Down (311 song)

"Down"
Single by 311
from the album 311
B-side
  • "Jackolantern's Weather"
  • "Do You Right"
ReleasedJuly 9, 1996 (1996-07-09)
Genre
Length2:53
LabelCapricorn
Songwriters
ProducerRon Saint Germain
311 singles chronology
"Don't Stay Home"
(1995) 		"Down"
(1996) 		"All Mixed Up"
(1996)
Music video
"Down" on YouTube

"Down" is a song by the American rock band 311. It is the first song on their third album, 311, and became their first number-one single on the US Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart. An accompanying video for the song was in rotation on MTV at the time of its release. The song was included as the first song on their live album, Live, and on their greatest hits album, Greatest Hits '93–'03. Since its release, it has also become a staple of their live concerts, and is usually dedicated "to all the old-school 311 fans." However, following the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, it was placed on the list of post-9/11 inappropriate titles distributed by Clear Channel.[2][3]

Composition

On the lyrical inspiration, Nick Hexum said, "It was the idea, 'If I ever didn't thank you, then just let me do it now.' It was both to our fans and me saying to the other band members, 'What a trip it's been to come from Nebraska, with pretty much nothing but a dream, and then to see it come true, and the unity we have in the band - the all for one, one for all spirit.'"[4] "Down" contains dancehall vocals, hard rock guitars and turntable scratches.[5] At Spin, the song was compared to the band Bad Brains, and described it as having a "dynamic" verse.[6]

Music video

The music video consists of the band performing in a warehouse and includes scenes of the band members singing the song in various backgrounds, such as a rotating coin, a circle with flowing sparks, dancing in front of a paper wall display. Also included are scenes in which the band members are meditating with an obese spiritual man who sometimes floats in the air through the power of meditation while one of the band members experiences it.

Track listing

No.TitleLength
1."Down"2:53
2."Down" (live)3:06
3."Jackolantern's Weather"3:25
4."Do You Right"4:18

Charts

Certifications

Region Certification Certified units/sales
United States (RIAA)[16] Platinum 1,000,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Region Date Format(s) Label(s) Ref.
United States July 9, 1996 Alternative radio Capricorn [17]
August 6, 1996 Contemporary hit radio [18]

Cover versions

  • Grindcore band Anal Cunt parodied the song on their 1997 album I Like It When You Die with the title "311 Sucks." It features the riff of "Down" and rapped gibberish nonsense lyrics, concluding with lead singer Seth Putnam screaming "You fucking suck!"[19][20]
  • On July 20, 2018, The Offspring released a cover version of this song, while 311 released a "reggaefied" version of the latter's "Self Esteem". Those cover versions coincided with the beginning of their 2018 Never Ending Summer co-tour.[21]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c "Ranking: Every Alternative Rock No. 1 Hit From Worst to Best". March 28, 2016. Archived from the original on April 11, 2021. Retrieved October 24, 2022.
  2. ^ "It's the End of the World as Clear Channel Knows It". Slate. September 17, 2001. Archived from the original on September 7, 2011. Retrieved January 13, 2026.
  3. ^ Eakin, Marah (September 11, 2015). "Every Single Song Clear Channel Suggested Its Stations Skip Post-9/11". The A.V. Club. Archived from the original on July 23, 2019. Retrieved January 13, 2026.
  4. ^ Prato, Greg (June 29, 2015). "Nick Hexum of 311 : Songwriter Interviews". Songfacts. Archived from the original on January 12, 2021. Retrieved March 1, 2021.
  5. ^ "Billboard". 27 July 1996. Retrieved March 12, 2015.
  6. ^ "SPIN". October 1997. Retrieved March 12, 2015.
  7. ^ "311 – Down". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved October 22, 2022.
  8. ^ "Top RPM Singles: Image 9921". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved September 15, 2020.
  9. ^ "Top RPM Rock/Alternative Tracks: Image 9625". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved September 15, 2020.
  10. ^ "311 Chart History (Radio Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved September 15, 2020.
  11. ^ "311 Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved September 15, 2020.
  12. ^ "311 Chart History (Mainstream Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved September 15, 2020.
  13. ^ "RPM Year End Alternative Top 50". RPM. Archived from the original on June 13, 2018. Retrieved January 13, 2026 – via Library and Archives Canada.
  14. ^ "Airplay Monitor Best of '96: Mainstream Rock Tracks". Airplay Monitor. Vol. 4, no. 53. December 27, 1996. p. 23.
  15. ^ "The Year in Music 1996: Hot Modern Rock Tracks". Billboard. Vol. 108, no. 52. December 28, 1996. p. YE-78.
  16. ^ "American single certifications – 311 – Down". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved September 8, 2023.
  17. ^ @311 (July 9, 2021). "'Down' was released to radio on this date in 1996. The song reached #1 at Alternative Rock radio!" (Tweet). Retrieved January 13, 2026 – via Twitter.
  18. ^ "Selected New Releases". Radio & Records. No. 1157. August 2, 1996. p. 38.
  19. ^ I Like It When You Die Liner Notes
  20. ^ "I Like It When You Die - Anal Cunt". AllMusic. Archived from the original on 2021-05-08. Retrieved 2021-03-12.
  21. ^ "311 and the Offspring Recorded New Versions of Each Other's Material: Exclusive". Billboard. July 19, 2018. Archived from the original on July 20, 2018. Retrieved July 26, 2018.
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