The song topped the Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks chart, where it spent a total of five weeks at number one. The song was included on Soundgarden's 1997 greatest hits album, A-Sides.
The lyrics of 'Burden in My Hand' suggest the song is about a man who murders a woman he is in a relationship with and leaves her in the desert, not without regret. Some fans believe the lyrics are 'deeper' than the surface and indicative of something such as drug abuse or an abusive relationship; however, guitarist Kim Thayil called the song "the "Hey Joe" of the '90s."
Burden in My Hand
Soundgarden Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
As thirsty as you are
Crack a smile and cut your mouth
And drown in alcohol
'Cause down below the truth is lying
Beneath the riverbed
So quench yourself and drink the water
That flows below her head
Oh no there she goes
Out in the sunshine the sun is mine
The sun is mine
I shot my love today would you cry for me?
I lost my head again would you lie for me?
Close your eyes and bow your head
I need a little sympathy
'Cause fear is strong and love's for everyone
Who isn't me
Kill your health and kill yourself
And kill everything you love
And if you live you can fall to pieces
And suffer with my ghost
I shot my love today would you cry for me?
I lost my head again would you lie for me?
I left her in the sand just a burden in my hand
I lost my head again would you cry for me
Just a burden in my hand
Just an anchor on my heart
Just a tumor in my head
And I'm in the dark
So follow me into the desert
As desperate as you are
Where the moon is glued to a picture of heaven
And all the little pigs have God
Oh no there she goes
Out in the sunshine the sun is mine
The sun is mine
I shot my love today would you cry for me yeah?
I lost my head again would you lie for me?
Left her in the sand just a burden in my hand
I lost my head again would you cry for me, yeah
Would you cry for me?
The lyrics in Soundgarden's song Burden in My Hand are complex and cryptic, open for interpretation yet intriguing. The song seems to be about struggling with inner demons and the consequences that come with it. The opening lines "Follow me into the desert, As thirsty as you are" imply that the singer is in a dark place and inviting others to join him/her. The line "Crack a smile and cut your mouth and drown in alcohol" signify a self-destructive mindset, trying to numb the pain with alcohol.
The next two lines " 'Cause down below the truth is lying, Beneath the riverbed" describe the hidden pain and suffering that the singer is experiencing. They are trying to distract themselves by indulging in vices, but the truth still lies beneath the surface. The lines "So quench yourself and drink the water, That flows below her head" can be interpreted as a metaphor for facing the truth and confronting the problem, rather than running away from it.
The chorus "I shot my love today would you cry for me? I lost my head again would you lie for me?" implies that the singer has done something terrible and is seeking redemption. The lines "Kill your health and kill yourself, And kill everything you love" signify the self-destructive tendencies of the singer, while the lines "And if you live, you can fall to pieces And suffer with my ghost" convey that the consequences of one's actions can last beyond their own lifetime.
Overall, the song seems to be about the internal battle that one faces with their self-destructive tendencies and the consequences of their actions. It is a poignant reminder that we all have inner demons to battle with, and it's important to confront them head-on rather than burying them under a facade.
Line by Line Meaning
Follow me into the desert
Come with me to a desolate place
As thirsty as you are
Just as parched as you feel
Crack a smile and cut your mouth
Grin and cause harm to yourself
And drown in alcohol
Drink heavily and lose yourself
'Cause down below the truth is lying
Because the real answer is buried beneath the surface
Beneath the riverbed
Underneath the waterway
So quench yourself and drink the water
Satisfy your thirst by imbibing from the supply
That flows below her head
Which runs down past where she lay
Oh no there she goes
There she departs
Out in the sunshine the sun is mine
In the daylight, I am in control
I shot my love today would you cry for me?
Did you shed tears when I killed the one I loved?
I lost my head again would you lie for me?
If I lose control, would you cover for me?
Close your eyes and bow your head
Shut your eyes and nod down
I need a little sympathy
I require some compassion
'Cause fear is strong and love's for everyone
Because fear is a powerful emotion, while love is universal
Who isn't me
Except for me
Kill your health and kill yourself
Destroy your well-being and end your life
And kill everything you love
Eradicate all that you cherish
And if you live you can fall to pieces
And if you survive, you might still crumble emotionally
And suffer with my ghost
And be haunted by my memory
Left her in the sand just a burden in my hand
Abandoned her on the shore as a weighty load I can't shake
Just a burden in my hand
Just something that weighs on me
Just an anchor on my heart
Just a weight that drags me down emotionally
Just a tumor in my head
Just a growth that causes pain and distress in my mind
And I'm in the dark
And I'm confused and uncertain
Where the moon is glued to a picture of heaven
Where the moon is fixed to an image of paradise
And all the little pigs have God
And all of the powerless have found religion
Would you cry for me?
Would you weep for me?
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing
Written by: Chris Cornell
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@sissysmart
Follow me into the desert
As thirsty as you are
Crack a smile and cut your mouth
And drown in alcohol
'Cause down below the truth is lying
Beneath the river bed
So quench yourself and drink the water
That flows below her head
Oh no
There she goes
Out in the sunshine
The sun is mine, the sun is mine
I shot my love today
Would you cry for me?
I lost my head again
Would you lie for me?
Close your eyes and bow your head
I need a little sympathy
'Cause fear is strong and love's for everyone
Who isn't me
Kill your health and kill yourself
And kill everything you love
And if you live you can fall to pieces
And suffer with my ghost
I shot my love today
Would you cry for me?
I lost my head again
Would you lie for me?
I left her in the sand
Just a burden in my hand
I lost my head again
Would you cry for me?
Just a burden in my hand
Just an anchor on my heart
It's just a tumor in my head
And I'm in the dark
So follow me into the desert
As desperate as you are
Where the moon is glued to a picture of heaven
And all the little pigs have God
Oh no
There she goes
Out in the sunshine
The sun is mine, the sun is mine
I shot my love today
Would you cry for me, yeah?
I lost my head again
Would you lie for me?
I left her in the sand
Just a burden in my hand
I lost my head again
Would you cry for me?
Yeah, would you cry for me?
@jamesthereaper7
If you're listening to this in 2024, you have great taste in music!
@jameswarnecke2483
Great voice. Puss for offing himself
@niteporter
Right here. Still think the Seattle sound greatest era of music. Not that garbage bush and stp stuff
@litedawg
Thanks you too !
@jillianmartin3794
@@niteporter I actually think that bush and stp are pretty good and I'm really into grunge! Especially bush! 😫
@pwk22
Thanks, dude.
@victorbreithaupt
"I wasn't good in school. I didn't do sports. I sat in the bedroom and listened to records. Because the Beatles did whatever they wanted to, I took that as a kid and said, 'That's what rock is." - Chris Cornell
@gupsgups5228
You still gotta do something. If you come to Hawaii, and I take you out into the ocean, your going to vanish. You gotta swim
@theamazingt4r468
This is why I love him so. 😭
@ellisdee101
206 likes... seattle’s area code. RIP chris we miss you.