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.
Wide Awake
Chris Cornell Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
1200 people dead or left to die.
Follow the leaders, were it an eye for an eye we'd all be blind.
Deaf or murdered, and this I'm sure in this uncertain time.
So come pull the sheet over my eyes
So I can sleep tonight
Despite what I've seen today.
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, hey.
So come pull the sheet over my eyes
So I can sleep tonight
Despite what I've seen today.
I found you guilty of a crime of sleeping at a time
When you should have been wide awake.
Come pull the sheet over my eyes
So I can sleep tonight
Despite what I've seen today
I found you guilty of a crime of sleeping at a time
When you should have been wide awake
Wide awake! Wide awake! Wide awake! Wide awake!
Chris Cornell's "Wide Awake" is a powerful political statement about the consequences of not being aware and engaged in the major issues of the world. The lyrics tell the story of someone who sees the devastation caused by a hurricane and the subsequent lack of concern by leaders and society at large. The singer finds it incredulous that people can turn a blind eye to the suffering of others simply because it does not directly affect them. He argues that if we only focus on vengeance and retaliation, we will all suffer in the end. The song implores listeners to become more aware and to take actions to make the world a better place, rather than simply sleeping and ignoring the problems.
The chorus "So come pull the sheet over my eyes, so I can sleep tonight, despite what I’ve seen today" is a powerful metaphor for the desire to escape the pain and the sense of helplessness that comes from seeing the world's problems up close. The singer has seen the horror of a natural disaster, and is frustrated by the lack of compassion exhibited by society. He equates those who choose to ignore the suffering around them with those who commit a crime, hence the line "I found you guilty of a crime of sleeping at a time when you should have been wide awake."
Line by Line Meaning
You can look a hurricane right in the eye.
Despite the devastation caused by a hurricane, one can confront it and still be standing.
1200 people dead or left to die.
A reference to Hurricane Katrina's impact on New Orleans and the governmental response that left many helpless and without resources.
Follow the leaders, were it an eye for an eye we'd all be blind.
If one were to take revenge on those who wronged them, society as a whole would suffer and no one would come out as a winner.
Deaf or murdered, and this I'm sure in this uncertain time.
In a world filled with injustice and pain, one is either silenced or threatened with their life for speaking up.
Down on the road the world is floating by.
There is a disconnect between people and the issues that affect them, causing them to overlook the problems in the world.
The poor and undefended left behind.
Society has failed to protect those that are most vulnerable.
While you're somewhere trading lives for oil, as if the whole world were blind, hey.
Those in power trade human lives for resources, while the masses are ignorant to the fact that these actions are taking place.
Come pull the sheet over my eyes, so I can sleep tonight despite what I've seen today.
The world is full of atrocities, but sometimes one needs to shut off from the overwhelming pain to gain some respite.
I found you guilty of a crime, of sleeping at a time when you should have been wide awake.
The complacency of society has allowed for the perpetuation of global injustices.
Wide awake! Wide awake! Wide awake! Wide awake!
A call to action, demanding society to open their eyes, and become aware of the realities of the world and take action to make a difference.
Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing, HIPGNOSIS SONGS GROUP, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: TIMOTHY COMMERFORD, CHRIS CORNELL, TOM MORELLO, BRAD WILK
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Rudy's Mom
[Verse 1]
You can look a hurricane right in the eye
1200 people dead or left to die
Follow the leaders, we're in an eye for an eye, we'll all be blind
Death for murder, this I'm sure in this uncertain time
[Chorus]
So come and pull the sheet over my eyes
So I can sleep tonight despite what I've seen today
I find you guilty of a crime of sleeping at a time
When you should have been wide awake
[Verse 2]
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, hey
[Chorus]
So come and pull the sheet over my eyes
So I can sleep tonight despite what I've seen today
I find you guilty of a crime of sleeping at a time
When you should have been wide awake
[Chorus]
So come and pull the sheet over my eyes
So I can sleep tonight despite what I've seen today
I find you guilty of a crime of sleeping at a time
When you should have been wide awake
[Outro]
Wide awake
Wide awake
Wide awake
Wide awake
Franco Trusa
Those screams in the end man, they're from out of this world. God bless Chris!
Mats Sharpshooter
Remember listening on this concert live on Swedish radio and recording it on mini disc and this song was in the beginning, like song three or four, and Chris screaming/singing wide awake in the end blew me away completely!
I miss him deeply!!!
R.i.p Spoon Man❤
Karén Melikov
Audioslave is one of the best, if not THE BEST rock music phenomenon of the last 20 years. Short-lived, yet so powerful and touching in the best and deepest of ways, that words are not enough to describe it. My only regret is that I never got the chance to see Audioslave live. Maybe in my next life, for their sound and their lyrics will carry on.
nonquintessentialone
This man bared his soul when he performed... He will be missed.
ricky a. T
unf***king believable voice!!! this is LIVE!!!!!
Fujimoose
@Mark de la Rosa I saw Chris Cornell on his acoustic songbook tour. There were NO mic effects. It was all Chris.
Salvador Tomba
omggggggg CAN YOUBELIEVE IT????
Mark de la Rosa
You can tell you fellas don’t know about mic effects 😂
bgomusicco
for sure. of all the live performances I've seen the only band better was the Eagles.
Đorđe Žutić
The shame and disgust he bares for human indifference within hes ridicilous vocal tone and range is overwhelming
What a character..