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  1. Tracks
  2. 311
  3. Down
Down by 311

SINGLE

311

Down

Release date: 1995

Spotify More on 311

About This Track

'Down' opens the band's third album and became their breakthrough moment on the US Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart. Nick Hexum and DJ S.A. Martinez wrote the track as a thank-you to the fans who had supported 311 before commercial success arrived, and to the bandmates who made it possible. The song moves between verses that catalogue small intimacies, making out in dark hallways, sharing records, lighting up at the start of a show, and a chorus that anchors everything in gratitude: "we've always been down, down". The production sits somewhere between funk and rock, with Hexum's vocals moving from conversational rap to sung melody. The lyrics shift register constantly, mixing street vernacular with self-aware boasting ("we dazzle like ghetto box boomin' battles") and the kind of playful confidence that comes from a band secure in its own oddness. An MTV-rotated video accompanied the single, cementing 311's place as one of the era's more distinctive rock acts.

"Down" is a single by 311, released 1995. Full lyrics are available below.

About the Artist

311

311

Lyrics

Down

Chill, light on my sight as my ego becomes
A funky child with some words on my tongue
Be like intake of breath and my mouth gets loose
So while I scatter my spit, I dream of juice
Have you ever made out in dark hallways
Displayed a kiss that made your day or say
Played a track from your record collection
It's your mix, congratulations

We've changed a lot and then some, some
You know that we have always been down, down
If I ever didn't thank you, you
Then just let me do it now

I bet you light up when we start the show
Follow me now very closely 'cuz I told you so
You know, we glow because we throw sun rays
Yeah we be freaky and we wanna stay

We've changed a lot and then some, some
You know that we have always been down, down
If I ever didn't thank you, you
Then just let me do it now

Lightning strikes, yo we be in that violent force of light
Guaranteed to turn it out as bad as dolemite
Because we're dope kid, change like a chameleon
And the channel whenever the wack show Real World is on
You know we dazzle like ghetto box boomin' battles
Rattle inside your head feel redeemed like cola bottles
Fall in love with your teachers, on the wax we are self made
Check the technique, 311 in L.A.

We've changed a lot and then some, some
You know that we've always been down, down
If I ever didn't thank you, you
Then just let me do it now

Keep my feet on the ground
Keep my head in the clouds
Electrified by the sound
Comes from the down, and
We've changed a lot and then some, some
You know that we've always been down, down
If I ever didn't thank you, you
Then just let me do it now

Lyrics provided by LRCLIB

View full lyrics page →

Track details

Down

1995Single
Listen
Release year
1995

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  7. Charge It UpVoyager
  8. Days Go ByFull Bloom
  9. Dodging RaindropsVoyager
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    Credits

    Production & Engineering

    Writer
    Doug “SA” Martinez, Nick Hexum
    Producer
    311, Ron Saint-Germain
    Bass
    Aaron “P-Nut” Wills
    Drums
    Chad Sexton
    Guitar
    Tim Mahoney
    Vocals
    Doug “SA” Martinez, Nick Hexum
    Assistant Mixing Engineer
    John Ewing Jr.
    Mastering Engineer
    Joe Gastwirt
    Mixing Engineer
    Ron Saint-Germain, Scotch Ralston
    Percussion
    Chad Sexton
    Recording Engineer
    Ron Saint-Germain, Scotch Ralston
    Scratches
    Doug “SA” Martinez
    READ MORE ABOUT 311READ MORE ABOUT 311
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