieved July 10, 2023.
3. Drumeo. The Iconic Drumming Behind “Pull Me Under” - Dream Theater Song Breakdown. youtube.com. Event occurs at 3:30. One idea I had in the studio was at the very end let's just yank the carpet out from underneath the track. And I kind of ripped it off from the end of side one of Abbey Road, same thing where it has all these sound effects building and building and building, it's just an ostinato part, and then it just stops
4. Thaler, Englebert (2008). Teaching English Literature. UTB. p. 163. ISBN 978-3-8252-2997-9.
5. Hamlet: Act I, Scene II.
6. Pull Me Under at AllMusic. Retrieved October 11, 2014.
7. Christa Titus. "Dream Theater Causing 'Chaos' With New Album". Billboard Magazine. Archived from the original on January 18, 2024. Retrieved September 3, 2009.

• 1992 songs
• 1992 debut singles
• Dream Theater songs
• Atco Records singles