Album: Slipknot (1999)

License This Song 

Songfacts®:

• Running 8:23, this beastly banger from Slipknot's first album is a pure expression of rage and energy. The word "Scissors" never shows up in the lyric, but relates to the opening lines:
  
  I play doctor for five minutes flat
  Before I cut my heart open
  And let the air out
  
  It's a very dark song written from a deranged point of view, which is Slipknot's bailiwick. Like watching a horror movie, it a way of confronting and releasing the demons inside us. Live performances of the song were a rather visceral experience.
• The lyrics were written by lead drummer Joey Jordison, but the words at the end of the song were completely improvised by lead singer Corey Taylor.
• This is the last song on Slipknot's self-titled album. On the CD, about 3 minutes after the song ends, a hidden track called "Eeyore" plays. These hidden tracks became unhidden in the streaming era.
• Slipknot is an unlikely success story: a 9-piece group from Iowa playing very aggressive music. When Songfacts asked if he was surprised that this whole thing worked, Slipknot drummer Chris Fehn (#3) replied: "I wasn't. The songs are just too good, and the players are just too good. It was like it was meant to be. And then when you throw in our stage presence and the things that we do on top of that, it was just kind of like a no-brainer that this band is gonna be as big as it was, to me. I mean, we'd still be doing it if it wasn't. I just knew it from the beginning, that this band was going to be something special, and the world needed something like this." Asked about a particular song he feels is very strong, Fehn said: "The song 'Scissors' off of the first record is sick, man. It's just so incredibly nightmarish and such an awesome song to play live."
• Reflecting on this track in a 2020 Knotfest interview, Corey Taylor said it's his favorite Slipknot song. "I love it because every time we would play it, the whole second half was improvised. We played at each other, free form, free prose, everything. It was violent and gorgeous," he explained.
  
  "Nothing will ever replace it for me - when we stopped playing it live, I had a hard time enjoying our sets for a very long time," Taylor added.
• "Scissors" was written before the band even had a record deal. Back then, Slipknot wasn't afraid to get creative with their sound. They used unconventional instruments like cans, kegs, pipes, and even a repurposed garage door spring.
  
  During a Reddit Q&A, Clown described using the manipulated garage door spring sound as the starting point for "Scissors."
  
  "I had gotten a garage door spring and Andy Roul and I stretched It on a keg and he went up and down the spring on the keg with a pipe making what you hear so if I remember correctly that sort of started the vibe and direction where that took off," he said. "Beginning with this instrument."

Comments: 17

• Some Idiot from The BackroomsWeen from Maggotland, I think that that is actually Corey puking but I could be wrong.
• Ween from MaggotlandAt the last few seconds of the song does Corey puke or is that just a sample?
• Somebody Who Likes Slipknot (unknown Maggot) from My LocationThat’s a great idea man. I wanna hear all their songs live, and I wanna see this live too.
• Duje from CroatiaCorey bring that song back on next tour next year
• Zack from Noblesville, InI played doctor for 5 minutes before I cut my heart open to the let the air out.
  BAD@$$ SONG!!
• Nikki from Pheonix, AzNo dude it totaly makes sense, because halfway through the talking afte whoever throws up he says 'Just pretend it's pudding or somthing'
• Devorak from Baltimore , MdYes bubba, Slipknot took a time machine 8 years into the future and recored 2 girls one cup. Here's your sign.
• Geoffrey from Titusville, FlIt sucks that they haven't played it live more often, but it definitely has been performed live more than once. The lyrics at the end though in concert never live up to whats recorded on the album.
• Broc from Ass, MeBubba, how could that possibly be the audio of Slipknot watching 2 Girls 1 Cup, when this song came out in 1999, and 2 Girls 1 Cup didn't come about til at least late 2007.
• Bubba from Reno, Nveeyore at the very end of the track is just the audio recording of the band watching the video 2 Girls 1 Cup
• Ashley from Zephyrhills, Fli LOVE his song!!! its odd and the beginning where he is singin..."i play doctor for5 miniutes flat..." is my mos favoritest part
• Jerimias from Nuuk, GreenlandThis song makes me feel... psychopatic.
  Love it!
• Rj from Rushville, NeLOVE IT!!! sooo slipknot...
  Sucks theyve only played it live once... But it crazy....
• Tyler from Des Moines, Iabest slipknot song, fun to play on drums
• Mike from Lisbon, NdI love this song. Its filled with a mixture of emotions and insanity, and it is by far one top five songs on the album. I love how it starts off quiet and how it enters into the insane screams.
• Yorick from Amsterdam, Netherlandsthe section where you hear the puking is actually a test to see if the new bandmember (Chris Fehn) is good enough to join the band, and is sick enough. They watch a porn-movie with poop-sex in it. If you listen it closely you can hear them say things about it.
  
  The bonus track Eeyore is about a man at concerts they know from the local-places they played that always beated up girls and little kids.
  Also is said that the song is made cause they were in the studio and they were watching television and they suddenly saw Winnie the Pooh, they got inspired by Eeyore.
• Jeff from Dayton, OhAfter scissors ends theres a lot of silence then you hear something about someone puking. ive never actually listened to the whole section where they're talking, but i think its shawn. I read somewhere it was initiation.

More Songfacts:

The DilemmaYou Me at Six

The You Me at Six song "The Dilemma" got its title from the Vince Vaughn movie of the same name.

Video GamesLana Del Rey

The game Lana Del Rey sings about in "Video Games" is World of Warcraft - her ex used to play it all the time.

Electric AvenueEddy Grant

The "Electric Avenue" in the Eddy Grant song is a real street. It got its name because it was the first street in London with electric lights.

Bust A MoveYoung MC

Young MC shows up in the George Clooney movie Up In The Air performing his hit "Bust A Move."

Kiss On My ListHall & Oates

"Kiss On My List" by Hall & Oates is actually an anti-love song - the kiss is just one item on a list, and by no means the best.

Don't Dream It's OverCrowded House

"Don't Dream It's Over" is the biggest hit for Crowded House, whose lead singer, Neil Finn, sang it on tour when he joined Fleetwood Mac. He wrote the song when he was feeling a bit lost as a way of urging himself on.

Editor's Picks

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 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 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 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 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 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."