Along with “Colorblind,” “Undertow” is one of the most memorable tracks from Chroma Key’s first album.
The song is told from the point of view of a narrator who is haunted by the end of a relationship, and feels the pressing need to get out of town in order to escape his anxiety.
Last night hit the net
Woke up in a sweat
Same scene different dream sudden ending
Grabbed a pillow and covered my head
Kicked the phone off the side of the bed
Tried to sing but the damn thing kept on ringing
I know
I'll go to Mexico
Someplace nothing changes
Maybe I'll call on the phone
Maybe I'll write you a letter
That's what I meant when I said goodbye
Backed the shovelhead out of the shed
Hit the interstate hard heading left
The street below is water flowing undertow
There's a song that I'd rather forget
But I don't think I've shaken it yet
As soon as I do
I'm gonna write us another one
I know
I'll go to Mexico
Someplace nothing changes
Maybe I'll call on the phone
Maybe I'll write you a letter
That's what I meant when I said goodbye
I know
I'll go to Mexico
Someplace nothing changes
Maybe I'll call on the phone
Maybe I'll write you a letter
Maybe I'll die maybe I'll learn how to fly
That's what I meant when I said
Undertow was written by Mark Zonder & Kevin Moore.
Undertow was produced by Kevin Moore & Steve Tushar.
Chroma Key released Undertow on Wed Dec 16 1998.