This song was written in response to the success of Bush's multi-million-selling debut album Sixteen Stone after years of failure. Frontman Gavin Rossdale told NME: "When you first climb that ladder if you're lucky enough, and I was lucky enough to have that insane success with it, it's a bit overwhelming in some ways. I didn't go to school where you learn how to prepare for any kind of success, I was English, I'd failed for many years, I was not used to being successful – and there's something about being swept up in that success that's daunting and really overwhelming... it wasn't a complaint, it was just an observation." Rossdale added that "Swallowed" was a bit like his version of "Help!," although he was quick to say he's not "as good as The Beatles."
The video, directed by Jamie Morgan, shows the band performing at a house party with some odd characters. The neon crucifix later appeared on the cover of the band's 1997 album Deconstructed.
This song was nominated for a 1996 Grammy for Best Hard Rock Performance, but lost to the Smashing Pumpkins' "The End Is the Beginning Is the End."
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