Wide Awake
Audioslave Lyrics


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You can look a hurricane right in the eye
Twelve hundred people dead or left to die
Follow the leaders
Were it an eye for an eye
We'd all be blind, deaf or murdered
This I'm sure
In this uncertain time
So come pull a sheet over my eyes
So I can sleep tonight
Despite what I've seen today
I find you guilty of the crime
Of sleeping in a time when you should have been wide awake

Down on the road the world is floating by
The poor and undefended left behind
While you're somewhere trading lives for oil
As if the whole world were blind

So come pull a sheet over my eyes
So I can sleep tonight
Despite what I've seen today
I've found you guilty of the crime
Of sleeping in a time when you should have been wide awake
Come pull this sheet over my eyes
So I can sleep tonight
Despite what I've seen today

I found you guilty of the crime
Of sleeping in a time when you should have been wide awake

Wide awake
Wide awake




Wide awake
Wide awake

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Audioslave's "Wide Awake" signify the band's discontent towards the government's apathy towards the people living in impoverished conditions. The song begins with a reference to a hurricane that killed or left behind 1200 people, which seems to be a metaphor for the government's negligence towards their responsibilities. The band criticizes the leaders who fail to address the inequality that exists in society, and they promote the idea that if we seek retribution, everyone would be dead, deaf, or blind. Audioslave is trying to imply that revenge shouldn't be the solution; instead, we should strive to create a better future by being "wide awake."


The song's idea of pulling a sheet over someone's eyes is a reference to the idea of ignoring the truth of what is happening. The lyricist, Chris Cornell, tells listeners that they can either face the truth, take action, and acknowledge the wrongdoing or choose to be ignorant and sleep soundly. The verses of the song highlight the disparity between the wealthy and the impoverished, with people depending on charity to survive while the privileged are "trading lives for oil." In conclusion, the band heavily criticizes the government and emphasizes society's need for sympathy and unity.


Line by Line Meaning

You can look a hurricane right in the eye
Despite the immense destruction and chaos that comes with a hurricane, some are so desensitized to it that they can look right at it.


Twelve hundred people dead or left to die
During the aftermath of the hurricane, the death toll is unimaginably high and many people are left to suffer and die.


Follow the leaders
People tend to follow those who hold positions of power, even if it means blindly following them without questioning their actions.


Were it an eye for an eye
If we chose to respond to violence or wrongs committed against us with equal violence or wrongs, then we would all be consumed by a cycle of revenge and destruction.


We'd all be blind, deaf or murdered
If we stoop to the level of retaliating with violence, we'll lose much more than just our morals; we would lose our senses and our lives, too.


This I'm sure
The singer believes this to be true, based on observation and logic.


In this uncertain time
The world is undergoing massive changes and upheaval, and people are unsure of what the future holds.


So come pull a sheet over my eyes
The artist wants to escape the painful reality of what they've seen and experienced.


So I can sleep tonight
Sleep is a form of temporary refuge from the harsh realities of the world.


Despite what I've seen today
The artist has witnessed something so disturbing that they need to block it out in order to get any rest.


I find you guilty of the crime
The singer is calling out someone for their complacency and inaction in the face of injustice and suffering.


Of sleeping in a time when you should have been wide awake
The person being called out should be more aware and responsive to events going on around them, instead of staying ignorant or apathetic.


Down on the road the world is floating by
Life goes on for most people, but others are left behind and forgotten amidst the chaos and suffering.


The poor and undefended left behind
Those who are vulnerable and marginalized suffer the most during difficult times, and are sometimes abandoned or neglected by those with more power and privilege.


While you're somewhere trading lives for oil
Some people prioritize profit and material gain over the lives and well-being of others, and are willing to make deals or compromises that harm others in the process.


As if the whole world were blind
The actions of these individuals occur in broad daylight, yet they are ignored or accepted by others who refuse to see the harm they are causing.


I found you guilty of the crime
The artist is consistent in calling out those who remain complacent and ignorant in the face of suffering and injustice.


Of sleeping in a time when you should have been wide awake
The person being called out should be more aware and responsive to events going on around them, instead of staying ignorant or apathetic.


Wide awake
The repetition of this phrase serves as a call to action for listeners to remain vigilant and aware of the world around them.


Wide awake


Wide awake


Wide awake




Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing, HIPGNOSIS SONGS GROUP, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: TIMOTHY COMMERFORD, CHRIS CORNELL, TOM MORELLO, BRAD WILK

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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