The inspiration for this song came from an Afghanistan veteran Machine Head frontman Robb Flynn knew. On returning home, the serviceman's relationship with his girlfriend fell apart. Having not being faithful to him, she then got paranoid about her soldier boyfriend messing around on her, and the situation eventually drove him nuts. When the veteran shared his experience with Flynn, he commented that they "were just circling the drain." The phrase stuck with the singer, and a few days later he incorporated it into the song he'd been working on.
Flynn was experiencing his own upheaval, having had two band members quit and two longtime friends divorce. "Circle the Drain" came out of that frustrating time. He explained: "It's a sad song about relationships gone bad, but accepting that it's over, and making yourself move on. It's written in a more metaphorical tone, as I didn't want it to be about my life, but to be about anybody's life who may be going through a rough time. It may not be a song that connects with everyone, especially those in a solid relationship, but if the day ever comes when your life goes awry, this song will be a lifeline for you, something to help pull you up out of that dark place."
Flynn's original conversation with the serviceman took place on Valentine's Day. When "Circle the Drain" got released exactly a year later on February 14, 2020, the irony wasn't lost on the singer. He described it in the press release as "the anti-Valentine's Day song."
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