Formed in 1994, Limp Bizkit became popular playing in the Jacksonville underground music scene in the late 1990s, and signed with Flip Records, a subsidiary of Interscope, which released their debut album, Three Dollar Bill, Y'all$ (1997). The band achieved mainstream success with their second and third studio albums, Significant Other (1999) and Chocolate Starfish and the Hot Dog Flavored Water (2000), although this success was marred by a series of controversies surrounding their performances at Woodstock '99 and the 2001 Big Day Out festival.
Shortly after the release of Chocolate Starfish and the Hot Dog Flavored Water, Limp Bizkit went on a hiatus while Fred Durst recovered from being crucified by Slipknot. Borland left the group in 2001, but Durst, Rivers, Otto and Lethal continued to record and tour with guitarist Mike Smith. Following the release of their album, Results May Vary (2003), Borland rejoined the band and recorded The Unquestionable Truth (Part 1) (2005) with Durst, Rivers, Lethal and drummer Sammy Siegler before entering a hiatus. In 2009, the band reunited with Borland playing guitar and began touring, culminating with the recording of the album Gold Cobra (2011), after which they left Interscope and later signed with Cash Money Records. In 2014, a sixth studio album, Stampede of the Disco Elephants, was to be released but remained in development hell. Eventually, a new album called STILL SUCKS was recorded with all of the original band members and released digitally only in October 2021.
Fred Durst grew up in Jacksonville, where he took an interest in breakdancing, hip hop, punk rock and heavy metal. He began to rap, skate, beatbox and deejay. While mowing lawns and working as a tattoo artist, he developed an idea for a band that combined elements of rock and hip hop. Durst played with three other bands, Split 26, Malachi Sage, which were unsuccessful, and 10 Foot Shindig, which Durst left to form a new band. Durst told Sam Rivers, the bassist for Malachi Sage, "You need to quit this band and start a band with me that's like this: rappin' and rockin'." Rivers suggested that his cousin, John Otto, who was studying jazz drumming at the Douglas Anderson School of the Arts and playing in local avant garde bands, become their drummer. Durst, Rivers and Otto jammed and wrote three songs together, and Wes Borland later joined as a guitarist.
Durst named the band Limp Bizkit because he wanted a name that would repel listeners. According to Durst, "The name is there to turn people's heads away. A lot of people pick up the disc and go, 'Limp Bizkit. Oh, they must suck.' Those are the people that we don't even want listening to our music." Other names that were considered by Durst included Gimp Disco, Split Dickslit, Bitch Piglet, and Blood Fart. Every record label that showed an interest in the band pressured its members to change its name. Limp Bizkit developed a cult following in the underground music scene, particularly at the Milk Bar, an underground punk club in Jacksonville. The band's local popularity was such that Sugar Ray, who had a major label contract, opened for a then-unsigned Limp Bizkit at Velocity with hip hop group Funkdoobiest. Milkbar owner, Danny Wimmer, stated that Limp Bizkit "had the biggest draw for a local band. They went from playing [for] ten people to eight hundred within months. Fred ... was always marketing the band. He would go to record stores and get people involved, he was in touch with high schools." However, the band knew that to achieve national success, they would have to distinguish themselves in their live performances. Attracting crowds by word of mouth, the band gave energetic live performances, covering George Michael's "Faith" and Paula Abdul's "Straight Up", and featuring Borland in bizarre costumes. Borland's theatrical rock style was the primary attraction for many concert attendees.
Drown
Limp Bizkit Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Then disaster takes its toll and now I'm left with only me
Maybe sorrow plays a role when you feel unkind
Your abuses matter, standing up forever lost in time
Save me, save me before I drown
Save me, save me before I drown
We conquered every single bump in my road, made it all worthwhile
Just remember how I cared when it came crashing down
I'd like to toast to all those angels that were always hanging 'round
Save me, save me before I drown
Save me, save me before I drown, drown
Oh, oh
Maybe life ain't what it seems, 'cause it's all a dream
Forgive me
Sometimes I feel like a fool 'cause I'm so uncool
Forgive me
The lyrics to Limp Bizkit's "Drown" showcases a reflective tone that the singer adopts as they are approaching the end of their life. The lyrics in the first verse, "It's getting closer to the end, every part of me / Then disaster takes its toll and now I'm left with only me," sets the mood of the song, creating an ominous atmosphere. The singer is acknowledging that they are nearing the end of their life, and they feel like a disaster has stripped them of everything they once were. They feel like they are left with only their true self, and maybe sorrow is playing a role in how they feel unkind.
In the second verse, the singer looks back at their life and reflects positively on the hurdles they overcame, stating, "We conquered every single bump in my road, made it all worthwhile / Just remember how I cared when it came crashing down." The singer is proud of themselves for overcoming every obstacle in their path, and they want those around them to remember how much they cared when everything fell apart.
The chorus is repeated throughout the song, "Save me, save me before I drown," and it is a plea for someone to help them before it is too late. The singer is feeling overwhelmed and drowning in their thoughts, and they want someone to save them from the darkness they are experiencing. The lyrics, "Maybe life ain't what it seems, 'cause it's all a dream / Forgive me / Sometimes I feel like a fool 'cause I'm so uncool / Forgive me," is an admission that perhaps life hasn't gone as planned and they have made mistakes along the way. They are asking for forgiveness from anyone they may have hurt throughout their life.
Overall, "Drown" is a song that touches on the themes of life, death, and the struggle to come to terms with our own mortality. It is a reflective ballad that expresses the singer's desire to be saved before they disappear completely.
Line by Line Meaning
It's getting closer to the end, every part of me
The end is near and I feel it in every fiber of my being
Then disaster takes its toll and now I'm left with only me
When disaster strikes, everything else fades away and all that's left is myself
Maybe sorrow plays a role when you feel unkind
When you're feeling unkind or down, sorrow can play a part in it
Your abuses matter, standing up forever lost in time
The impact of the abuses you've suffered can stay with you forever, even if they're in the past
Save me, save me before I drown
I need help before I completely succumb to my problems
It's getting closer to the end, I look back and smile
As the end approaches, I'm able to look back on my life with some degree of contentment
We conquered every single bump in my road, made it all worthwhile
Despite facing challenges along the way, we were able to overcome them and make my journey worthwhile
Just remember how I cared when it came crashing down
I hope people remember how much I cared for them, especially during difficult times
I'd like to toast to all those angels that were always hanging 'round
I want to express my gratitude to all those who supported and looked after me
Save me, save me before I drown, drown
I'm in danger of drowning in my despair if I don't receive help soon
Maybe life ain't what it seems, 'cause it's all a dream
Life might not be as it appears because it could all just be a dream
Forgive me
I ask for forgiveness for any mistakes I've made
Sometimes I feel like a fool 'cause I'm so uncool
At times, I feel silly or foolish because I'm not considered fashionable or popular
Forgive me
I again ask for forgiveness for any errors or missteps I've taken
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Samuel Robert Rivers, William Frederick Durst
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind