Songfacts®:

• Live's fifth studio album, aptly titled V, was released one week after the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Although the single wasn't due until December, the band put the emotional piano ballad "Overcome" up on their website as a gift for their fans who were struggling in the aftermath of the national tragedy. Lead singer Ed Kowalczyk recalled: "Within about a week or week and a half it was literally all over the radio, and I was just astounded at the response."
• For Kowalczyk, this track defines the album. He explained, "When I think of this record, I think of 'Overcome,' because I could have never, ever in a million years seen those planes hit those towers or seen this song happen liked it happened."
• The promo single peaked at #30 on the Alternative Airplay chart.
• The first music video was made without Live's permission. Steven Rosenbaum, the founder of the production company CameraPlanet, paired the song with footage his camera crews shot around Ground Zero on September 11. The clip ended up on MTV and VH1, and prompted the band to make their own video.
  
  Their first attempt was a Los Angeles shoot with director Mary Lambert, but Rosenbaum convinced them an authentic tribute could only be captured at the scene of the Twin Tower attacks. Kowalczyk agreed and flew to New York City, but the production hit a snag when the crew wasn't allowed on the site without press credentials. After a bit of negotiating, police offers granted just a few of them access.
  
  "Ed, me, my wife who was filming, and one other were allowed in. He left behind all the handlers, all the agency people," Rosenbaum told Beliefnet. "A few minutes later we are standing with the buildings in the background in a place that people weren't allowed to go at that point. In front of the burning smoking ruins Ed sang the song a cappella.  It was incredibly haunting, incredibly beautiful.  You know, it is one of those stories 9/11 is a terrible, terrible thing.  Nobody would wish that it happened, but in addition to that, I met some amazing people, Ed, he's one of them.  He was really frankly thankful that I called him out and said don't sit on the West Coast.  He did the right thing, got on a plane, and it wasn't a time when people were looking forward to air travel."
• According to Live guitarist Chad Taylor, the songs on V were never meant to be compiled into an album. "The goal was to prepare songs for the next studio session," he said. "MCA got a hold of the material and pushed us to call it an album."
• Despite earning favorable reviews, the album sold poorly in the US and didn't earn any certifications.
• This was used on the TV show The Shield in the season 2 finale, "Dominoes Falling."
• The band co-produced the album with Eleven singer/guitarist Alain Johannes. They recorded it in Johannes' home studio in Los Angeles, where Chris Cornell also recorded his debut solo album, Euphoria Mourning.