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
Broken City
Audioslave Lyrics
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And winter time she wore a yellow coat
Now there's nothin' on her back
If a building falls you wouldn't care to notice unless you were in it
Then no one cares about climbin' stairs, nothin' at the top no more
Outside trippin' in the broken city
Outside trippin' in the broken city, I watch a millionaire crack
Outside kickin' in the broken city, there's nothin' wrong with that
Now the snow falls down like it's fallin' on an ocean
Dead and empty by the railroad tracks where they used to go and come
Now they don't come back
You can heal the rust, goin' up the throughways
Down the alleys where they stole this town from the frontier
I can see 'em tryin' to steal it back
Outside trippin' in the broken city (Outside trippin' in the broken city)
Outside trippin' in the broken city, I watch a millionaire crack
Outside kickin' in the broken city (Outside trippin' in the broken city)
Outside trippin' in the broken city, there's nothin' wrong with that
Now the sun won't shine on this part of the map
Anymore
When it's cold outside I see it hide behind the smokestacks
No thin roses, no goldrush, no miner, no revolution they'd hire
And the shipyard is a graveyard, no one will be trying to find him
Outside trippin' in the broken city (Outside trippin' in the broken city)
Outside kickin' in the broken city, I watch a millionaire crack
Outside trippin' in the broken city (Outside trippin' in the broken city)
Outside kickin' in the broken city, there's nothin' wrong with that
(There's nothin' wrong with that)
(Outside trippin' in the broken city)
The lyrics of Audioslave's song Broken City paint a bleak and desolate picture of a once-thriving metropolis now in a state of decay, neglect, and social inequality. The opening line of the first verse sets the scene poignantly, as the city drifts in oblivion by the side of a freeway, with scraps and ruins as the only remnants of a forgotten past. The disrepair and misery are further emphasized in the second line, where the symbol of winter's welcome - the yellow coat - is now absent, leaving the city naked and vulnerable. The third and fourth lines bring to fore the apathy and disregard that have taken over the city, making buildings falling and stairs climbing no longer worthy of attention or concern, much less anything that might be found at the top.
The chorus, "Outside tripping in the broken city, I watch a millionaire crack, outside kicking in the broken city, there's nothing wrong with that," builds on the suffering and despair of the verses. The idea of tripping, which could be interpreted as drug use, or fantasies that distract from reality, seems to be a common escape route for the people of the city to deal with their problems. The sight of a millionaire cracking in the midst of poverty and hopelessness is ironic and further underscores the social and economic disparities at play. Meanwhile, outside kicking, which could potentially represent acts of rebellion and frustration, are deemed acceptable, given the severity of the situation, and the absence of viable alternatives.
Broken City reveals the decline of a city with vivid imagery that conjures up the feelings of hopelessness and destruction that come with neglect and decline. It is a commentary on the human cost of urban decay that forces inhabitants to experience deprivation, social inequality, and the absence of working opportunities. It is a reminder that those who are rich become richer, and those who are poor become poorer when significant changes and progress are not made collectively.
Line by Line Meaning
My city sleeps by the side of a freeway, the city scraps
The singer's city is abandoned and run-down, situated by a busy freeway with remains of previous infrastructure.
And winter time she wore a yellow coat
Now there's nothin' on her back
The city used to have some beauty or color during winter, but now it is stripped of any charm or liveliness.
If a building falls you wouldn't care to notice unless you were in it
The city is so disregarded that even if a building collapses, no one would care to take notice, except those directly affected.
Then no one cares about climbin' stairs, nothin' at the top no more
People have become so uninterested in their surroundings that they don't care to explore or appreciate potential beauty or opportunities in the city.
Outside trippin' in the broken city
The artist is roaming outside in the abandoned city.
I watch a millionaire crack
The singer observes a wealthy person losing control or breaking down in this desolate place, implying that even the privileged are not immune to the city's problems.
Outside kickin' in the broken city, there's nothin' wrong with that
The singer is enjoying their experience exploring the city and its despair, despite its issues and potential dangers.
Now the snow falls down like it's fallin' on an ocean
The amount of snow in the city is vast and endless, much like the ocean, indicating the city's emptiness.
Dead and empty by the railroad tracks where they used to go and come
Now they don't come back
The artist's city used to be busy with railroad activity, but now it is deserted and forgotten.
You can heal the rust, goin' up the throughways
Down the alleys where they stole this town from the frontier
The city's decay can potentially be repurposed or fixed with progress, but the history of how it came to be this way is rooted in exploitation and theft of land from its original inhabitants.
I can see 'em tryin' to steal it back
The singer perceives the possibility of the city being reclaimed or redeemed from its current state of ruin and neglect.
Now the sun won't shine on this part of the map
Anymore
When it's cold outside I see it hide behind the smokestacks
The city's gloom and pollution have become so pervasive that the sun is unable to shine through, and the smokestacks add to the bleak environment.
No thin roses, no goldrush, no miner, no revolution they'd hire
The city's history is lacking in any stories of prosperity, abundance or rebellion. Any attempts at changing the city are rejected.
And the shipyard is a graveyard, no one will be trying to find him
The once-productive shipyard is now just an empty cemetery, and no one is seeking any salvation for the city.
Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing
Written by: TIMOTHY COMMERFORD, CHRIS CORNELL, TOM MORELLO, BRAD WILK
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind