Bodies (Drowning Pool song)

Updated on Oct 20, 2023

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Released May 14, 2001 Genre Nu metal Label Wind-up		Format CD Length 3:24
Writer(s) Stevie Benton Mike Luce C.J. Pierce Dave Williams

"Bodies" (often called "Let the Bodies Hit the Floor") is a song by the American rock band Drowning Pool and also is the lead single from their debut album Sinner. Released in May 2001, the song is Drowning Pool's signature song and has been featured in various films, TV programs, and advertisements since its release. It was also the theme song for the 2001 WWF SummerSlam pay-per-view event, as well as that of the ECW brand in 2006 to early 2008.

An early version of "Bodies" appeared in their EP Pieces of Nothing, the version omits the lyrics in the bridge and features a significantly greater amount of screaming.

Music and lyrics

Considered a nu metal song, "Bodies" features a heavy use of the lyric "Let the bodies hit the floor". Its lyrics build by gradually counting up from one to four, shouting the number each time, until reaching its intense chorus. Clean vocals in the song's bridge administer a contrast from the many harsh vocals. The guitar structure of "Bodies" features a heavy use of the wah pedal.

Drowning Pool's original vocalist Dave Williams talked about "Bodies" on Uranium, saying

Commercial performance

The song peaked at number 6 on the Billboard's Mainstream Rock Tracks chart in August 2001, and No. 12 on the Alternative Songs charts in September 2001. The song was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America on June 24, 2008, indicating half a million digital copies sold. The song re-entered the chart in April 2016 and reached No. 6 on the Hard Rock Digital Song and No. 30 on the Rock Digital Songs charts. It has sold 1,751,000 digital copies in the US as of April 2016. On September 22, 2001, "Bodies" peaked at number 19 on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles chart.

Critical reception

Rolling Stone called "Bodies" "Drowning Pool's finest moment on" Sinner.

Music video

Much like the song's radio success, the "Bodies" music video found significant airplay on various music channels in 2001. Directed by Glen Bennett, it has the band performing in what appears to be a mental institution, with Williams screaming the lyrics into the ear of a man strapped to a chair. Clips from the video were later used in the title animation for the music program Uranium.

Controversy and military's use of the song

Due to the misinterpretation of its lyrics, the song created controversy. The song was linked to the 2011 Arizona shooting of Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords. Soon after the shooting, the band issued a statement concerning the link: "We were devastated this weekend to learn of the tragic events that occurred in Arizona and that our music has been misinterpreted. 'Bodies' was written about the brotherhood of the moshpit and was never about violence." The band also added: "For someone to put out a video misinterpreting a song about a moshpit as fuel for a violent act shows just how sick they really are. We support those who do what they can to keep America safe. Our hearts go out to the victims and their families of this terrible tragedy".

The song was used by torturers at the Guantanamo Bay detention camps in 2003. "Bodies" was repeatedly played over a 10-day period during the interrogation of Mohamedou Ould Slahi while he was "exposed to variable lighting patterns" at the same time.