Drift And Die by Puddle of Mudd

Album: Come Clean (2001)

Charted: 61

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Songfacts®:

One of the earliest Puddle Of Mudd songs, "Drift And Die" first appeared on their 1994 EP Stuck, released independently a few years after the band formed. The song reflects lead singer Wes Scantlin's mindset at the time:

I'll take my time as I drift and die

The band had been active for just a few years and was starting to make a name in the Kansas City area. They continued to struggle and by the late '90s had fallen apart. Scantlin's savior was Fred Durst, who was not only the frontman for Limp Bizkit, but also the boss of Flawless Records, an imprint of Interscope. Just before leaving for a new life in New Orleans, Scantlin acquired a fake pass and snuck backstage on the Kansas City stop of Limp Bizkit's tour. He gave Durst's security guard a copy of the Puddle Of Mudd demo tape, and while he was on his way to New Orleans found out that Durst was interested. Flawless only signed Scantlin, so his bandmates were out of luck. The label helped him assemble a new lineup that recorded their debut Flawless album, Come Clean, released in 2001 with a new version of "Drift And Die."
"Drift And Die" was the third single from the Come Clean album. "Control" came first, reaching #68 in October 2001, the same month the band kicked off their first headlining tour. "Blurry" was next, and it was huge, reaching #5 in May 2002 as the band formed a fanbase. "Drift And Die" followed, going to #61 in July, and in December, "She Hates Me" climbed to #13. The band was on the road for most of this time so they didn't get their next album, Life On Display, out until 2003 when nu-metal had fallen out of favor.
Scantlin wrote this song with Jimmy Allen, Puddle Of Mudd's original guitarist. They were good friends and worked together at a printing business owned by Allen's parents. Allen wasn't part of the band when they signed their record deal, but he's credited as a songwriter on "Drift And Die," "Blurry," and "She Hates Me."

"We would sit there and write, and he actually wrote a lot of the lyrics on that, and the music," Scantlin told Songfacts regarding "Drift And Die."

"Jimmy was writing, and then I would come over he would fire up a joint or something, and he would show me his idea," he added. "Then he was like, 'Come up with some killer melodies.' So that's how that went down."
Fred Durst must have cloned himself in the early '00s. In addition to running Limp Bizkit and his own label, he also directed the music video for "Drift And Die," which is made up of footage showing the band on the road.
This is one of the most popular live songs for Puddle Of Mudd. Wes Scantlin has kept the band going with different lineups over the years.

Comments: 4

Jake M from United StatesI think this song is about a man who is tired of all the lies and the toxicity that the world contains. He doesn't want to talk to anyone because he feels abandoned and misunderstood. People thought they had the answers but not once did they ever understand that the truth alone was the only thing that could save him, and that truth could never be expressed because ultimately, society couldn’t take him seriously enough to even be able to listen. He knows that his life was out of his control, and ultimately it isn't his fault that he ended up the way he did. Whether it was out of ignorance, fear or simply lack of open-mindedness…they never have him a chance to show them what God made him to be.
Luna Loud from Royal Woods, MichiganThe drummer in the studio for the Come Clean album is none other than Josh Freese. He's played on many albums for bands like 3 Doors Down, Good Charlotte, and The Offspring. He was also the drummer for A Perfect Circle and Nine Inch Nails and I think he's the new skin beater for the Food Fighters.

Btw, the touring drummer for this record (and who played on POM's next record as well) is Greg Upchurch. He's a Hell of a drummer too!
Danny Millick,jr. from Anaheim . CailfI don't see enough about the drummer of these songs, blurry, drift and die, ect. That man could make a kit roll over, and bring him the morning paper. His heavy style, and manner behind the bass has kept me busy for hours. And for that, I thank you sir. How you doing?
Maybe your no#1 fan, and has been from the start
Luna Loud from Royal Woods, MichiganSo, Jimmy Allen was the one who wrote the lyrics, huh? I guess that's why they sound more deep and poetic than usual! Though Wes is great at writing catchy melodies, and this song is no exception.

This song is in double drop-d tuning, a half-step down (C#G#C#F#A#C#). Wes plays the "solo" also.

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