Audioslave released three successful albums, received three Grammy nominations, sold more than eight million records worldwide, and became the first American rock band to perform an open-air concert in Cuba. Cornell issued a statement in February 2007 that he was permanently leaving the band "due to irresolvable personality conflicts as well as musical differences." As the other three members were busy with the Rage Against the Machine reunion, and Morello and Cornell had each released solo albums in 2007, Audioslave was officially disbanded.
Discography
2002 Audioslave
2005 Out of Exile
2006 Revelations
Black Hole Sun
Audioslave Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Indisposed
In disguise
As no one knows
Hides the face
Lies the snake
The sun
In my disgrace
Summer stanch
'Neath the black
The sky looks dead
Call my name
Through the cream
And I'll hear you
Scream again
(Chorus)
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
Walking sleep
And my youth
I pray to keep
Heaven send
Hell away
No one sings
Like you
Anymore
Chorus x2
Won't you come (Black hole sun, black hole sun) x4
Hang my head
Drown my fear
Till you all just
Disappear
Chorus x3
Won't u come (Black hole sun, Black hole sun) x7
Audioslave's song 'Black Hole Sun' is a commentary on disillusionment and despair amidst the heat and pressure of summer. The opening lines suggest the singer's emotional state; he is 'indisposed' and 'in disguise', hiding his true self, 'as no one knows'. This is followed by an image of a snake, symbolising deception, with its face hidden, and the sun in 'disgrace'. The boiling heat creates a sense of oppression, and the black sky looks lifeless. The singer is adrift, disconnected from reality, and hears someone calling his name through his dreamlike state.
The chorus line 'Black Hole Sun, won't you come and wash away the rain' is an ironic contrast to the bleak imagery of the verses. It suggests a desire for escape from the harshness of reality. The next verse gives voice to the singer's disillusionment. Life is portrayed as a struggle, with 'honest men' unsuccessful, and 'snakes' always ascending. The images of 'my youth, I pray to keep' and 'heaven send, hell away' suggest a desire for escape from the crushing reality of life.
In the final chorus, the singer seems to have given up hope, expressing a desire to 'drown his fear' and disappear. The repetition of the title 'Black Hole Sun' emphasises the desire for escape from the harshness of reality. Thus, the song is an insightful critique of the disillusionment that afflicts many people forced to confront the harshness of life.
Line by Line Meaning
In my eyes
The perspective of the singer.
Indisposed
Feeling unwell.
In disguise
Being hidden from others.
As no one knows
The true self is unknown to others.
Hides the face
Concealing one's identity.
Lies the snake
Hiding behind deceit.
The sun
A symbol of hope and happiness.
In my disgrace
Feeling ashamed.
Boiling heat
Extremely hot temperature.
Summer stanch
Endless days of heat.
'Neath the black
Under the dark skies.
The sky looks dead
A lifeless feeling.
Call my name
Request for someone's attention.
Through the cream
The thick atmosphere.
And I'll hear you
Acknowledging someone's cry for help.
Scream again
Expressing inner turmoil.
Black hole sun
A symbol of despair and emptiness.
Won't you come
An invitation for help.
And wash away the rain
To rid of misery.
Stuttering
Experiencing difficulty in communication.
Cold and damp
Depressing and gloomy.
Steal the warm wind
Taking away the comfort.
Tired friend
A person who is exhausted and needs help.
Times are gone
The past cannot be regained.
For honest men
A time when sincerity was valued.
And sometimes Far too long
The feeling of being stuck.
For snakes
A time when cunning and deceit were rewarded.
In my shoes
The perspective of the singer.
Walking sleep
Going through the motions of life.
And my youth
The singer's past.
I pray to keep
A desire to hold onto the past.
Heaven send
A plea for divine intervention.
Hell away
A desire to escape suffering.
No one sings
A world without joy.
Like you
The singer's loss.
Anymore
The loss of a cherished time.
Hang my head
A sign of defeat.
Drown my fear
Trying to escape from fear.
Till you all just
Until everything disappears.
Disappear
The ultimate escape from reality.
Contributed by Chase A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@spacecowboy1998
whenever someone likes this comment I will come here and listen this spectacular song...
@justinthatguy
Good luck after the 1000th listen XD
@wandaburgess9400
I'm here!
@richwoodno1251
180 times in three days? Wow
@metalskullhead
I'm waiting...
@diegocantu4737
👌
@TheStizle
We all here on April 8th 2024 😅
@JazzTechie
Hahaha
@DylanDurbin
Same I am 😂
@TexasViking_INFP-t_5w4
At 1:36 pm and see the black hole sun