Tuatara is a long-running project led by Mad Season/Screaming Trees drummer Barrett Martin. This song features amongst others, regular collaborators saxophonist Skerik of Critters Buggin, guitarist Peter Buck of R.E.M. and keyboardist Scott McCaughey of The Young Fresh Fellows and The Minus 5.
Martin explained to Billboard magazine the tune, "was initially inspired by a particular beat, which is loosely built upon John Bonham's 'The Crunge' beat… Skerik started riffing that melody over the top of the beat with a baritone sax, and Peter Buck had this great wah wah sound dialed in on his guitar. Scott McCaughey played that funky Wurlitzer piano."
Martin added the song "encapsulates the theme for the Underworld album, which is essentially a 20 song romp through the underworld, complete with a cast of characters that you would find hanging out down there. It's like Miles Davis' On The Corner or something like that."
