When the Shit Goes Down

"When the Shit Goes Down" ^[a] is a song by American hip hop group Cypress Hill. It was released in 1993 by Ruffhouse and Columbia Records as the second single from the group's second studio album, Black Sunday (1993). The song is written by Louis Freese, Lawrence Muggerud and Lawrence Emmett Dickens, and produced by Muggerud. It was released exclusively in Australia and Europe.

Music video

A music video for the song was directed by F. Gary Gray.^[1]

Track listing

European 12"

Side A
No.	Title	Length
1.	"When the Shit Goes Down" (Extended Version)	4:12
2.	"When the Shit Goes Down" (instrumental)	3:09

Side B
No.	Title	Length
1.	"The Phuncky Feel One" (Extended Version)	5:02
2.	"How I Could Just Kill a Man" (The Killer Mix)	4:04

European promo single

No.	Title	Length
1.	"When the Shit Goes Down" (Extended Version)	4:12
2.	"When the Shit Goes Down" (instrumental)	3:09

European maxi single

No.	Title	Length
1.	"When the Ship Goes Down" (Radio Version)	3:09
2.	"When the Shit Goes Down" (Extended Version)	4:12
3.	"Latin Lingo" (Prince Paul mix)	4:41
4.	"The Phuncky Feel One" (Extended Version)	5:02

Australian maxi single

No.	Title	Length
1.	"When the Ship Goes Down" (Radio Version)	3:09
2.	"When the Shit Goes Down" (Extended Version)	4:12
3.	"Lick a Shot" (Vocal UD version)	3:24
4.	"Scooby Doo"	3:41
5.	"Latin Lingo" (Prince Paul mix)	4:41
6.	"The Phuncky Feel One" (Extended Version)	5:02

Charts

Chart (1993)	Peak position
Australia (ARIA)^[2]	47
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)^[3]	62
Ireland (IRMA)^[4]	25
New Zealand (RIANZ)^[5]	5
UK Singles (OCC)^[6]	19
UK Airplay (Music Week)^[7]	32
UK Dance (Music Week)^[8]	8
UK Club Chart (Music Week)^[9]	45

In popular culture

The song was used in the 2001 film Bully.^[10]
An edited version of the song was used in the 2007 film Freedom Writers.^[11]
The song was used in the pilot episode of Hello Ladies.^[12]
The song was featured in the 2013 film This Is the End.^[13]
The song was used in a second-season episode of The Affair.^[14]
The song was featured in the 2018 film Mid90s.^[15]
The song was used in the episode "Ezekiel Patrol" of the 2019 TV series Doom Patrol.^[16]
The song was used in the 2019 film Guns Akimbo.

Notes

"When the Ship Goes Down" on edited versions

References

"Production Notes" (PDF). Billboard. July 10, 1993. p. 31. Retrieved September 11, 2025.
"Discography Cypress Hill". australian-charts.com. Hung Medien. Retrieved February 22, 2015.
"Eurochart Hot 100" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 10, no. 41. October 9, 1993. p. 15. Retrieved March 24, 2024.
"Discography Cypress Hill". Hung Medien. Archived from the original on March 14, 2012. Retrieved February 22, 2015.
"Discography Cypress Hill". charts.nz. Hung Medien. Retrieved February 22, 2015.
Zywietz, Tobias. "Chart Log UK: Chris C. – CZR". Zobbel. Retrieved February 22, 2015.
"The Airplay Chart" (PDF). Music Week. October 16, 1993. p. 34. Retrieved May 2, 2024.
"Dance Singles" (PDF). Music Week. October 2, 1993. p. 26. Retrieved April 9, 2021.
"The RM Club Chart" (PDF). Music Week, in Record Mirror (Dance Update Supplemental Insert). October 2, 1993. p. 4. Retrieved May 11, 2023.
"Bully (2001) - Soundtracks". IMDb. Retrieved February 23, 2015.
"Freedom Writers (2007) - Soundtracks". IMDb. Retrieved February 23, 2015.
"Hello Ladies (TV Series) Pilot (2013) - Soundtracks". IMDb. Retrieved September 14, 2016.
"This Is the End (2013) - Soundtracks". IMDb. Retrieved February 23, 2015.
"The Affair (TV Series) 209 (2015)- Soundtracks". IMDb. Retrieved September 14, 2016.
Matthew Strauss (October 16, 2018). "Jonah Hill Shares Mid90s Playlist Ft. Nirvana, GZA, Pixies, Tribe, More: Listen". Pitchfork. Archived from the original on November 19, 2018. Retrieved November 19, 2018.
"Doom Patrol (TV Series) Ezekiel Patrol (2019)". IMDb. Retrieved May 27, 2016.