Shadow on the Sun
Audioslave Lyrics

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Now all that is gone
Over with and done, never to return

I can tell you why
People die alone
I can tell you I'm
A shadow on the sun

Staring at the loss
Looking for a cause
And never really sure
Nothing but a hole
To live without a soul
And nothing to be learned

I can tell you why
People go insane
I can show you how
You could do the same
I can tell you why
The end will never come
I can tell you I'm
A shadow on the sun

Shapes of every size
Move behind my eyes
Doors inside my head
Bolted from within
Every drop of flame
Lights a candle in
Memory of the one
Who lives inside my skin

I can tell you why
People go insane
I can show you how
You could do the same
I can tell you why
The end will never come
I can tell you I'm
A shadow on the sun

Shadow on the sun, shadow on the sun
Shadow on the sun, shadow on the sun
Shadow on the sun, shadow on the sun

Shadow on the sun, shadow on the sun
Sun, sun

Overall Meaning

"Shadow on the Sun" by Audioslave is a haunting and thought-provoking song with lyrics addressing existential themes of isolation, loss, and the meaning of life. The first verse sets the scene of a time when the singer considered laying down someone's burden and leaving them behind but was believed to be capable of understanding their thoughts and feelings without speaking a word. However, now everything is "over with and done."

In the chorus, the singer claims they can "tell you why people die alone" and that they are "a shadow on the sun." This line perhaps refers to the idea that the singer feels like they are in the shade, always doomed to be as existentially empty as a shadow without substance. In the second verse, the singer searches for a cause for their loss and feels like they have nothing but a hole inside them - they live without a soul and believe there is nothing for them to learn. The last verse explores the idea of the shapes and doors inside the singer's head, which create memories of the person who lives inside their skin.

All in all, the song provides a dark portrayal of being trapped in one's own thoughts and feelings and the challenges that come with trying to understand them. The singer seems to be struggling with themes of identity, purpose, and the meaning of life, trying to find peace and resolution through understanding their own experiences.

Line by Line Meaning

Once upon a time I was of the mind To lay your burden down And leave you where you stood And you believed I could You'd seen it done before I could read your thoughts Tell you what you saw And never say a word Now all that is gone Over with and done, never to return
I used to believe that I could help you and take away your problems without even saying anything. You trusted me completely because I could understand you without you even uttering a single word. However, that time is gone now and will never come back.

I can tell you why People die alone I can tell you I'm A shadow on the sun
I understand why people often end up being alone, and it's because I am like a shadow that shines no light and brings darkness to their lives.

Staring at the loss Looking for a cause And never really sure Nothing but a hole To live without a soul And nothing to be learned
I'm always searching for the reason behind everything, but nothing seems to make sense to me. I feel as if I have a void in me, one that makes me feel lifeless and without a soul, and the worst part is that I can't learn anything from my experiences.

I can tell you why People go insane I can show you how You could do the same I can tell you why The end will never come I can tell you I'm A shadow on the sun
I can explain to you why people lose their minds or get to that point. I can teach you how to reach this state, and I can tell you that the end will never be near. Once again, it's because I'm like a shadow on the sun.

Shapes of every size Move behind my eyes Doors inside my head Bolted from within Every drop of flame Lights a candle in Memory of the one Who lives inside my skin
I see all sorts of shapes and images inside my head all the time, no matter how small or big they may be. There are doors inside me that I have locked and blocked from the inside, so no one can enter. Every little spark ignites a candle inside me that reminds me of someone who lives within me, one who flourishes with my existence.

Shadow on the sun, shadow on the sun Shadow on the sun, shadow on the sun Shadow on the sun, shadow on the sun Shadow on the sun, shadow on the sun Sun, sun
This refrain repeats that the singer is like a shadow on the sun, casting darkness on any light that comes their way.

Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: Timothy Commerford, Chris Cornell, Tom Morello, Brad Wilk

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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