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
Bring Em Back Alive
Audioslave Lyrics
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When I lost my wings and I fell into a crowd
And they carried me to a hole in the ground
And they buried me, where no one could see
And no one would be around
I
I am a virus
I
I was on my way to a city in the clouds
When I lost my mind and I had to settle down
Then I had a dream of an island in the sea where the lepers die
Where no one survives and no one can hear the cries
I
I am a virus
I live in silence
Just like heathens thinking
On our feet we'll believe in God
With one step, two steps, three steps toward the graveyard
On the high road to remembering
It seems that we forgot
I am a virus
I
I live in silence
The song Bring Em Back Alive by Audioslave is about the journey of the singer, who initially had grand aspirations and was heading towards the center of the sun or a city in the clouds. However, the journey took a wrong turn, and he lost his wings or mind, metaphorically indicating that he lost his ability to continue on that path. He then fell into a crowd, which carried him to a hole in the ground, burying him where no one could see, and no one would be around. This situation describes how the singer's ambition and desires have put him in a predicament where he has lost his identity, and he no longer has control over his life.
The next verse is a continuation of the singer's journey, where he has a dream of an island in the sea where lepers die, and no one survives. This island can be seen as a symbol of death, where the singer's journey has finally led him. The line 'Where no one can hear the cries' can be interpreted as the singer's realization that his life has become meaningless and that his death will go unnoticed.
The chorus 'I am a virus, I live in silence' is repeated throughout the song, indicating that the singer has become a metaphorical virus, infecting his environment with his aimlessness, and also living in silence, indicating that he is aware of his decline, but has resigned himself to it.
Line by Line Meaning
I was on my way to the center of the sun
I was on a journey towards a seemingly unattainable goal
When I lost my wings and I fell into a crowd
I encountered a setback and feel overwhelmed by the masses
And they carried me to a hole in the ground
They brought me to a place of darkness and despair
And they buried me, where no one could see
They concealed me in a place where I cannot be found or rescued
And no one would be around
I am isolated and abandoned
I am a virus
I am a negative force that spreads and infects
I live in silence
I operate and exert influence without being seen or heard
I was on my way to a city in the clouds
I had a grand vision or aspiration
When I lost my mind and I had to settle down
I became overwhelmed and had to change my direction
Then I had a dream of an island in the sea where the lepers die
I had a nightmare of a place of death and disease
Where no one survives and no one can hear the cries
It is a place of utter hopelessness and despair
Just like heathens thinking
Casual and unexamined beliefs
On our feet we'll believe in God
We will resort to faith in the face of adversity
With one step, two steps, three steps toward the graveyard
The path we are on leads to our ultimate demise
On the high road to remembering
The path of life is a journey towards remembrance and introspection
It seems that we forgot
But we have been sidetracked or distracted from this path
Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: Timothy Commerford, Christopher J. Cornell, Tom Morello, Brad J. Wilk
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind