"Down" is a song by the American rock band 311. It is the first song on their third album, 311, and became their first number-one single on the US Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart. An accompanying video for the song was in rotation on MTV at the time of its release. The song was included as the first song on their live album, Live, and on their greatest hits album, Greatest Hits '93âÂÂ'03. Since its release, it has also become a staple of their live concerts, and is usually dedicated "to all the old-school 311 fans." However, following the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, it was placed on the list of post-9/11 inappropriate titles distributed by Clear Channel.
On the lyrical inspiration, Nick Hexum said, "It was the idea, 'If I ever didn't thank you, then just let me do it now.' It was both to our fans and me saying to the other band members, 'What a trip it's been to come from Nebraska, with pretty much nothing but a dream, and then to see it come true, and the unity we have in the band - the all for one, one for all spirit.'" "Down" contains dancehall vocals, hard rock guitars and turntable scratches. At Spin, the song was compared to the band Bad Brains, and described it as having a "dynamic" verse.
The music video consists of the band performing in a warehouse and includes scenes of the band members singing the song in various backgrounds, such as a rotating coin, a circle with flowing sparks, dancing in front of a paper wall display. Also included are scenes in which the band members are meditating with an obese spiritual man who sometimes floats in the air through the power of meditation while one of the band members experiences it.