Drown

From SPCodex, The Smashing Pumpkins wiki
"Drown"
Promotional single by The Smashing Pumpkins
ReleasedMay 1992 (promo)
June 30, 1992 (commercial)
FormatCD
Studio sessions
GenreGrunge[1]
Length8:17 on Singles
4:30 on Rotten Apples
LabelEpic
Songwriter(s)Billy Corgan
Producer(s)Butch Vig, Billy Corgan
The Smashing Pumpkins singles chronology
"Rhinoceros"
(1991)
"Drown"
(1992)
"Cherub Rock"
(1993)

"Drown" is a song by The Smashing Pumpkins from the soundtrack to the 1992 Cameron Crowe film, Singles.

Release[edit | edit source]

The song debuted during the Gish tour and was written not long after that record was released. The first take of the song was recorded at Waterfront Studios, which belongs to Lenny Kravitz, who was also signed to Virgin Records. The song became a moderate radio hit in mid-1992 and gave the band significant exposure just before work commenced on Siamese Dream.

"Drown" was to be released as a commercial single, but, as Billy Corgan explained,

Nonetheless, the song was given a promotional single, and became their highest-charting single at the time, peaking at number 24 on the U.S. Alternative Songs chart.

The song has also been released publicly as an early demo through SPRC, which is 8:58 in length.

Greatest hits release[edit | edit source]

The song was also released on the band's official greatest hits compilation Rotten Apples in 2001, though the length of the song was reduced from 8:17 to 4:30, cutting off the extended feedback and E-Bow solo at the end. "Drown" was considered for Pisces Iscariot, but Corgan decided against it.

Gish (2011 reissue)[edit | edit source]

The complete version of "Drown" was included with an alternate guitar solo on the bonus CD in the 2011 Reissue of Gish.

Lyrics[edit | edit source]

No matter where you are
I can still hear you when you drown
You've traveled very far
Just to see you I'll come around
When I'm down
All of those yesterdays
Coming around

No matter where you are
I can still hear you when you dream (on some versions, "scream")
You traveled very far
You traveled far, like a star
And you are
All of those yesterdays
Coming around

Is it something someone said?
Was it something someone said?

Yesterday the sky was you
And I still feel the same
Nothing left for me to do
And I still feel the same

I wish, I wish I could fly
I wish, I wish I could lie
I will, I will try
I will, I will
Goodbye

Charts[edit | edit source]

Chart (1993) Peak
position
US Alternative Airplay (Billboard)[3] 24

Track listing[edit | edit source]

All tracks are written by Billy Corgan.

No.TitleLength
1."Drown"4:27
2."Drown" (version seen on Singles)8:17

Release history[edit | edit source]

Released Label Catalog ID Format Country External sites
May 1992 Epic ESK 4733 CD US Discogs MusicBrainz [1]

Availability

TitleNotesType
Gish2011 Reissue bonus CD – Trippin' Through the StarsStudio
DrownPromo
SinglesSoundtrack
Siamese Dream2011 reissue bonus DVD – Live at the Metro (Live on August 14, 1993)Studio
The Cutting EdgeAugust 27, 1993 – Biddinghuizen, NL (soundboard / electric)Bootleg
Mashed PotatoesBootleg
PluggelectricAugust 27, 1993 – Biddinghuizen, NL (soundboard / electric)Bootleg
The Smashing Pumpkins 1991–1998Promotional CDPromotional • Compilation
Ghost Children: A Tribute To The Smashing PumpkinsTribute
Rotten ApplesNorth American versionCompilation
Rarities and B-SidesCompilation
SPRC DownloadsCompilation
Inside the Dream MachineBootleg • Live
Live at Kawasaki 2.24.92Live
Smashing Pumpkins 4/21/94Live

Tour stats

References[edit | edit source]

  1. Leas, Ryan (August 1, 2018). "30 Essential Grunge Songs". Stereogum. Retrieved August 3, 2019.
  2. Corgan, Billy. Interview. Impact Magazine. September 1994.
  3. "Smashing Pumpkins Chart History (Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved November 23, 2016.

External links[edit | edit source]