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)
Come Together
Soundgarden Lyrics
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He got joo-joo eyeball he one holy roller
He got hair down to his knees
Got to be a joker he just do what he please
He wear no shoeshine he got toe-jam football
He got monkey finger he shoot coca-cola
He say "I know you, you know me"
Come together right now over me
He bag production he got walrus gumboot
He got Ono sideboard he one spinal cracker
He got feet down below his knee
Hold you in his armchair you can feel his disease
Come together right now over me
He roller-coaster he got early warning
He got muddy water he one mojo filter
He say "One and one and one is three"
Got to be good-looking cuz he's so hard to see
Come together right now over me
The lyrics to Soundgarden's song Come Together are a mixture of nonsense phrases and references to different aspects of pop culture. The song was originally written and recorded by The Beatles, and the influence of the Fab Four is clear in the psychedelic and surrealistic lyrics. The first verse introduces "old flattop", a character with long hair, no shoes, and a wild spirit. He is a holy roller, a joker, and someone who does what he pleases. The second verse continues with references to specific objects and people. "Walrus gumboot" is likely a reference to Paul McCartney's song "I Am the Walrus", while "Ono sideboard" could be a reference to John Lennon's partner Yoko Ono. The character described in the song is a mix of different influences, and it is unclear what the overall message is. Some have suggested that the song is about individual freedom and expression, while others see it as a tribute to the power of music to bring people together.
The chorus of the song is the most memorable part, with the repeated phrase "come together right now over me". The chorus seems to suggest a desire for people to unite, but it is unclear what they are uniting for. The third verse adds more bizarre details, with "roller-coaster" and "muddy water" being used to describe the character. The line "one and one and one is three" is a direct reference to The Beatles' song "All You Need Is Love", which features the same line. The final line of the song, "got to be good-looking 'cause he's so hard to see", is another reference to the concept of perception and how people see others.
Overall, the lyrics to Come Together are a fascinating mix of different references and ideas. The song has a surreal, dreamlike quality to it, and the character described in the song is both fascinating and enigmatic. The song has been covered by many different artists over the years, and remains a classic example of psychedelic rock.
Line by Line Meaning
Here come old flattop he come grooving up slowly
An individual with a prominent appearance is approaching with a nonchalant and unhurried demeanor.
He got joo-joo eyeball he one holy roller
His peculiar, mystifying look and pious actions suggest he may be a devout religious person.
He got hair down to his knees
His hair is long, reaching his knees, indicating he may not follow traditional societal norms.
Got to be a joker he just do what he please
He's a carefree person who does whatever he wants, much like a jester or prankster.
He wear no shoeshine he got toe-jam football
He doesn't bother with the upkeep of his shoes, preferring a casual existence, playing soccer with his toes may indicate his level of skill.
He got monkey finger he shoot coca-cola
His fingers are quite nimble and dexterous, enabling him to open a coke bottle with ease.
He say "I know you, you know me"
He says that he is familiar with his listener and vice versa.
One thing i can tell you is you got to be free
He advises that freedom is the most important thing that a person can have.
Come together right now over me
He urges everyone to unite and gather around him as a symbol of the bond that freedom can create.
He bag production he got walrus gumboot
He is in the music industry and has a mammoth boot emphasizing his distinctiveness.
He got Ono sideboard he one spinal cracker
He has an expensive piece of furniture, perhaps a reference to Yoko Ono, who is known for being a controversial figure in the Beatles' history.
He got feet down below his knee
His legs are notably long, and he appears tall, like a giant.
Hold you in his armchair you can feel his disease
When he holds you, you may pick up his affliction or burden, as if it's contagious.
He roller-coaster he got early warning
He's up and down, like a roller coaster and gives a pensive warning to those who are paying attention.
He got muddy water he one mojo filter
He possesses both dirty water and the power to purify it, like a magic charm.
He say "One and one and one is three"
He utters a mystical statement that challenges the sense of logic or reason and indicates that there's more than meets the eye.
Got to be good-looking cuz he's so hard to see
He must be good-looking because he's so difficult to discern or understand, perhaps in a metaphorical sense.
Come together right now over me
He repeats the same message from earlier to bring everyone together around his enigmatic persona.
Contributed by Bailey D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.