In 1984 he formed the band Soundgarden with bassist Hiro Yamamoto. Throughout the late 1980s and 90s, Soundgarden experienced major success as one of the major grunge bands (along with groups such as Alice in Chains, Nirvana, and Pearl Jam).
In 1990, Chris Cornell worked together with the (then) Soundgarden drummer Matt Cameron, and Stone Gossard, Jeff Ament and Mike McCready (who would later form Pearl Jam) in a project named Temple of the Dog. They wrote a 10 song album as a tribute to Andrew Wood, the singer of Mother Love Bone who had died the year before of a heroin overdose.
In 1997 Soundgarden split at the zenith of their popularity due to tensions in the group and Chris began a solo career. He released the sucessful album Euphoria Morning. Out of this album came the single Can't Change Me.
When Zack De La Rocha left Rage Against The Machine in 2001, Chris Cornell joined the instrumentalists of Rage Against the Machine to form the band Audioslave.
In 2006 Chris recorded a theme song for the James Bond 007 movie, "Casino Royale", titled You Know My Name, which is used as the opening song.
In the fall of 2006, Cornell started recording his second solo album Carry On, with producer Steve Lillywhite. Among some fellow artists who are expected to accompany him on his second solo release is friend and legendary musician Gary Lucas, who has contributed acoustic guitar to some of the tracks. Cornell has stated that he is always writing, and that there are some songs that he was not able to put into an Audioslave album. Carry On was released in the summer of 2007.
On February 15, 2007, Chris Cornell issued a statement that he was leaving Audioslave, shortly after Tom Morello, Tim Commerford and Brad Wilk reunited with their former vocalist Zack de la Rocha to reform Rage Against the Machine.
Chris Cornell released his third solo album, Scream, with American rapper and record producer Timbaland on February 3rd, 2009. This album was a critical failure, and sold poorly. It is rumored that he is going to try and "De-Timbalandize" the tracks.
On January 1st, 2010, Chris Cornell announced the reunion of Soundgarden after a 12 year hiatus.
Chris Cornell was extremely revered among the music listeners for his powerful multi-octave singing and gritty, soulful vocal style. He was a baritone with an ability to sing extremely high in the tenor range, as well as in the lower register of a baritone voice. He showcased this in various songs, most notably the studio and the demo versions of "Beyond the Wheel", where he can be heard spanning three octaves. He has also experimented with various different vocal styles, ranging from light falsetto to brutal screams and chants.
On May 17, 2017, Cornell died in Detroit after performing at a show with Soundgarden. He committed suicide by hanging himself in his hotel room. Footage of his final concert was posted to YouTube.
Pillow Of Your Bones
Chris Cornell Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Are growing as I'm bathing in your glow
I'm swallowing the poison of your flower
And hanging on the rising of my low
Colorful and falling from your mouth
Like a painted fever in recoil
Like a lie without the pain
I will lay across the stones
Of your shore until the tide comes crawling back
Throw my pillow on the fire
Make my bed under the eye
Of your moon until the tide comes crawling back
A waning hand on silver granite ways
Will mend my broken limbs and bend my haze
I'm sleeping in the silence of your voice
I'm cradling the peril of my only choice
Colorful and falling from your mouth
Like a painted fever in recoil
Like a lie without the pain
On a pillow of your bones
I will lay across the stone
Of your shore until the tide comes crawling
Throw my pillow on the fire
Make my bed under the eye
Of your moon until the tide comes crawling back
Even though the truth can burn inside or fall behind
I will wander through your open mind
And you will find no lie can hide
Until the tide comes crawling
The opening verse of the song "Pillow of Your Bones" by Chris Cornell is a metaphorical representation of love and the pain and passion that comes with it. The "embers of the saint inside of you" refers to the positive and virtuous qualities of a person, while "swallowing the poison of your flower" suggests that love can be both sweet and poisonous. The image of "Colorful and falling from your mouth like a painted fever in recoil" is a metaphor for the words a lover speaks, which can be both beautiful and harmful at the same time.
The chorus of the song highlights the singer's longing for his lover's embrace. He wants to lay on a "pillow of your bones" on the shore until the tide comes back, conveying a sense of longing for a lover's touch. The line "throw my pillow on the fire, make my bed under the eye of your moon until the tide comes crawling back" is a metaphor for being completely invested in and consumed by the love that one feels for another.
In the second verse, the singer talks about finding solace in his lover's voice and the danger in being captivated by it. He also mentions the idea of being healed and redefined by love, as represented by "a waning hand on silver granite ways will mend my broken limbs and bend my haze."
Overall, the song is a poetic representation of the raw and complex emotions associated with love, desire, and longing.
Line by Line Meaning
The embers of the saint inside of you
You have a goodness inside of you that is growing stronger as I bask in your radiance.
Are growing as I'm bathing in your glow
As I spend more time with you, your inner goodness is expanding and becoming more apparent.
I'm swallowing the poison of your flower
I am willingly taking in the negative aspects of your personality or behavior, despite the harm it may cause me.
And hanging on the rising of my low
Despite the negative effects, I am still holding onto you and your influence as I try to overcome my struggles.
Colorful and falling from your mouth
Your words are vivid and impactful.
Like a painted fever in recoil
Your words evoke strong emotions and a sense of urgency.
Like a lie without the pain
Your words feel like they may be false, but they do not come with any harm or discomfort.
On a pillow of your bones
I will rest on the support of your strength and resilience.
I will lay across the stones
I will be unafraid and take on the obstacles that come with being with you.
Of your shore until the tide comes crawling back
I will stay by your side through the ebbs and flows of life until they ultimately bring us back together.
Throw my pillow on the fire
If you reject or leave me, I will abandon the comfort and safety you provide and face the harsh realities of life.
Make my bed under the eye
I will create a new, less stable home for myself under your watchful gaze.
Of your moon until the tide comes crawling back
I will remain close to you until the natural cycles of life bring me back to you.
A waning hand on silver granite ways
Despite my weakness, I will still find a way to overcome obstacles.
Will mend my broken limbs and bend my haze
Your presence and influence will heal me and give me clarity in times of confusion.
I'm sleeping in the silence of your voice
Even though you may not be speaking, your presence alone is enough to provide me with peace and comfort.
I'm cradling the peril of my only choice
I am accepting the dangers and issues that come with choosing to be with you, even though it may not be the easiest path.
Even though the truth can burn inside or fall behind
Even though being truthful can be difficult or may cause issues.
I will wander through your open mind
I will eagerly explore and try to understand your thoughts and perspectives.
And you will find no lie can hide
You can trust me to be honest and truthful with you, regardless of how difficult it may be.
Until the tide comes crawling
I will remain by your side through any difficulties or obstacles until things ultimately get better.
Lyrics © HIPGNOSIS SONGS GROUP, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: CHRIS CORNELL, ALAIN JOHANNES, NATASHA SHNEIDER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind