moonchild
Chris Cornell Lyrics


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Open your arms to the lonely shine
Lonesome as gold in a poor man's smile
See how the moon is full
Follow the push and pull
Follow the ebb and flow in the breathing tide

Come on moonchild, you're so far away tonight
The door is falling open and we're flying wild

Cat on the road, down in the living night
See how the black dog grins
In the diamond light
We're dreaming and we're real
We're broken and we're healed
Give in to what you feel over what you see

Come on moonchild, you're so far away tonight
The door is falling open and we're flying wild
Come on moon flower
You're so far away from now
You could bloom forever in the hour

And when if is only yes and no
And now becomes too soon
I know you'll be alright if you only
Come away to the moon
Come away to the moon
In the blue shine

Come on moonchild, you're so far away tonight
The door is falling open and we're flying wild
Come on moon flower




You're so far away from now
You could bloom forever in the hour

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Chris Cornell's song "Moonchild" depict a strong sense of existentialism and a desire for liberation. The song opens with the invitation to "open your arms to the lonely shine," referring to the moon's light as a metaphor for hope and comfort for those who are lonely. The line "lonesome as gold in a poor man's smile" is somewhat paradoxical as it creates an image of someone who is poor yet smiling, suggesting that even those who appear happy may be in need of emotional support at times. The next few lines speak of the moon's power to influence the tides, encouraging the listener to follow the natural flow of life.


The chorus invites the "moonchild" to come away and fly wild, acknowledging the distance between the subject and the singer while encouraging them to break free from their constraints. The following verses introduce a cat and a black dog, both of which are common symbols in literature associated with mystery and the unknown. The lines "we're dreaming and we're real, we're broken and we're healed" suggest that the moonchild is living in a state of duality where they are partially awake and partially in a dream-like trance. The final stanza encourages the moonchild to come away to the moon and embrace the ambiguity of existence.


Overall, "Moonchild" is an introspective song that urges the listener to embrace their emotions, live in the moment, and surrender themselves to the unknown.


Line by Line Meaning

Open your arms to the lonely shine
Embrace the solitary beauty


Lonesome as gold in a poor man's smile
The feeling of being alone is as valuable as gold to those who have little


See how the moon is full
Observe the roundness of the moon


Follow the push and pull
Pay attention to the forces that move things


Follow the ebb and flow in the breathing tide
Track the regular rise and fall of the ocean's waters


Come on moonchild, you're so far away tonight
Join the rest of us, even if you're feeling distant


The door is falling open and we're flying wild
Opportunity is presenting itself and we're embracing it wildly


Cat on the road, down in the living night
A feline is roaming the dark streets


See how the black dog grins
Notice the happy expression of the black dog


In the diamond light
Illuminated by a sparkling light


We're dreaming and we're real
Living in a state of both imagination and reality


We're broken and we're healed
Both damaged and repaired


Give in to what you feel over what you see
Trust your instincts and emotions more than your observations


Come on moon flower
Hey, person who thrives in the light of the moon


You're so far away from now
You're not living in the present moment


You could bloom forever in the hour
You have the potential to forever shine brightly in a fleeting time


And when if is only yes and no
When the only options are positive and negative


And now becomes too soon
When 'now' passes too quickly


I know you'll be alright if you only
I'm confident you'll be okay if you


Come away to the moon
Leave your current situation and go towards the moon


In the blue shine
In the blue-toned light




Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: CHRIS CORNELL

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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