

The sins he committed while drinking also followed him mentally, forever (shackled). He is mentally shackled by the past teachings of religion even as he moves through time and space (that FOLLOWED you). How do you shackle yourself to a shadow? Shackled implies permanence, immovable, something very stable and limiting. Shackled to the shadows is one of the most beautiful lines in any song, ever. Sins make him blind, again alcohol does not eliminate or prevent problems or issues it just covers them up hence he is blind, his eyes are just holes now because he can no longer see, same for religion. You control me (Religion and Alcohol controls you) they both STEAL your sole, that is the irony of this genius song, the religion is stealing his soul and so is alcohol. The rest becomes obvious once you realize he is comparing drinking to Religion as virtually the same sin. (religion make me strong, alcohol make me strong). Religion (SIN) makes you strong because you believe someone or some sort of arbitrary righteousness will protect you. Drinking makes you strong because it dulls your senses so you are unaware of the pain and danger that lurks around and within you. In this song Religion and Alcohol ARE the Sin. Alcohol physically clouds his thinking the same way. Holy Water clouds your thinking because of the nonsense that religion can spew. This is about the damage that religion can do and compares Holy Water to being an Alcoholic. This song is NOT about finding religion as many have stated. This song is featured in the film Middle Men.Song MeaningSIN - This is an ironic song in which RELIGION IS THE SIN.The song was featured in The Sopranos episode " The Happy Wanderer"."Down" was featured in advertisements promoting the release of No.The song is a playable track in the game Guitar Hero: On Tour Decades.The song was covered by AJ Mclean of the Backstreet Boys during his first solo live show.This video was directed by Robert Hales and Mark Racco.

On occasion, the song's lyrics will also flash on either screen. The screens alternate between images of the band performing this song at the House of Blues in Las Vegas, a woman in a room that either shows her underwater or surrounded by fire raining down on her, and shots of a coffee mug falling to the floor and shattering. A white light continuously flickers in the room as confetti is raining down. The song's music video features a dark room with two projection screens. US Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles ( Billboard) In 2015, Loudwire and Stereogum ranked the song number four and number three, respectively, on their lists of the 10 greatest Stone Temple Pilots songs.

"Down" appears on the compilation albums Thank You and Buy This. In 2001, it was nominated for Best Hard Rock Performance at the Grammy Awards, an award STP had previously won for the song " Plush" in 1994.
