Iowa

Album: Iowa (2001)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This 15-minute mammoth closes out Slipknot's 2001 album Iowa. It's a reworking of a song called "Killers Are Quiet" that can be found on their independently released 1996 debut Mate, Feed, Kill, Repeat. The song is about someone who kills women and recreates them in his own image, like a living doll. Slipknot's songs often tell twisted tales - horror movies sometimes serve as inspiration.
  • The song's title is not in the lyrics but is a reference to where the band is from. By naming the song and album Iowa, they triggered interview questions that let them talk about their midwest roots.
  • Slipknot drummer Chris Fehn (#3) mentions this as one of the strongest of their songs: "The song 'Iowa,' I just like the dark, heavy make-you-think-about-stuff songs," he told Songfacts. "I love 'Eeyore,' and the classics too, 'Spit It Out.'"
  • Frontman Corey Taylor recalled the recording of this song in an interview with Metal Hammer: "'Iowa' was such a tribal experience. I can remember us in that room, we only played it twice. What you're hearing is live. I recorded the vocals naked, completely f--ked up."

Comments: 23

  • Dujeamizic from CroatiaIowa...that song rips evry time i lisent on computer. Corey was cutting himself while recording it. I don't know how Ross could just let to Corey to do something like this.
  • Tristin from Waterloo, Iathis is an amazing song
  • Jeff from Granite City, IlWhile Slipknot was recording this song, Corey Taylor was completely naked and cutting himself with broken glass, then he proceeded to vomit on himself.
  • Will from New York, Nythey should make a sic video for this song
  • Jackson from NottinghamThis song helps me fall asleep.
    Luv paul's bass on it!
  • Jerimias from Nuuk, GreenlandThis is one of the songs that's on my mind right now. Got a f*ckin' heart ache and somehow this makes me feel better...
    But it's also a shame that they didn't use the old lyrics from "Killers Are Quiet"... In my opinion, these lyrics were awesome!
  • Rj from Rushville, NeThis song is sweet...
    And it is known they only recorded this song once in the studio... And they say cory was also naked cutting nimself during the recording...
  • Thecyndicate from Las Vegas, NvIf you want to play ANYTHING backwards, put your CD in the computer and use ANY audio program like WaveLab, push Control + R to reverse the song.

    Did you guys know that this song really happend?
    I saw it on Believe it or Not. Some guy I think down in Florida was in love with this young girl that died, he dug her up and kept her in his house. He slept with her and everything. He was convicted and her body was taken and buried in a secret location. To this day nobody knows where she is buried. They know what cemetery, but not where exactly at.
  • Mike from Petersham, MaAnyone notice that the lyrics posted here are for the SOAD song 'Darts'?
  • Mike from Rangely, CoThis is a scary song when you play it at night in the dark.
  • Morbid_vampire from La, CaOn Joey's drum solo at the AM ring (I think) it goes straight from this song. If you match the tempos from 9.0 and the beginning of the solo, it seems like the instruments are on a phaser opposite to the 9.0 one where it dosen't go directly to the drum solo. But yea, found that damn siblimial message too. Took me f--king forever. Stay (SIC)
  • James from Ottawa, CanadaAt the beginning of this song, the "whistling" or "screaming" you hear is actually a sample from an old Three Stooges movie (I think its one where theyre in ancient rome or something), and it is from the scene where they sneak into a girls changeroom (the girls start to scream, and that sample is repeated over and over). Just some neat little trivia for all you maggots.
  • Marco from Brownsville , TxThis song rocks!!
    This song is first soothing with the repeating bass line in the beginning, then it gets hard with the awesome riff.The way Corey and the rest of the band go all out, screaming at the end of the song is the best ive heard ever! this is my favorite song ever!
    oh! and the lyrics arent right! these are the lyrics to System of a Down's "Darts"
  • Medusa from Spokane, Wahow can u play something backwards
  • JosÃ? from Reidsville, NcThere's a number of recording processes to get the backwards message. I've heard it too.
  • Mike from Lisbon, NdThis song is terrifing to listen to at night. I was listening to it and i looked out my window and saw a face. it turned out to me my friend tho, not a phsycotic killer.
  • Yo-mama from Las Vegas, NvHow did you manage play it backwards Ian because that sounds pretty hard to do with a cd
  • Jim from Oxnard, CaIt's a good song to play at Halloween and whenever religious people spread their propaganda every Saturday morning.
  • Hayley from Mckinney, Txthis song is scary when youre about to go to bed
  • Summer from Midilothian, Txi'm going to play this song at my wedding
  • Chris from Monticello, KyYes it is true, if you play parts of it backwards, you can hear Corey say "Don't look at me!" and grunt a bit.
  • Hassan from Nyc, Nyhaha Ian, really?
  • Ian from New York, NyIf you play part of this backwards then you can hear Corey saying, "Don't look at me!"
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Graham Nash

Graham NashSongwriter Interviews

Graham Nash tells the stories behind some of his famous songs and photos, and is asked about "yacht rock" for the first time.

Ralph Casale  - Session Pro

Ralph Casale - Session ProSongwriter Interviews

A top New York studio musician, Ralph played guitar on many '60s hits, including "Lightnin' Strikes," "A Lover's Concerto" and "I Am A Rock."

Rob Halford of Judas Priest

Rob Halford of Judas PriestSongwriter Interviews

Rob Halford dives into some of his Judas Priest lyrics, talking about his most personal songs and the message behind "You've Got Another Thing Comin'."

Corey Hart

Corey HartSongwriter Interviews

The Canadian superstar talks about his sudden rise to fame, and tells the stories behind his hits "Sunglasses At Night," "Boy In The Box" and "Never Surrender."

Incongruent Opening Acts

Incongruent Opening ActsSong Writing

Here's what happens when an opening act is really out of place with the headliner, like when Beastie Boys opened for Madonna.

Edwin McCain

Edwin McCainSongwriter Interviews

"I'll Be" was what Edwin called his "Hail Mary" song. He says it proves "intention of the songwriter is 180 degrees from potential interpretation by an audience."