Pushing Forward Back
Audioslave Lyrics


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Mother, Mother found me on her step
Gracious Mother held me to her breast
Until the day I started pushin'
Too late to cry, she turned away, I started pushin'
I saw no future in this lack
I started pushin', pushin', pushin' forward back

I was pushin', pushin', pushin' forward back
I was pushin', pushin', pushin' forward back
I was pushin', pushin', pushin' forward back

Baby brother clinging to her hair
Gracious Mother pleading "Not another
Soul to bare," he started pushin'
All my kings have fallen down, I started pushin'
Fallen heroes feed the ground
I started pushin', pushin', pushin' forward back

I was pushin', pushin', pushin' forward back
I was pushin', pushin', pushin' forward back
I was pushin', pushin', pushin' forward back

Falling down
Now I know her
I know I'll never drown, drown, drown
Falling down
Now I know her
I know I'll never drown, drown, drown
Oh, I was pushin'

I was pushin', pushin', pushin' forward back
I was pushin', pushin', pushin' forward back
I was pushin', pushin', pushin' forward back
I was pushin', pushin', pushin' forward back

I was pushin', pushin', pushin' forward back
I was pushin', pushin', pushin' forward back

I was pushin', pushin', pushin' forward back
I was pushin', pushin', pushin' forward back




I was pushin', pushin', pushin' forward back
I was pushin', pushin', pushin' forward back

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Audioslave's song "Pushing Forward Back" tell a story of struggle and perseverance. The song starts with the singer being found by his mother and being held close to her, showing a sense of maternal love and protection. However, as the singer grows and starts to face challenges, his mother turns away from him, leaving him to face his struggles alone. The chorus repeats the phrase "pushin' forward back," which represents the idea of moving forward despite being pushed back by obstacles.


The second verse introduces the singer's baby brother, who is also struggling to survive. The pain and hardship continue to pile up, and the singer references the fallen heroes who have fed the ground, suggesting that there have been casualties along the way. Despite all of this, the singer keeps pushing, refusing to give up or give in to despair. The bridge of the song offers a glimmer of hope, as the singer realizes that he will never drown because he knows his mother and her love.


Overall, "Pushing Forward Back" is a powerful and emotionally charged song about the difficulties of life and the importance of perseverance. It's a reminder that even when things seem impossible, we must keep pushing forward in order to survive.


Line by Line Meaning

Mother, Mother found me on her step
My mother found me abandoned as a baby


Gracious Mother held me to her breast
My adoptive mother took me in and cared for me


Until the day I started pushin'
Until the day I started fighting against life's challenges and obstacles


Too late to cry, she turned away, I started pushin'
My mother was no longer able to support me and I had to rely on myself to face the hardships of life


I saw no future in this lack
I felt hopeless about my future due to my difficult circumstances


Baby brother clinging to her hair
My mother struggled to care for all her children and I witnessed the strain it had on her


Gracious Mother pleading 'Not another soul to bare,' he started pushin'
My mother was overwhelmed and could not handle the burden of another child, so I had to start fighting for myself


All my kings have fallen down, I started pushin'
All of the people I looked up to and respected had their own struggles and difficulties, which made me realize that I needed to push forward on my own


Fallen heroes feed the ground
Even the people I admired and considered heroes were not infallible and eventually experienced defeat or failure


Now I know her, I know I'll never drown, drown, drown
Now that I have faced and overcome challenges on my own, I know that I have the strength and resilience to continue moving forward


Oh, I was pushin'
Throughout my life, I have had to constantly fight and push forward to overcome obstacles and hardships




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Most interesting comments from YouTube:

Limits98

Lyrics

Mother,
Mother
Found me on her step
Gracious mother
Held me to her breast
Until the day
I started pushing
Too late to cry,
She turned away,
I started pushing
I saw no future
In this lack

I started pushing,
Pushing,
Pushing forward back
I was pushing,
Pushing,
Pushing forward back
I was pushing,
Pushing,
Pushing forward back
I was pushing,
Pushing,
Pushing forward back

Baby brother
Clinging to her hair
Gracious mother pleading,
Not another soul to bare
He started pushing
All my kings have
Fallen down
I started pushing
Fallen heroes
Feed the ground

I started pushing,
Pushing,
Pushing forward back
I was pushing,
Pushing,
Pushing forward back
I was pushing,
Pushing,
Pushing forward back
I was pushing,
Pushing,
Pushing forward back

Falling down,
Now I know her
I know
I'll never drown,
Drown,
Drown
Falling down,
Now I know her
I know
I'll never drown,
Drown,
Drown
Ah,
I was pushing

I was pushing,
Pushing,
Pushing forward back
I was pushing,
Pushing,
Pushing forward back
I was pushing,
Pushing,
Pushing forward back
I was pushing,
Pushing,
Pushing forward back
I was pushing,
Pushing,
Pushing forward back
I was pushing,
Pushing,
Pushing forward back
I was pushing,
Pushing,
Pushing forward back
I was pushing,
Pushing,
Pushing forward back
I was pushing,
Pushing,
Pushing forward back
I was pushing,
Pushing,
Pushing forward back



Weevil

@Lance Lowery
11 years later and I hold very different opinions on nearly everything in my life.

I've given Pearl Jam (and many other bands) proper tries and overwrote my parents unfair opinions.

Other highly recommended things I've picked up in the last 11 years. (no particular order)

Blind Melon: Blind Melon,
Kyuss: Blues for the Red Sun

(for metal heads)
Melvins: Houdini,
Corrosion of Conformity: Wiseblood



All comments from YouTube:

Clint Evans

I think we focus so much on Chris, but Matt Cameron on the drums is simply amazing!

michavandam

That drummer is like a machine.

glenn skidmore

Màtt is the man Lars should listen to his stuff

Ross Ology

Chris Cornell is one of the all time greatest singers in the history of Rock I saw him with Soundgarden Audioslave and his own band in large and small venues and his voice gave me chills fuckin awesome!!!

Laurie J Kase

I will cherish the amazing memories of attending a few Soundgarden concerts. I regret not seeing Audioslave live in concert..

mike stivers

i saw soundgarden open for VoiVod back in like 91, prolly 400 ppl there.
good times..

Limits98

Lyrics

Mother,
Mother
Found me on her step
Gracious mother
Held me to her breast
Until the day
I started pushing
Too late to cry,
She turned away,
I started pushing
I saw no future
In this lack

I started pushing,
Pushing,
Pushing forward back
I was pushing,
Pushing,
Pushing forward back
I was pushing,
Pushing,
Pushing forward back
I was pushing,
Pushing,
Pushing forward back

Baby brother
Clinging to her hair
Gracious mother pleading,
Not another soul to bare
He started pushing
All my kings have
Fallen down
I started pushing
Fallen heroes
Feed the ground

I started pushing,
Pushing,
Pushing forward back
I was pushing,
Pushing,
Pushing forward back
I was pushing,
Pushing,
Pushing forward back
I was pushing,
Pushing,
Pushing forward back

Falling down,
Now I know her
I know
I'll never drown,
Drown,
Drown
Falling down,
Now I know her
I know
I'll never drown,
Drown,
Drown
Ah,
I was pushing

I was pushing,
Pushing,
Pushing forward back
I was pushing,
Pushing,
Pushing forward back
I was pushing,
Pushing,
Pushing forward back
I was pushing,
Pushing,
Pushing forward back
I was pushing,
Pushing,
Pushing forward back
I was pushing,
Pushing,
Pushing forward back
I was pushing,
Pushing,
Pushing forward back
I was pushing,
Pushing,
Pushing forward back
I was pushing,
Pushing,
Pushing forward back
I was pushing,
Pushing,
Pushing forward back

moonwork

🙏🎶🎙️🎶 what a song! 🌟Album🌟 sounds great.👏🔮

Weevil

Alice in Chains and Soundgarden till the end!!! I am not the biggest fan of Pearl Jam, but Mad Season and Temple of the Dog are amazing, so I can't bad talk them. I can only respect their efforts.

Lance Lowery

Unfortunate. 10 is probably the best album by any 90s band. It's a masterpiece

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