Vermilion by Slipknot

Album: Vol. 3: The Subliminal Verses (2004)

Charted: 31

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Slipknot lead singer Corey Taylor (#8) said "Vermilion," along with "Vermilion Pt. 2," is about a stalker who's going after a woman. The story is told through his eyes.
The confused and deranged character in the song is a metaphor for Corey Taylor's addiction.

"That was when I really started taking those first faltering steps towards sobriety," he explained on the Occupy The Void podcast in 2024. "That whole experience was such an open wound for me because I came out of it feeling very much like a raw nerve. I was completely empty, not just of emotion but of personality, because that my addictions had become so much a part of who I was that I didn't know how to exist outside of it socially, emotionally and physically. I was a wreck."

He added: "Half of the lyrics were written in a haze, and the other half was kind of ripping the tape off of my eyes and my mouth and going, 'Oh God, this is how I look in fluorescent light?' So things like 'Duality' and 'Vermilion' parts one and two deal with the angrier side of addiction."
Vermilion is a vivid shade of red. Corey Taylor used it as the title because when he track his bandmates created for the song, he pictured that color. The title doesn't show up in the lyric but represents the intensity of the song.
"Vermilion" is part of Slipknot's 2004 album Vol. 3: The Subliminal Verses, which holds up as a classic in their catalog. It was produced by the legendary Rick Rubin, but Corey Taylor says they succeeded despite, not because of him. "I respect the work that he has done in the past to get to where he is now," he said. "But the Rick Rubin of today is a thin, thin, thin shadow of the Rick Rubin that he was."
Throughout the song, Corey Taylor fights his urges, and at the end tries to convince himself there is no girl:

She isn't real
I can't make her real

When the band played the song in 2024 at Knotfest in Brazil, he changed this line, singing:

She's finally real
I just made her real
"Vermilion Pt. 2," which shows up later on the album, is an acoustic continuation of this song. By this time, Corey Taylor has screamed himself out and is quietly processing his troubled thoughts. But he comes to the same conclusion: She isn't real.
The music video stars Janna Bossier as a woman who lives in a world where everything goes on around her at hyperspeed. She might be a ghost, which goes along with the theme of being haunted by someone or something that might not even be real.

She also shows up in the video for Part 2, but this time she's alone in a field.

Comments: 55

Slipknot Maggot from UsaMy opinion. The song is based on the caracter who imagined her perfect soulmate which doesnt exist. The song video showing her soulmate reflecting his self through her. The butterfly meaning is the simbol of immortality of his imaginery soulmate in his mind which he will never find ( create )
Michael Rogiers from TrxasIt’s about being caught in a trauma bond with a narcissistic woman, she was vermillion (lust, unrighteousness) cloaked in a perfect guise, chasing that woman he fell in love with before the mask fell off, addiction in a trauma bond Is comparable to heroine addiction in intensity and many commit suicide from it. He can’t make her real he’s trying everything to get that woman back but she was an illusion created by the narcissist to hook him. Snuff is rooted in the same thing but about the relationship after the one that was real but he was so damaged from the vermillion and picked up her manipulation tactics and some defense mechs that ruined the relationship with the the one that was true. it is tormenting to be caught in a trauma bond with a histrionic narcissist. It takes years sometimes decades to get over for people. It will make a lot of people crazy some are institutionalized.
Me from NoneHis addiction with herion? Anybody. .
Victoria Jones from AlabamaSo besides Corey whos doing vocals on this song?
Dammed from Colorado She is his subconscious that he killed
Denise.waffles from El Salvadori love slipknot, the color vermilion, and the song <333
Mori from AzSlipknot needs a road trip to see the Vermilion Ciffs in Arizona.
Cameron from OhioI like to Vermilion is about a schizophrenic who falls in love with an imaginary girl and slowly begins to realize she’s not real and his whole world comes crashing down. I know this song probably isn’t about that, but I can’t stop thinking about it like that.
Robb from Denver Colorado"That song was on a demo that Paul [Gray, bassist] and Joey [Jordison, drummer] put together. For some reason, as soon as I heard it, all I could see was the colour red. I love the idea of creating a world from the standpoint of a stalker. I was trying to recreate that dark urgency and desperate need. Anyone who's ever had that jealous rage knows what that feeling is." – Corey Taylor
Paj from GnepThis song is about a lady who is hard to quit. Breaking up with her will cause incredible physical and emotional pain. Once hooked, you will stalk her like a beast. A slipknot is a method of tying a tourniquet that can raise a vein to shoot heroin. Poets such as Corey Taylor use imagery to describe dark matters. Heroin is a dark and dreary girl.
Shane from Melbourne, Australiageez, never thought it was about a stalker n s--t, sounds like a love sorta thing song
Jay from Wheaton, MdFirst and foremost R.I.P. to the big homie Paul Gray. Now on to people making up sh!t. Yes Craig's EX-wife did die this song has nothing to do with it. I can't stop laughing as I'm typing this because this song and album came out in '04 and his wife died in '05 so unless dude is a psychic or a fortune teller than I have to say that not only are ya wrong but full of sh!t as well. Good one though LMAO!!!!
Ray from Adelaide, Australiaits actutlly about craig jones is wife and how she was murded (vermillion means scarllet which was the name of his wife) tahts why he never talks also during an interview with him on voluminal inside the nine teh only qeaustion asked to him was how many bodys are buried in his back yard the awnser is one: his wife
Maggotforlife from Kggk, Kyvermilion and vermilion pt 2 is about how corey was in love with a girl but turns out it was a lie, a dream hence "i wont let this build up inside of me" and "she is something in me that i despise" and in addition "she isn't real, i cant make her real"
Matt from Portsmouth, United Kingdomhmm, it might mean somthing like he knows a relationship between them will never be real, or he is trying to forget her by telling himself she isnt real
Alan from The Meadow Of Rainbows, United KingdomHmm.. whats the "She isnt real, I cant make her real" about then?
Michel from Bakersfield,all of you are retarded conformists XD
Dean from Lakeland, FlI agree with you ryan ive listened to slipknot all my life and i think they deserve mor credit than writing a song about stalkers.
Ryan from Anonymous, On???? When did cory say vermilion was about a stalker??
He explained that part 1 was about the emotion and neurosis of a break up, possibly from a suicidal person's point of view, and explain that part 2 was about picking up the pieces later on.
Seriously, slipknot deserves more credit than writing songs about "stalkers." They are a bit more creative than that.
Kendall from Kennesaw, GaI think this is one of there greatest songs they've made especially them wearing the "death" masks in the video and live
Thestalker from Santiago, ChileI wanted to say "like 2 babys". Stalker, like corey says, is the right word. I've finished.
Thestalker from Santiago, Chilewhat if i say that the stalker was me...
finally i've found this place to say it, and all subliminal verses happened to me in my school a few years ago before the music album was released, now she's is fine and had 2 like babys, i know it by facebookdotcom. Duality represents the last time that i saw her, now she's too far away from me. I think it's a happy end but to me is so sad.

Don't trust me, who could believe this?
I'm from other country in america and i don't even know who created the songs...
Jack from Claremont, Mnthe heavier parts (hard to say what caught my attention...) always help me get a little mad at anything that might have happened in the day. Then, when the line, "won't let this build up inside of me" comes in, it just helps me let it go. Good song to listen to after a bad day.
Patty from Alamo, Txi remember when i first heard this song it made me sad....cause when i heard it well bad times but when i hear it people say its all emo but they dont get?????
Jakk from Oviedo, Fli love this song along with pt 2 and i also just wanted to point out that vermilion is a redish color...scarlet was coreys wife...scarlet is also a redish color...just saying...stay sic
Slain from Nunya, VaGreat song.... Maggot for life.
Tanner from Rocky Mountain House, Abi think it is about a man who dreams of a women that only exsits in his dreams. a person who wants her to be so bad he becomes so obssesed he stops drinking eating ect. there is a line that says she isnt real, cant make her real. so that leads me to belive she does not exsist for anyone eles only him.
Azreal from Nampa, Idthis is one of the most interesting stories SlipKnoT has to tell
Justin from Franklin, Vawhether this song is about a stalker or not doesnt really mean much, it just the way Corey/Slipknot interpret it, Everyone could read the lyrics to this song and interpret it a different way and have it mean something to them different than others. Its a great song and so is Pt 2, I like songs where i just Corey and the guitar, very mellow feeling, just like Bother with Stone Sour.
Christine from Salem, CtHonestly, I don't think the song is about a stalker. I generally listen to this when I am writing one of my many manuscripts, and it's usually when the male is thinking about the woman he loves. They are love songs, though they may be a bit twisted. I love the lyrics. Though, I like pat one better than part two. The energy of it make it seem less defeated.
Jenna from Utica, NyVermilion reminds me of a story of a man who created a statue of a women. He fell in love with the statue and became so obsessed with it that it drove him crazy. He suffered so much over wanting his creation to be a reality that he no longer ate or slept until his love/obsession for/with the statue of the woman killed him.

The song, part I, makes me think about having such strong feelings about something that it makes you crazy and out of control. You become obsessed and all you think about is the fixed image you have of that person/object. You can't accept any deviations from that image so you lash out at the object of possession and despise yourself for it. The part where it says "she isn't real, I can't make her real." I think is about not accepting the deviations from the image you set up in your mind of that other person now object. Possibly that image is that she loves you back or is in an exclusive relationship with you, but isn't.

Part I of the song is a great poetic example of obsession, power and control, and the potential despicable behavior that is created from that OVERWHELMING feeling (I can't let this build up inside of me). Part II seems to be more about the regret and the refusal to accept the consequences of his actions, which later causes him much lamenting and suffering.

Love the song(s). Two fingers up!
David from Tupelo, MsSlipknot is one of the best metal bands ever. I speak from four decades of listening to metal.
Steph from Aurora, IlI dont have anything to back my theory up except what I take by listening to the song and really I think its about this perfect girl Corey paints a picture of in his head, but thats just it she ISN'T real, he took a girl that he WANTS to be that way, and it turns out that he can never make her the way he wants her to be which all in all is what disappoints him.
Gabreya from Pine Bluff, AkI've heard this song at the end of the "Resident Evil:Apacolypse" credits and its soundtrack. It's pretty good. But, for some crazy reason,some of the times when I listen to this song,I find myself crying at the end of it. I play it during when I'm sad. I'll tell y'all why. It's because the song showing distress for 'that' guy that's thinking about 'this' girl,whether it's a about a stalker or urequited/doomed love or any form of troubled love. And the end song,especially during the screaming makes it so painfully sad. It's dark rock to pain crush sadness at the conclusion. I'm serious. It literally,to me,feels so painful inside,it's like heartaches. Even the parts chorus and some of the verses sounds as if he's suffering inside. "She isn't real, I can't make her real" verse really was the one that did it for me. I was weeping. What I got out of it was that his girl and him weren't happy with eachother anymore and she wasn't the same to him. So,it's like what's the use on working on the relationship when it's dead. I went through the same thing. And that's the sad part. Troubled and unrequited relationships,marriage,courtship,etc., are really hard to take for people. Still a good song,though. That goes for part 2, and it's on the "Underworld:Evolution" soundtrack. It's a beautiful song.
Geneva! from City 0f Evil, CaYou must be thinking of 'THE VIRUS OF LIFE'.
Vermilion definitely is NOT about a stalker going after a woman, both of Vermilion& Vermilion Part 2 are love songs.
Kiddo from London, Englandmy interperetation of this song is that the man has fallen in love with a woman who no longer/ has never existed, cos right at the end he says "she isn't real", which kinda gives it away
Sam from Seymour, TxIn my personal oppinion i feel that the message of this song strongly resembles that of the Pygmalion Myth, hence the name Vermillion. I was quite shocked to see that no one else had noticed the affinity.
Yash Sinha from Kolkata, Indiathe lyrics make a mention of Dahlia ... "My Dahlia, bathed in posession" ... a possible reference to The Black Dahlia Murder ... the song is about a stalker/killer so I feel it is a possibilty
Sawyer from Lexington, ScWikipedia says it's an unrequited love song, both parts.
Carl from Buffalo, NyI like the (Terry Date mix) version better than the actual vol 3 one.
Tristan from Omaha, Negreat song but i like part 2 better but i like heavier songs such as disasterpiece, left behind, and wait and bleed.
Billy from Otway, OhYou forgot a fact. This is in Resident Evil:Apocalypse. It plays at the end of the movie,during the credits. oddly enough,another of their songs was in the first movie!
Marshall from Flandreau, SdVermilion is a small college town in Southeast South Dakota. Slipknot used to Play in little towns like Tea, South Dakota, before anybody knew who they were.
Max from Austin, TxI'm not a big fan of Slipknot. They embrace filth in a bad way, not at all like the grunge movement of the early 90s. This, though, along with Part 2 and very good songs.
Devon from Westerville, Ohboth vermillion one and two are pretty freakin' sweet. slipknot+acoustic on second just sounds cool.
Sean Harris from Hatfield, PaI like part 2 better, Corey's voice sometimes is better slowed down, but his screaming is great too.
Jeremy from Laffeyette, LaOk I must of been wasted becasue I spelled Lafayette wrong, but Vermilion probably means something along the lines of the chick he is talking about, is just made up in his head.
I mean just listen to the last parts of both parts.
"Sheeeeeee isn't real. Iiiiiiiii Can't
make her real."
Richard from Chino Hills, Cai agree with wendy there both great songs.
-stay sic
Medusa from Spokane, Wa i did'nt think it was all that bad it showed a nother sied to his voise that me personley didnt care for its not liked he sucked or any thing its just to soft for me
Wendy from Ft. Worth, TxJAKE, Depressing? Come on man!
Wendy from Ft. Worth, TxObviously there haven't been many REAL slpiknot fans posting comments. I LOVE both parts of this song and I hope they keep stretching their musical talents.
Jessica from Exeter, CaI love part 2..I was never really into slipknot until I heard that song..now I love them
Kenny from Ubly, MiSlipknot attemptimg acoutics = cool.
Slipknot attemtping metal =not so cool, but listenable.
Mike from Lisbon, NdI like both part 1 and 2. i like part 2 better tho. I hate people who complain about part2 being acoustic saying "Slipknot is not for accoustic". I loved the addition of this song, geniusly written. dont get me wrong tho i LOVE the metal delivered from iowa and S/T
Erik from Willow Hill, Papart 1 and 2 are awesome. These songs have a very dark freaky sound to them. i've never heard slipknot do a slower song like vermilion part 2.

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