Tread Lightly

Album: Once More Round the Sun (2014)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • The song's title is an allusion to the TV show Breaking Bad. Guitarist Bill Kelliher told Loudwire: "That guy's [Walter White] life is crazy. You take a walk in one of our shoes; this past year there's been a lot of crazy s--t behind the scenes for each person in our band. Just our personal stories and it's just kind of cathartic to get the lyrics out about another year as a band, as people. We've persevered."
  • The song opened both Mastodon's Once More Round the Sun album and their 2015 The Missing Link tour. The band penned the track in January 2014, while they were up in Franklin, Tennessee putting the LP together.
  • Bassist and co-vocalist Troy Sanders told Artist Direct about the song. "I really gravitated towards that one from a lyrical standpoint, because I was able to craft what I thought were really powerful and appropriate words," he said. "It stems from something very dark and personal amongst myself. We like to mask it with metaphors. I remember personally feeling a sense of accomplishment in terms of what I did lyric-wise and vocally on the song. I really believed that one stood out to me amongst the whole album."

    "Listening back, it had all of the elements of what we do," Sanders added. "It's not the heaviest. It's not the fastest. It's not the most epic. However, it's like, "That song is strong enough on all points to be the opener of the record!" Sure enough, it became that way."

Comments: 1

  • Mortarmasiah from UsmcTread Lightly is Mastodons best song. I wish they had more of an explanation of the meaning of the lyrics. it's by far one of my favorite songs. To me it's about the unfair judgement of God and the dark sins of man. and to be careful of your actions in life or burn. and that the scales are already tipped to damnation.
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Francis Rossi of Status Quo

Francis Rossi of Status QuoSongwriter Interviews

Doubt led to drive for Francis, who still isn't sure why one of Status Quo's biggest hits is so beloved.

Stephen Christian of Anberlin

Stephen Christian of AnberlinSongwriter Interviews

The lead singer/lyricist for Anberlin breaks down "Impossible" and covers some tracks from their 2012 album Vital.

Mark Arm of Mudhoney

Mark Arm of MudhoneySongwriter Interviews

When he was asked to write a song for the Singles soundtrack, Mark thought the Seattle grunge scene was already overblown, so that's what he wrote about.

Psychedelic Lyrics

Psychedelic LyricsMusic Quiz

Whoa man! Do you know which band came up with these cosmic lyrics?

Frankie Valli

Frankie ValliSong Writing

An interview with Frankie Valli, who talks about why his songs - both solo and with The Four Seasons - have endured, and reflects on his time as Rusty Millio on The Sopranos.

David Bowie Leads the Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Long-Haired Men

David Bowie Leads the Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Long-Haired MenSong Writing

Bowie's "activist" days of 1964 led to Ziggy Stardust.