Soundgarden are associated with grunge, a style of alternative rock that developed in Seattle. After releasing two EPs on the Seattle-based label Sub-Pop in 1987 and 1988, their debut album, Ultramega OK was released on the California-based independent label SST Records in 1989. While the album did not sell well nationally, it gained critical acclaim and was nominated for a Grammy award in 1990. They recorded their second album, Louder Than Love, independently but had signed with major label A&M Records in the interim, and released the album as their major label debut. Unlike their debut, which had failed to chart, Louder Than Love peaked at number 108 on the Billboard 200 album chart. Released the same day as fellow Seattle grunge act Nirvana's album Nevermind, their third album Badmotorfinger would bring Soundgarden to national acclaim for the first time, buoyed by the popularity of the singles "Jesus Christ Pose", "Outshined", and "Rusty Cage", the album would reach number 39 on the Billboard 200 and has been certified double-platinum by the RIAA. Soundgarden was one of the seminal creators of grunge, a style of alternative rock that developed in Seattle, and was the first of a number of grunge bands to sign to the record label Sub Pop. Soundgarden was also one of the first grunge bands to sign to a major label (A&M Records in 1989), though they did not achieve commercial success until they popularized the genre in the early 1990s with Seattle contemporaries Alice in Chains, Pearl Jam, and Nirvana.
Soundgarden achieved its biggest success with the 1994 album Superunknown, which debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 and yielded the Grammy Award-winning singles "Spoonman" and "Black Hole Sun". In 1996, the band experimented with new sonic textures on their follow-up album Down on the Upside, which debuted at number 2 on the Billboard 200 and spawned several hit singles of its own, including "Burden in My Hand" and "Blow Up the Outside World". In 1997, the band broke up due to internal strife over its creative direction and exhaustion from touring. After more than a decade of working on projects and other bands, Soundgarden reunited in 2010, and Republic Records released their sixth and final studio album, King Animal, two years later.
As of 2019, Soundgarden sold more than 14 million records in the United States, and an estimated 30 million worldwide. VH1 ranked Soundgarden at number 14 in their special 100 Greatest Artists of Hard Rock.
Full Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soundgarden
Studio albums
Ultramega OK (1988)
Louder Than Love (1989)
Badmotorfinger (1991)
Superunknown (1994)
Down on the Upside (1996)
King Animal (2012)
Black Hole Sun
Soundgarden Lyrics
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In disguises no one knows
Hides the face, lies the snake
In the sun, in my disgrace
Boiling heat, summer stench
'Neath the black the sky looks dead
Call my name through the cream
And I'll hear you scream again
Black hole sun
Won't you come
And wash away the rain
Black hole sun
Won't you come
Won't you come (won't you come)
Stuttering, cold and damp
Steal the warm wind, tired friend
Times are gone for honest men
And sometimes far too long for snakes
In my shoes, a walking sleep
And my youth, I pray to keep
Heaven sent hell away
No one sings like you anymore
Black hole sun
Won't you come
And wash away the rain
Black hole sun
Won't you come
Won't you come
Black hole sun
Won't you come
And wash away the rain
Black hole sun
Won't you come
Won't you come (black hole sun, black hole sun)
Won't you come (black hole sun, black hole sun)
Won't you come (black hole sun, black hole sun)
Won't you come (black hole sun, black hole sun)
Hang my head, drown my fear
'Til you all just disappear
Black hole sun
Won't you come
And wash away the rain
Black hole sun
Won't you come
Won't you come
Black hole sun
Won't you come
And wash away the rain
Black hole sun
Won't you come
Won't you come (black hole sun, black hole sun)
Won't you come (black hole sun, black hole sun)
Won't you come (black hole sun, black hole sun)
Won't you come (black hole sun, black hole sun)
Won't you come (black hole sun, black hole sun)
Won't you come (black hole sun, black hole sun)
Won't you come
Won't you come
The lyrics to Soundgarden's "Black Hole Sun" explore themes of isolation, despair, and the search for escape from internal suffering. The opening lines, "In my eyes, indisposed, in disguises no one knows," suggest a hidden internal struggle that is not visible on the surface. The "disguises" may refer to the masks people wear to conceal their true emotions or thoughts, while the "snake" represents negative thoughts or impulses that lay beneath the surface.
As the song continues, the lyrics describe a dark and oppressive world where the "boiling heat" and "summer stench" weigh heavily on the singer. The repeated refrain, "Black hole sun, won't you come and wash away the rain," can be interpreted as a plea for some kind of release or relief from the heaviness of life. The black hole sun, a paradoxical image combining darkness and light, suggests the possibility of salvation or escape from the singer's pain.
The final lines, "Hang my head, drown my fear/ 'Til you all just disappear," suggest a desire for solitude and escape from the demands and pressures of the outside world. Overall, the lyrics to "Black Hole Sun" suggest a desire for escape from internal struggles, and the search for some kind of external force that can wash away the pain and bring peace.
Line by Line Meaning
In my eyes, indisposed
I am feeling disconnected and exposed, my true emotions are visible despite my attempts to hide them.
In disguises no one knows
I am trying to conceal my true identity, disguising myself to the point that no one can recognize me.
Hides the face, lies the snake
I am hiding behind a false front, pretending to be someone I am not, while harboring deceitful thoughts and actions.
In the sun, in my disgrace
Despite the bright and hopeful exterior, I am facing a deep sense of shame and disappointment with myself.
Boiling heat, summer stench
The surrounding environment is hot and overwhelming, with unpleasant odors.
'Neath the black the sky looks dead
In the darkness of night, the sky appears empty and lifeless, devoid of any hope or positive energy.
Call my name through the cream
Despite the noise and chaos surrounding me, I can still hear someone calling out to me, though it may be faint.
And I'll hear you scream again
I am haunted by the memory of someone's screams and their pain, and it continues to affect me deeply.
Black hole sun
The black hole sun is a symbol of despair and hopelessness, a metaphor for the inescapable darkness of my current state of mind.
Won't you come
I am pleading with the black hole sun to take away my pain and offer some form of relief.
And wash away the rain
I hope that the black hole sun can metaphorically wash away the troubles and negativity that seem to constantly plague me.
Stuttering, cold and damp
My words are coming out haltingly and uncertainly, and the environment around me is depressing and oppressive.
Steal the warm wind, tired friend
Someone I care about is being taken advantage of and their warm spirit is being drained by outside forces.
Times are gone for honest men
It feels like the world is against those who try to live with integrity and honesty, making life difficult for them.
And sometimes far too long for snakes
Others who operate with dishonesty and deceit seem to thrive in the current environment, causing frustration and despair for those who choose to do the right thing.
In my shoes, a walking sleep
I am feeling disconnected from reality, like I am walking through life in a dreamlike stupor.
And my youth, I pray to keep
I yearn for the carefree and optimistic days of my youth, desperate to hold on to that sense of innocence and joy.
Heaven sent hell away
I am grateful for any moments of hope or positivity that enter my life, pushing back against the toxic negativity that seems to surround me.
No one sings like you anymore
I have lost the ability to find joy or comfort in music, as the black hole sun seems to have taken away the ability for anyone to bring me solace.
Hang my head, drown my fear
I am feeling defeated and powerless, succumbing to my fears and insecurities rather than fighting against them.
'Til you all just disappear
I sometimes wish I could just escape from the world and all of its negative influences, retreating into my own private world.
Won't you come
Continuing my plea for the black hole sun to offer some form of relief or escape from my present circumstances.
Won't you come (black hole sun, black hole sun)
Repeating my plea, with a sense of urgency and desperation.
Lyrics © O/B/O DistroKid, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: Christopher J. Cornell
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind