Dead Wood is a single by the American rock band Snow from their eponymous sophomore album. It was one of their first singles to land anywhere on the top 100 charts, breaking them into the mainstream music scene, and is best known for its bizarre music video which had heavy rotation on MTV.
Meaning[]
The song centers on self-awareness, especially when it comes to being ignorant. Vocalist Kirk Campbell based the song on an ex-girlfriend who kept denying the fact that Campbell broke up with her. A picture of her in grade school is used on the album cover.
Music Video[]
The song gained notoriety for its music video, directed by Tambry Camacho.
The video centers on Campbell, who's wandering around Rockport Beach. As he does so, he attempts to interact with other people there, but is met with hostile reactions, generally leading to violent physical attacks. Campbell is mutilated, beaten and mauled, but continues to mouth the lyrics as if nothing bad is happening. There're cuts to the band performing in an all black room, with the background changing to one with deforming 3D shapes, along with naked dancers with chicken masks during the more gruesome injuries. The video ends with Campbell getting hauled away by an ambulance, only for them to intentionally leave the back door open, with Campbell falling out on the gurney and getting hit by a passing truck.