Down formed in 1991 with vocalist/songwriter Phil Anselmo of Pantera, guitarist Pepper Keenan of Corrosion of Conformity, second guitarist Kirk Windstein of Crowbar, bassist Todd Strange of Crowbar, and drummer Jimmy Bower of Eyehategod. All of the band members were long-time friends and were known from their respective bands, making them a supergroup. The band made a three track demo for underground trading. The band members would ask heavy metal fans if they have "heard of this band Down" and give them a copy of the tape without telling the person that they were in the band.Eventually, the tape was distributed throughout the United States and Down played a small concert in its hometown. A record executive from Elektra Records was attending the show to find out who the members of Down were. When he found out the members of the band, he signed Down to a recording contract.
Down released its debut album, NOLA, on September 19, 1995. Debuting at number 55 on the Billboard 200, the album has been certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America.Allmusic reviewer David Reamer gave the album a nearly perfect 4.5 out of 5 stars, praising the songs "Temptations Wings", "Stone the Crow", and "Bury Me in Smoke". Reamer stated "This is a landmark album that combines the talents of dedicated rock musicians, and should be included in any collection of heavy metal music."NOLA was supported by a 13 date tour, before the band entered a hiatus to return to their respective bands.
In 1999, while Down was on hiatus, Strange left the band and was replaced by Pantera bassist Rex Brown. In 2002, Down came back from hiatus to make another record. The band wrote and recorded Down II: A Bustle in Your Hedgerow in 28 "drug and booze induced" days in a barn called "Nödferatu's lair".The album was released on March 26, 2002 and was not received with the positive reviews that appeared when NOLA was released. Blabbermouth.net reviewer Borivoj Krgin stated "Down II appears to have been thrown together more haphazardly, with much of the material falling short of the standard set by the Down's classic debut offering."Despite poor reviews, the album debuted at number 44 on the Billboard 200.To support the album, Down toured on the second stage of Ozzfest in 2002.The band again entered an indefinite hiatus to focus on their respective bands.
Newly signed to Warner Bros. Records, Down once again reformed in 2006. The band wrote an album throughout the course of a year. Lyric topics on Down III: Over the Under were written about many subjects such as the breakup of Pantera, the murder of ex-Pantera guitarist Dimebag Darrell, the band's anger at the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, and Anselmo's recovery from back surgery and drug addiction.Debuting at number 26 on the Billboard 200, the album was released on September 25, 2007 to generally positive reviews.Kirk Miller of Decibel Magazine stated "For almost an hour, it’s like the metal world was set right again."
Down preceded the album by touring with Heaven and Hell and Megadeth, and supported the album performing on a headlining tour starting at the end of September 2007.
On April 22, 2008 the BBC Radio1 Rockshow broadcasted a new session of Down recordings featuring alternate versions of NOD, Beneath the Tides, and Jail, along with a cover of Led Zeppelin's version of When The Levee Breaks.
In 2011 Bassist Rex Brown left Down to join newly formed band Kill Devil Hill. Pat Bruders of Crowbar is his replacement. Rex Brown stated that there were several reasons for his departure, mainly because of lack of passion for the project that were partially due to tensions between himself and Phil Anselmo.
The band has decided to forego writing for a full length album and instead is planning a series of four EP's. Phil Anselmo explained the decision to Metal Hammer magazine: "To me, an EP is less stress for us. We have an incredible relationship in DOWN, but when we're locked up for a month or two or three, pounding out 12 to 15 songs, it's very taxing. Very emotionally taxing. So one, it's easier on us, and two, it gives the music to the people quicker."
In November 2019, Down announced they would be reuniting for a series of shows in 2020. In anticipation of the 25th Anniversary of Down’s first album NOLA, founding member Kirk Windstein confirmed he was returning to the band. During an interview, Windstein said: "Anything Down does from here forward, whether it’s a full tour or one show, I’m 99.9% sure that I’m a part of it".
Losing All
Down Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
No facts behind my eyes.
This pain I've come to treasure,
Being down has become my life
Don't know which one is real,
Been kicked in the groin
I drown the way I feel,
Losing all
I'm lord of misery
I'm king of the hill
I'm a broken man of the world
In a state of
My wrists are slit,
I'm losing all.
Gun at my head,
I'm losing all.
My bones are broken,
I'm losing all
Last time I had,
I'm losing all
Losing all
Losing all
Sing it
Losing all
Louder
Losing all
Yeah
The lyrics of the song Losing All by the band Down depict an individual who has reached rock bottom due to a severe emotional pain that has completely consumed their life. The opening lines “My brain distorts the pleasure, no facts behind my eyes” suggest a dissociation or detachment from reality, where the person cannot connect with any enjoyable experiences or feel genuinely happy anymore. They have given in to this pain and have come to savor it or regard it as a constant companion, as shown in the line “This pain I’ve come to treasure, being down has become my life.”
The lyrics further indicate that the person feels lost and disoriented, unable to differentiate between reality and their own illusions. The lines “Don't know which one is real, been kicked in the groin. I drown the way I feel, thought I will to go” express the feeling of being stuck in a state of confusion and hopelessness. The chorus “Losing all” reiterates this sense of despair, emphasizing that the person has lost everything in their life – their sense of self, hope for the future, and will to live.
The second part of the song showcases the physical manifestations of this emotional pain. The lines “My wrists are slit, I'm losing all. Gun at my head, I'm losing all. My bones are broken, I'm losing all. Last time I had, I'm losing all” depict a person who has self-harmed or might even be considering suicide. The repetition of the phrase “I’m losing all” here demonstrates that the person has hit rock bottom and does not see a way out of their misery.
Overall, the lyrics of Losing All by Down highlight the devastating impact of emotional pain on an individual's life, leading them to a state of despair and hopelessness where they feel like they have lost everything.
Line by Line Meaning
My brain distorts the pleasure,
The impact of my negative thoughts outweighs the small moments of happiness.
No facts behind my eyes.
My perspective is clouded by my emotions and I struggle to see the truth.
This pain I've come to treasure,
I've grown accustomed to the feeling of despair and it has become familiar and comfortable.
Being down has become my life
My constant state of depression has completely overtaken my life and identity.
Don't know which one is real,
I can't distinguish between reality and my imagination or my own doubts.
Been kicked in the groin
Life has dealt me a series of painful experiences that have left me feeling defeated and exhausted.
I drown the way I feel,
I try to cope with my overwhelming emotions by numbing myself or avoiding them altogether.
Thought I will to go
I feel lost and aimless and am unsure of what my future holds.
Losing all
Everything I value and care about is slipping away from me.
I'm lord of misery
I'm fully immersed in my sorrow and can't escape it.
I'm king of the hill
My negative outlook on life has put me in a position of power over my own pain and suffering.
I'm a broken man of the world
I am a product of society's failures and feel like a failure myself.
In a state of
I am stuck in a perpetual cycle of depression that I can't break free from.
My wrists are slit,
I have inflicted physical harm on myself as a way to cope with my emotional pain.
Gun at my head,
I have contemplated suicide as a final escape from my despair.
My bones are broken,
I feel like I am completely broken and beyond repair.
Last time I had,
I can't remember the last time I felt true happiness or contentment.
Losing all
My life is spiraling downward and I can't seem to stop it.
Losing all
I'm at the end of my rope and don't know what to do next.
Sing it
Urging the listener to join in on the song and feel the depth of emotion in the lyrics.
Louder
Wants the listener to feel the intensity of the emotions and sing louder to match them.
Yeah
Expressing agreement with the thoughts and feelings expressed in the song.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: ANSELMO, KEENAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Corey BleedsBlack
This is one of those albums that never seems to get old. Love this shit
Dusty the 2nd
@ollie dunford Indeed it is. Matters a damn when it was first put out. If you love it it stays with you always!
ollie dunford
Good music is timeless 💯
Dusty the 2nd
Corey, totally feel ya!
Charles23 Charles23
@Fred Lechesne-Lang agree (I am from 2020 - watch out)
Fred Lechesne-Lang
Agreed
profanepersonality
I love that his voice cracks, so he says "FUCK", they keep the take, and it works!
Neurotripsicks
THOUGHT THE SAME THING! wooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
nivlaranadna
I just listened to this album earlier today. It brought back a lot of memories from my life back in the mid-90s. Damn, what a great song. What a classic album!
Stan Donnle
Being down has become my LIFE !!!!!!!
Thank you Phil for this awesome tune !!