Kaleo is an Icelandic rock band that formed at Mosfellsbær in 2012. The group consists of frontman JJ Julius Son, drummer David Antonsson, bassist Daniel Kristjansson and guitarist Rubin Pollock.
Originally released on August 7, 2015, the song gradually gained heat after featuring in various TV shows including the season five finale of Suits, the sixth episode of The Vampire Diaries' eighth season and a trailer for the Netflix series Orange Is the New Black. It also played on the FIFA 16 soundtrack, and a television ad for the UK retailer Boots UK. As a result of the ongoing exposure, "Way Down We Go" made its Hot 100 debut in January 2017, more than a year after the track first charted on Hot Rock Songs.
Julius Son penned the tune around its central riff. He explained:
"I first wrote the riff, and then added the verse and finally the chorus. It's a very bluesy song, especially if you play it acoustically. It probably all started tapping my feet and messing around on the guitar."
Lyrics
Oh, father tell me, do we get what we deserve?
Oh, we get what we deserve
And way down we go
Oh, way down we go
Say, way down we go
Way down we go
Whoa, you let your feet run wild
Time has come as we all go down
Yeah but for the fall—oh, my—
Do you dare to look them right in the eyes?
'Cause they will run you down, down 'til the dark
Yes, and they will run you down, down 'til you fall
And they will run you down, down to your core
Yeah, 'til you can't crawl no more
And way down we go
Way down we go
Say, way down we go
'Cause they will run you down, down 'til you're caught
Way down we go
Whoa, baby, yeah
Whoa, baby
Baby
Way down we go
Yeah
And way down we go
Way down we go
Say, way down we go
Way down we go