The band released its only album, the self-titled Temple of the Dog, in April 1991 through A&M Records. The recording sessions took place in November and December 1990 at London Bridge Studios, in Seattle, Washington with producer Rakesh "Rick" Parashar. Although earning praise from music critics at the time of its release, the album was not widely recognized until 1992, when Vedder, Ament, Gossard, and McCready had their breakthrough with Pearl Jam. Cameron would later join Pearl Jam, serving as drummer since 1998.
The band toured in 2016 in celebration of the 25th anniversary of their self-titled album.
Temple of the Dog was started by Soundgarden frontman Chris Cornell, who had been a roommate of Andrew Wood, the lead singer of Malfunkshun and Mother Love Bone. Wood died on March 19, 1990, of a heroin overdose, the day Cornell got back from a tour. As he went on to tour Europe a few days later, he started writing songs in tribute to his late friend. The result was two songs, "Reach Down" and "Say Hello 2 Heaven", which he recorded as soon as he returned home from touring.
The recorded material was slow and melodic, musically different from the aggressive rock music of Soundgarden. Cornell approached Wood's former bandmates, Stone Gossard and Jeff Ament—who were still figuring out how to continue without Mother Love Bone—with the intention of releasing the songs as a single. Ament described the collaboration as "a really good thing at the time" for Gossard and him that put them into a "band situation where we could play and make music." The band's lineup was completed by the addition of Soundgarden (and later Pearl Jam) drummer Matt Cameron and future Pearl Jam lead guitarist Mike McCready. They named themselves Temple of the Dog, a reference to a line in the lyrics of the Mother Love Bone song "Man of Golden Words".
Four Walled World
Temple of the Dog Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
All night to the sound of the freeway hum
And she swears she'll be gone
When the sun hits the ground
And she ain't comin' back to my cell
To my cell
Ooh
Of this life she's been leadin' too long
And the time turns around
Through these walls that surround
To the chimes of a jailer's song
Oh, but in my four
In my four
In my four, in my four-walled world
In my four
In my four
In my four, in my four-walled world
Yeah, she tries and she tries
But my feet, they just won't leave the ground
And I'm tired and I'm tired
Of this prisoner's life
And these chains that drag me down
Oh, but in my four
In my four
In my four, in my four-walled world
Yeah, in my four
Oh, in my four
In my four, in my four-walled world
Well, she cried and she cried
All night to the sound of the freeway hum
And she swears she'll be gone
When the sun hits the ground
And she ain't, no, she ain't comin' back to my cell
Now the sun is low
These walls try to break my soul
Now the moon is full
And I won't see nothin' tonight but the tear in her eyes
In my four
Yeah, in my four
Yeah, in my four-walled world
Yeah, in my four, oh, my four, yeah, my four
Oh, my four-walled world
Yeah, in my four-walled world
In my four, in my four-walled world
Yeah, in my four, in my four
In my four-walled world, yeah, yeah
In my four-walled world, yeah, yeah, yeah
Oh, in my four
In my four-walled world, yeah
Four, in my four, in my four-walled world, yeah
In my four-walled world, yeah
The song "Four Walled World" by Temple of the Dog is a powerful ballad about the experience of being imprisoned, both literally and metaphorically. The lyrics are a conversation between two people - one who is trapped in a cell and one who is free - and the feelings of frustration, despair, and hopelessness are palpable throughout. The song opens with a woman crying through the night to the sound of the freeway hum, lamenting her imprisonment and swearing that she will leave when the sun rises. The singer responds by acknowledging his own tiredness and exhaustion with his life, but he expresses a profound sense of powerlessness to change his circumstances.
The central image of the four-walled world is a metaphor for the prison where the singer is being held, as well as the mental and emotional traps we can all find ourselves in. The chimes of a jailer's song are a haunting reminder of how oppressive and stifling the walls can be. The lyrics suggest that the singer is resigned to his fate, despite the fact that he longs for freedom. The repeated phrase "in my four, in my four-walled world" reinforces both the suffocating nature of his surroundings and the deeply personal nature of his imprisonment. The final stanza is a powerful evocation of the moment when the sun sets and the darkness descends, leaving the singer with nothing but the memory of the woman he has lost.
Line by Line Meaning
Well, she cries and she cries
All night to the sound of the freeway hum
And she swears she'll be gone
When the sun hits the ground
And she ain't comin' back to my cell
To my cell
Ooh
She cannot stop crying all night long, due to the sound of traffic outside. She declares that she will leave when daylight comes, and will not return to the house.
Well, she's tired and she's tired
Of this life she's been leadin' too long
And the time turns around
Through these walls that surround
To the chimes of a jailer's song
The woman is exhausted with her current way of life which has gone on for too many years. Time passes by with the sound of a nearby jail, reminding her of the restrictions placed on her life.
Oh, but in my four
In my four
In my four, in my four-walled world
In my four
In my four
In my four, in my four-walled world
Despite being stuck within the confines of a room, the singer has found a sense of comfort and belonging within those walls.
Yeah, she tries and she tries
But my feet, they just won't leave the ground
And I'm tired and I'm tired
Of this prisoner's life
And these chains that drag me down
The woman makes attempts to leave, but the artist remains trapped within the metaphorical shackles of his own life. He too is weary of a life spent in confinement.
Now the sun is low
These walls try to break my soul
Now the moon is full
And I won't see nothin' tonight but the tear in her eyes
In my four
Yeah, in my four
Yeah, in my four-walled world
Yeah, in my four, oh, my four, yeah, my four
Oh, my four-walled world
Yeah, in my four-walled world
As the day draws to a close, the four walls feel like they are suffocating the artist's very being. The full moon illuminates his lover's face as she cries, evoking feelings of sadness and frustration at his inability to change his situation.
In my four, in my four-walled world
Yeah, in my four, in my four
In my four-walled world, yeah, yeah
In my four-walled world, yeah, yeah, yeah
Oh, in my four
In my four-walled world, yeah
Four, in my four, in my four-walled world, yeah
In my four-walled world, yeah
The repetition of the central message - that the singer is trapped within his own four walls - serves to emphasize the feeling of confinement and repetition.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Stone C. Gossard, Christopher J. Cornell
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Limits98
Lyrics
Well she cried
And she cried
All night to the sound
Of the freeway hum
And she swears
She'll be gone
When the sun
Hits the ground
And she ain't coming
Back to my cell
To my cell
Ooh
Well she's tired
And she's tired
Of this life she's been
Leading too long
And the time turns around
Through the walls
That surround
To the chimes of
A jailor's song
Oh,
But in my four
In my four
In my four
My four walled world
In my four
In my four
In my four
My four walled world
Yeah,
She tries
And she tries
But my feet they just
Won't leave the ground
And I'm tired and I'm tired
Of this prisoner's life,
And these chains
That drag me down
Oh,
But in my four
In my four
In my four
My four walled world
Yeah, in my four
Oh,
In my four
In my four
My four walled world
Well she cried
And she cried
All night to the sound
Of the freeway hum
And she swears
She'll be gone
When the sun
Hits the ground
And she ain't
No she ain't
Coming back to my cell
Now the sun is low
These walls try
To break my soul
Now the moon is full
And
I won't see nothing tonight
But the tear in her eye
In my four
Yeah,
In my four walled world
Yeah,
In my four walled world
Yeah
In my four
My four,
Yeah
In my four
Oh,
My four walled world
Yeah,
In my four walled world,
Yeah
In my four,
In my four walled world
Yeah
In my four,
In my four
In my four walled world,
Yeah,
Yeah
In my four walled world,
Yeah,
Yeah,
Yeah,
Yeah
Oh,
In my four
In my four walled world,
Yeah,
Yeah
Four,
In my four,
In my four walled world,
Yeah
In my four walled world,
Yeah
Jayme Lou
Well she cried and she cried
All night to the sound of the freeway hum
And she swears she'll be gone
When the sun hits the ground
And she ain't comin' back to my cell
To my cell
Ooh
Well she's tired and she's tired
Of this life she's been leadin' too long
And the time turns around
Through the walls that surround
To the chimes of a jailer's song
Oh, but in my four
In my four
In my four, mu four walled world
In my four
In my four
In my four, my four walled world
Yeah, she tries and she tries
But my feet they just won't leave the ground
And I'm tired and I'm tired
Of this prisoner's life, and these chains that drag me down
Oh, but in my four
In my four
In my four in my four walled world
Yeah, in my four
Oh, in my four
In my four my four walled world
Well she cried and she cried
All night to the sound of the freeway hum
And she swears she'll be gone
When the sun hits the ground
And she ain't, no she ain't comin' back to my cell
Now the sun is low
These walls try to break my soul
Now the moon is full
And I won't see nothin' tonight but the tear in her eyes
In my four
Yeah, in my four
Yeah in my four walled world
Yeah, in my four my four, yeah my four
Oh, my four walled world
Yeah, in my four walled world
In my four, in my four walled world
Yeah in my four, in my four
In my four walled world, yeah, yeah
In my four world, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Oh, in my four
In my four walled world, yeah
Four, in my four, in my four walled world, yeah
In my four walled world
Sjors Berends
Still remember when i first heard this, was like a spiritual experience. These Lyrics and delivery... the rawness and honesty...nothing beats Cornell’s voice...
Layne Jane
This song has always captured my heart too strongly. I feel devastated, in a beautiful way every time I hear it. So much raw emotion.
M F
Quite possibly the best studio vocal performance you’ll ever hear from Chris Cornell. There are some studio vocals as good, but none better.
Zachary J
One of those songs that just lets loose on you, it really doesn't care, its pure and organic. Rest in peace, you're loved and missed Chris.
Michael Blaine
It cares a lot brother✌️
Cristina Filipe
How I felt exactly it's been 30 wonderful years and seeing where he would go and all the great things I KNEW, AND SOME made fun of me, I knew would be great things he would do, but I never EVER in a lifetime thought my King would die so young , I can't tell you of my heartbreak over this. RIP beautiful soul Cris Cornell
Limits98
Lyrics
Well she cried
And she cried
All night to the sound
Of the freeway hum
And she swears
She'll be gone
When the sun
Hits the ground
And she ain't coming
Back to my cell
To my cell
Ooh
Well she's tired
And she's tired
Of this life she's been
Leading too long
And the time turns around
Through the walls
That surround
To the chimes of
A jailor's song
Oh,
But in my four
In my four
In my four
My four walled world
In my four
In my four
In my four
My four walled world
Yeah,
She tries
And she tries
But my feet they just
Won't leave the ground
And I'm tired and I'm tired
Of this prisoner's life,
And these chains
That drag me down
Oh,
But in my four
In my four
In my four
My four walled world
Yeah, in my four
Oh,
In my four
In my four
My four walled world
Well she cried
And she cried
All night to the sound
Of the freeway hum
And she swears
She'll be gone
When the sun
Hits the ground
And she ain't
No she ain't
Coming back to my cell
Now the sun is low
These walls try
To break my soul
Now the moon is full
And
I won't see nothing tonight
But the tear in her eye
In my four
Yeah,
In my four walled world
Yeah,
In my four walled world
Yeah
In my four
My four,
Yeah
In my four
Oh,
My four walled world
Yeah,
In my four walled world,
Yeah
In my four,
In my four walled world
Yeah
In my four,
In my four
In my four walled world,
Yeah,
Yeah
In my four walled world,
Yeah,
Yeah,
Yeah,
Yeah
Oh,
In my four
In my four walled world,
Yeah,
Yeah
Four,
In my four,
In my four walled world,
Yeah
In my four walled world,
Yeah
VicRattlehead1980
This song was always one on my favorites in that album. Lots of talent in this "band"
Jennifer LaBove
Love every song on this album. Rip Chris and Andy.
Lyssa B
My heart, you left this world but your voice lives on forever.