Suicide Note (song)

"Suicide Note Pt. I"
Single by Pantera
from the album The Great Southern Trendkill
Released	May 22, 1996
Recorded	1995
Genre	Acoustic rock
Length	4:44
Label	Eastwest
Writer(s)	Pantera
Producer	Terry Date
Pantera singles chronology
"Drag the Waters" (1996) "Suicide Note Pt. I" (1996) "Floods" (1996)
The Great Southern Trendkill track listing "13 Steps to Nowhere" (5) "Suicide Note Pt. I" (6) "Suicide Note Pt. II" (7)

"Suicide Note" is a two-part song written and recorded by American heavy metal band Pantera for their eighth studio album, The Great Southern Trendkill. The first half of the song was released as the album's second single in 1996.

Song structure

"Suicide Note Pt. I" is arguably the most diverse and experimental song Pantera ever recorded, as it features 12-string acoustic guitars and keyboards, and no distorted electric guitar. Dimebag Darrell told Guitar World magazine in 1996 that he wrote all the guitar parts to the song the first time he picked up a 12 string guitar that Washburn Guitars sent him as a thank you for his then new endorsement of the company.

Its follow-up, "Suicide Note Pt. II", in contradiction to Pt. 1, is a very heavy song, featuring low tunings, screamed vocals throughout and a breakdown at its climax.

Lyrics

The songs' lyrics describe suicide attempts, namely slitting of the wrist.

Live performance

During Pantera concerts in the mid-1990s, "Suicide Note Pt. I" would often be played on the PA, before the curtain dropped at the end of the song and "Suicide Note Pt. II" would start with dramatic effect.

Personal

• Philip Anselmo – lead vocals
• Dimebag Darrell – 12 string acoustic guitar (Pt. I), guitar (Pt. II)
• Rex Brown – bass (Pt. II)
• Vinnie Paul – drums (Pt. II)
• Seth Putnam (of Anal Cunt) - additional vocals (Pt. II)
• Big Ross - keyboards (Pt. I)