The Nameless

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

  • This song is about a person who has mixed feelings about his or her mate. This person has this obsession over this person that probably involves jealousy. They hate to love and love to hate one another. These kind of interpersonal struggles often show up in the lyrics Slipknot lead singer Corey Taylor writes for the band.
  • "The Nameless" is on Slipknot's 2004 album Vol. 3: The Subliminal Verses, produced by Rick Rubin, whose career dates back to the '80s when he worked with Beastie Boys, Run-D.M.C. and Slayer. Slipknot and Rubin didn't gel - Corey Taylor had this to say about the sessions:

    "He would stroke his huge beard trying to get as much of the food out of it as he could, and he would say, 'Play it again. Stop. Do that over.'"

Comments: 20

  • Jennifer Stevenson from Eugene OrI can relate to both sides of the coin in this song. Love becomes hate becomes loss becomes obsession becomes domination. Love and hate are the same emotion. I have been the object of the obsession I have been the obsessed. I'm obsessed with more than one person or thing infact the ideation of love and it's futile existence it can't ever be real. Maybe that's why it's nameless
  • Logan Roca from Caloforniai always thought it was the mind of a husband in the 50s/60s since most of them would beat there wifes "i never wanted anybody more than i wanted you. the only thing i ever really loved was hate" think about it
  • Bobbi Doll (jab) from WashingtonMost people assume that the person that is addicted to the drug is abusing drugs. That's a misconception.

    The message behind this song is to describe how drugs abuse an addict rather than an addict abusing drugs.

    Think of it as a man debating with the drug itself. As if the drug is talking to him.

    The man starts the debate...
    By the seventh line, the drug knows it's in control and begins to mock him...
    As he becomes more submissive to the drug, the drug becomes more aggressive.

    The drug being ....Herion.


    Man = Pathetic / Drug = benign
    Drug = Accept it / Man = undermine
    Drug = Your opinion / Man = my justification
    Drug = Happy / Man = safe
    Drug = Servent / Man = caged
    Drug = Malice / Man = Utter weakness
    No toleration

    At this point the drug knows it's in control and it just progressively becomes more and more violent to the person.

    The more a person is abused the more submissive they become.

    My thoughts on the song;
    This is a very unique
    illustration of the addict at the mercy of his addiction. I applaud the writers behind the song because they have a true understanding of the struggles behind addiction.

    My thoughts on addiction;
    A drug addict doesn't want to be addicted. It's ludicrous to think that is a life choice for a person. Could a person make different choices to prevent themselves from becoming an addict? Sure they could , just remember though , No one says "When I grow up I want to be a drug addict".

    Addiction is a side effect. It's not on purpose, and it's not by choice.

    Truth is; drugs are never the problem.
    Drugs typically is somebody's solution to a problem.
    The side effect of that is addiction.
    (when using my verbiage give credit where credit is due)
    BobbiDoll didyamisme gmail.com
    Subject: give credit where credit is due

    If you know someone that is struggling with addiction be supportive.
  • Ele from New York NyThis song is about the Old Testament God.
  • Zack from Noblesville, InI see that is the way I am right now. This a Badass Song.
  • Jd from Paoli, InThis song is the s--t. When i first heard it i was like blah and i had to play vermillion but when it switches from screaming to a light chorus it is so awesome. No doubt this song is about obsession and how much you have lost control of your life. Corey taylor joey jordison mick thompson all the nine i love you guys. LONG LIVE MAGGOTS
  • Michel from Bakersfield,blah blah blah
    you guys talk to much
    this ones cool but it annoys me when you say "I think the song is about"
  • Jerimias from Nuuk, GreenlandThis song rocks!
    I'm always having "love-issues" and this one really makes me feel better.
    Stay Sic!
  • Jackson from Nottingham, EnglandThis song to me is like a continuation
    of purity, except it's told from the point
    of view of the kidnapper. Best song on
    subliminal verses along with before i forget
    and the blister exists.
  • Frances from Fpo, ItalyThese are some interesting predictions, but i always thought it was about a dudette he loved, and then raped. Mostly from the "The only thing I ever really loved was hurting you," and the "Stay inside the hole/Let me take control/You were nothing more/You were something less/Something has to give/Something has to break," (I think you can guess what that would be," "Fingers on your skin/Let my savage in" Posiibly the "You deserve it"s could mean that she broke up with him, and he raped her because he was mad...
  • Jonathan from Newcastle Upon Tyne, EnglandThis song is about a man who abuses his partner, hence the lyrics "Ive never wanted anybody more than i wanted you...the only thing i ever really loved was hurting you" also the person that Corey is portraying is a very controlling person "Decide...(will you die for me) Or give up...(the only chance you had of being free)
  • Andrew from Tacoma, Waone of my favorite slipknot songs
  • Dean from Bristol, CtThis song is about a man's relationship to God. An unhappy one at that, where he feels God is extremely selfish for demanding such attention and dedication. God is bragging about his pwer in this song as well ("Stay inside the hole - let me take control
    Dominate
    You were nothing more - you were something less
    Innocent
    Something has to give - something has to break
    Omnipresent") Man is nothing more than an innocent simpleton, God is the Omnipresent, dominating and controlling one.
  • Sean from York, Sci agree this is the best song of all times + eeyore and the heretic song "If you?re five five five...then I?m six six six" but then a gen i like all there songs they did i am like the biggest fan of all times slipknot for ever any one agree
  • Justin from Little Rock, Arthis is most definatly the sweetest song on vol 3
  • Brett from Rockton, Ilthis is a very awesome song im really not to impressed with slipknots newer stuff though
  • Alice from York, EnglandI think that this song, Before I forget and Danger Keep Away are the best songs off this album. Anyone Agree?
  • Sean Harris from Hatfield, PaProbably the best song on Vol. 3.
    LONG LIVE MAGGOTS!!!
  • Richard from Chino Hills, Caone of the best songs off vol.3
  • Mike from Lisbon, NdVery awesome song. One of the best on the new album. People keep saying slipknot is gettin worse since volume 3 came out but atleast they arent puttin out the same stuff over and over again. LONG LIVE THE KNOT
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