Soundgarden are associated with grunge, a style of alternative rock that developed in Seattle. After releasing two EPs on the Seattle-based label Sub-Pop in 1987 and 1988, their debut album, Ultramega OK was released on the California-based independent label SST Records in 1989. While the album did not sell well nationally, it gained critical acclaim and was nominated for a Grammy award in 1990. They recorded their second album, Louder Than Love, independently but had signed with major label A&M Records in the interim, and released the album as their major label debut. Unlike their debut, which had failed to chart, Louder Than Love peaked at number 108 on the Billboard 200 album chart. Released the same day as fellow Seattle grunge act Nirvana's album Nevermind, their third album Badmotorfinger would bring Soundgarden to national acclaim for the first time, buoyed by the popularity of the singles "Jesus Christ Pose", "Outshined", and "Rusty Cage", the album would reach number 39 on the Billboard 200 and has been certified double-platinum by the RIAA. Soundgarden was one of the seminal creators of grunge, a style of alternative rock that developed in Seattle, and was the first of a number of grunge bands to sign to the record label Sub Pop. Soundgarden was also one of the first grunge bands to sign to a major label (A&M Records in 1989), though they did not achieve commercial success until they popularized the genre in the early 1990s with Seattle contemporaries Alice in Chains, Pearl Jam, and Nirvana.
Soundgarden achieved its biggest success with the 1994 album Superunknown, which debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 and yielded the Grammy Award-winning singles "Spoonman" and "Black Hole Sun". In 1996, the band experimented with new sonic textures on their follow-up album Down on the Upside, which debuted at number 2 on the Billboard 200 and spawned several hit singles of its own, including "Burden in My Hand" and "Blow Up the Outside World". In 1997, the band broke up due to internal strife over its creative direction and exhaustion from touring. After more than a decade of working on projects and other bands, Soundgarden reunited in 2010, and Republic Records released their sixth and final studio album, King Animal, two years later.
As of 2019, Soundgarden sold more than 14 million records in the United States, and an estimated 30 million worldwide. VH1 ranked Soundgarden at number 14 in their special 100 Greatest Artists of Hard Rock.
Full Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soundgarden
Studio albums
Ultramega OK (1988)
Louder Than Love (1989)
Badmotorfinger (1991)
Superunknown (1994)
Down on the Upside (1996)
King Animal (2012)
Birth Ritual
Soundgarden Lyrics
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Euphoric rush trees bend to pray for us
I'm sputtering like cold machines?
Late for the birth ritual
Ritual
Ritual
Ritual
A birth ritual, a birth of idiots
Now I woke up blessed and good strives for heartache
Marked for the death ritual
Ritual
Ritual
As you start the song and face this garden
I light a cigarette before the execution
Now you see your crime for every miracle
Add another drug at every birth ritual
I took the drug to make me stay
And now everything dies in shyness
The snake retreats admits defeat
And waits for the birth ritual
Ritual
Ritual
As you start the song and face this garden
I light a cigarette before the execution
Now you see your crime for every miracle
Add another drug at every birth ritual
Shining light
Child's highs
Mark his sides
Bright until the newness wears off
As you start the song and face this garden?
I light a cigarette before the execution
Now you see your crime for every miracle
Add another drug at every birth ritual
Ritual
Ritual
Ritual
The lyrics of Soundgarden's song "Birth Ritual" are cryptic and surreal, featuring a collage of images and metaphors that seem to suggest themes of addiction, conformity, and the loss of innocence. The opening lines evoke a sense of desolation and decay, as the singer describes needles lying on forest earth and cold machines sputtering. As the song progresses, the imagery becomes more intense and vivid, with references to a birth ritual, a circus, and a death ritual.
The chorus of the song repeats the word "ritual" three times, creating a sense of urgency and repetition. The verses are more fragmented, with phrases that suggest a breakdown of language and meaning. The singer speaks of taking drugs, committing crimes, and facing execution, as if trapped in a cycle of self-destructive behavior.
Overall, the lyrics of "Birth Ritual" are open to interpretation, but they seem to suggest a narrative of addiction and conformity. The song's title implies that the birth ritual is a kind of initiation or rite of passage, perhaps into a society that demands conformity and submission. The repeated use of the word "ritual" suggests a sense of rote behavior, as if the singer is going through the motions without understanding the significance of what they are doing.
Line by Line Meaning
Lying like needles on forest earth
The singer describes their own physical state as being helpless and prone, like needles scattered among the earth of a forest.
Euphoric rush trees bend to pray for us
In the midst of a euphoric sensation, the trees themselves seem to bend in prayer for the singer and those sharing in the experience.
I'm sputtering like cold machines?
The singer is feeling like a machine that is lacking warmth or emotion, struggling to function properly.
Late for the birth ritual
The artist is running behind schedule for an important ceremony or event that is associated with birth.
Ritual
The word is repeated several times, likely representing the importance of tradition, ceremony, and repetition in the song's subject matter.
You can drive my tail to watch the circus
The singer is willing to follow someone else or be taken along for a ride to witness a spectacle or event.
A birth ritual, a birth of idiots
The event that is being witnessed or experienced is a birth ritual, but the singer also views those participating as foolish or unwise.
Now I woke up blessed and good strives for heartache
The artist feels as if they have been given a blessing or new lease on life, but recognizes that seeking goodness and positivity can lead to pain and difficulty along the way.
Marked for the death ritual
The artist or someone they know has been selected or targeted for a ritual that involves death.
As you start the song and face this garden
The listener is being instructed to prepare themselves and focus as the song begins, likening it to entering a garden or natural setting.
I light a cigarette before the execution
The singer takes a moment to light a cigarette or take a breath before facing a difficult or challenging task or event.
Now you see your crime for every miracle
The listener is urged to think about their mistakes or wrongdoings and how they have impacted the good things in their life.
Add another drug at every birth ritual
The use of drugs or other substances is frequent and expected at birth rituals, suggesting a lack of control or stability.
I took the drug to make me stay
The singer used a drug in order to prolong their stay or experience, perhaps trying to hold onto a feeling or avoid a difficult reality.
And now everything dies in shyness
The singer perceives a sense of hesitation or timidness in everything around them, as if afraid to come forward or be seen.
The snake retreats admits defeat
A snake, often associated with deception or trickery, is seen as surrendering or giving up in defeat.
And waits for the birth ritual
The artist suggests that this retreat or resignation is only temporary, and that the snake will resurface for the next birth ritual.
Shining light
This phrase is likely associated with the imagery of a birth or sunrise, representing a new beginning or fresh start.
Child's highs
This phrase might be interpreted in a few ways - perhaps the highs of youth or childhood, or metaphorically as a potential born from a new life or experience.
Mark his sides
The artist seems to be adding emphasis to the importance of marking or identifying something significant on the side of the body.
Bright until the newness wears off
The high or excitement of a new experience or beginning fades over time, becoming familiar or routine.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: CHRIS CORNELL, MATTHEW CAMERON, KIM THAYIL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind