"Vermilion" was the second single from American heavy metal band Slipknot's third album, . When the band plays the song live, they switch from their ordinary masks to "death masks"; each an actual cast of each member's face. However, during the All Hope Is Gone tour, all members except Craig and Paul did not wear the death masks for the song. "Vermilion Pt. 2" is a continuation of the first part. The time signature in Pt. 1 starts off as 4/4, but features a switch to 5/4 before the second verse. From the third verse onwards, the song is in 3/4 time.
Background
"Vermilion Pt. 2"
"Vermilion Pt. 2" is the continuation of the story in Part 1. It features two acoustic guitars, a cello, a piano and Corey Taylor's baritone-styled vocals. The melody and the overriding theme run through both versions, making them integral to each other. It features on the SlipknotDVD, ' and was performed by Taylor and Jim Root on radio stationKISS-FM. The cover for "Pt. 2" consists of the "Vermilion" single cover, with a red and yellow tint, as opposed to the pink and gray tint of Pt. 1. A remix – "Vermilion Pt. 2 " – appears on the ' and the special edition of All Hope Is Gone. "The differences are subtle — 'Vermilion Pt. 1' is about the enrapturing, the buildup, the anticipation and the neurosis," says Taylor. "'Part 2' is the aftermath, the pieces that have to be picked up later, and maybe the guilt of having lived through it".
Music videos
Both songs have music videos. "Pt. 1" was directed by Tony Petrossian and percussionist Shawn Crahan and "Pt. 2" was directed by Marc Klasfeld. Both videos were shot in Los Angeles in late–August 2004. The actress is Janna Bossier. There is speculation over whether or not she was directly related to the band. "Pt. 1" shows a girl living a tortured life in a crowded city. She walks in contortions and twists as people walk by in a blur, not noticing her pain. The only time she gets noticed is when she wears a Maggot Mask that makes the members of the band appear and dance with the girl. The first time she puts on the mask, the members appear in front of her and put on a white mask that enables their true faces to be seen for a couple of seconds. Then the band dance with her. A caterpillar is seen growing in the video; at the end scene it turns into a butterfly. The video ends with the girl screaming and tearing her hair out in misery. "Pt. 2" shows the same girl; this time in a field peacefully sleeping. The wind begins to lift her and sway her back and forth. Eventually, the viewer realizes the girl is dead; however, she appears more peaceful than in the first video. The music video is available on the CD single, and the DVD , released in 2006.
