"Hunger Strike" was written by vocalist Chris Cornell. It features a duet between Cornell and vocalist Eddie Vedder. Cornell was having trouble with the vocals at practice, when Vedder stepped in. Cornell later said "he sang half of that song not even knowing that I'd wanted the part to be there and he sang it exactly the way I was thinking about doing it, just instinctively."
Cornell on the song:
When we started rehearsing the songs, I had pulled out "Hunger Strike" and I had this feeling it was just kind of gonna be filler, it didn't feel like a real song. Eddie was sitting there kind of waiting for a Mookie Blaylock rehearsal and I was singing parts, and he kind of humbly—but with some balls—walked up to the mic and started singing the low parts for me because he saw it was kind of hard. We got through a couple choruses of him doing that and suddenly the light bulb came on in my head, this guy's voice is amazing for these low parts. History wrote itself after that, that became the single.
Guitarist Mike McCready on the song:
I remember thinking that this was a really beautiful song when I heard it. Chris Cornell (Soundgarden) showed me the riff. I had a '62 reissue Strat and I wanted to use the fourth-position tone setting—between the bridge and middle pickups—for the beginning of the song because I like that softer sound. Then I kicked it to the front pickup for the heavier part of the song. This is one of many amazing songs written by Chris.
Cornell stated that the lyrics for "Hunger Strike" express "somewhat of a political, socialist statement." The song puts forth the theme of stealing bread to give to the poor and protesting in solidarity with them via a hunger strike after witnessing injustice in food distribution.
In the summer of 1992, the album received new attention. Although it had been released more than a year earlier, A&M Records realized that they had in their catalog what was essentially a collaboration between Soundgarden and Pearl Jam, who had both risen to mainstream attention in the months since the album's release with their respective albums, Badmotorfinger and Ten. A&M decided to reissue the album and promote "Hunger Strike" as a single. "Hunger Strike" became the most successful song from Temple of the Dog on the American rock charts. The song peaked at number four on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks chart and number seven on the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart. Jim Guerinot, A&M's senior VP of marketing at the time, said, "I don't think that anyone would have paid attention if "Hunger Strike" wasn't a great song." It still receives regular radio play on many hard rock radio stations.
Outside the United States, the single was released in Australia, Canada, Germany, and the United Kingdom. In Canada, the song reached the top 50 on the Canadian Singles Chart. "Hunger Strike" reached the top 60 in the UK.
David Fricke of Rolling Stone said, "Cornell and Vedder...turn its four minutes into a veritable opera of rock-star guilt...Cornell turns on the Robert Plant-style napalm full blast, but it is Vedder's scorched introspection that brings the conscience in the song to a full boil. "Hunger Strike" was his first starring vocal on record; it is still one of his best."
The music video for "Hunger Strike" was directed by Paul Rachman who also directed the 2006 punk documentary American Hardcore. A&M decided to reissue the album and promote "Hunger Strike" as a single, with an accompanying music video. The video features the band performing the song on a beach and in a forest. The video was filmed at Discovery Park in Seattle, Washington. The West Point Lighthouse is featured in the video. There are two different versions of the video for the track.
"Hunger Strike" was first performed live at the band's November 13, 1990 concert in Seattle, Washington at the Off Ramp Café. In the time since the album's release, the band reformed for short live performances on four occasions where both Soundgarden and Pearl Jam were performing. Temple of the Dog performed "Hunger Strike" on October 3, 1991 at the Foundations Forum in Los Angeles, California; October 6, 1991 at the Hollywood Palladium in Hollywood for the RIP Magazine 5th anniversary party; August 14, 1992 at Lake Fairfax Park in Reston, Virginia; and September 13, 1992 at Irvine Meadows Amphitheater in Irvine, California (both shows were part of the Lollapalooza festival series in 1992).
Temple of the Dog reunited to perform the song during a Pearl Jam show at the Santa Barbara Bowl in Santa Barbara, California on October 28, 2003. Vedder and Corin Tucker of Sleater-Kinney performed a rendition of "Hunger Strike" that is viewable as an easter egg on disc 1 of the Pearl Jam Live at the Garden DVD. Pearl Jam also performed the song in Antwerp and Barcelona in 2006 with Andrew Stockdale of Wolfmother singing Cornell's parts. Cornell added "Hunger Strike" to his solo live set in 2007. Cornell also performed the song on Linkin Park's Projekt Revolution tour singing Vedder's part with Linkin Park frontman Chester Bennington joining in to sing Cornell's part.
On October 6, 2009, Pearl Jam played in Los Angeles, California at the Gibson Amphitheatre. They were joined onstage by Cornell to perform the song.
Hunger Strike
Temple of the Dog Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But I can't feed on the powerless when my cup's already overfilled, yeah
But it's on the table, the fire's cookin'
And they're farmin' babies, while slaves are workin'
The blood is on the table and the mouths are chokin'
But I'm goin' hungry, yeah
I don't mind stealin' bread from the mouths of decadents
But it's on the table, the fire's cookin'
And they're farmin' babies, while the slaves are all workin'
And it's on the table, their mouths are chokin'
But I'm goin' hungry (goin' hungry)
I'm goin' hungry (goin' hungry)
I'm goin' hungry (goin' hungry)
I'm goin' hungry (goin' hungry)
I'm goin' hungry (goin' hungry)
I'm goin' hungry (goin' hungry)
(Yeah, I don't mind stealin' bread) uh, I don't mind
(No, I don't mind stealin' bread)
I'm goin' hungry (goin' hungry)
I'm goin' hungry (goin' hungry)
The lyrics to Temple of the Dog's song Hunger Strike are both introspective and socially aware. The singer is torn between his own needs and the suffering of others. He starts by saying that he doesn't mind "stealing bread from the mouths of decadents," meaning that he is willing to take from those who have plenty, who are not suffering, in order to meet his own needs. However, he cannot bring himself to "feed on the powerless," those who are already struggling, when he himself already has enough. This shows a sense of empathy and a recognition that one's own needs and desires should not come at the expense of others.
The second half of the song expands on this theme of inequality and injustice. The image of "farming babies" is a disturbing juxtaposition between the abundant life-giving resources of the fertile earth and the exploitation of vulnerable human beings. Meanwhile, the "slaves" are forced to work in harsh conditions, while the "blood" of those who suffer is metaphorically "on the table" and "the mouths are chokin'" in desperation. Despite this, the singer is still "goin' hungry." This could indicate a sense of helplessness or guilt about his own relative privilege, or a recognition that simply taking from others is not a sustainable solution to his own needs.
Overall, the lyrics to Hunger Strike are thoughtful and thought-provoking, challenging the listener to think about their own priorities and the ways in which they engage with social issues.
Line by Line Meaning
I don't mind stealin' bread from the mouths of decadents
I am willing to take resources from those who have more than they need
But I can't feed on the powerless when my cup's already overfilled, yeah
However, I cannot take from those who are already struggling when I have more than enough
But it's on the table, the fire's cookin'
There is food available and being prepared
And they're farmin' babies, while slaves are workin'
People are having children while others are forced to work in servitude
The blood is on the table and the mouths are chokin'
There is violence and suffering present, causing great distress
But I'm goin' hungry, yeah
Despite the presence of food, I am still experiencing hunger and need
I'm goin' hungry (goin' hungry)
Repeated refrain indicating the continued presence of hunger
(Yeah, I don't mind stealin' bread) uh, I don't mind
Reiteration of willingness to take from those with excess
(No, I don't mind stealin' bread)
Further confirmation of non-objection to resource acquisition
I'm goin' hungry (goin' hungry)
Final repetition of refrain to emphasize ongoing hunger
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing
Written by: Christopher J Cornell
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@AtomicMushroomz
I don't mind stealin' bread from the mouths of decadents
But I can't feed on the powerless when my cup's already overfilled, yeah
But it's on the table, the fire's cookin'
And they're farmin' babies, while slaves are workin'
The blood is on the table and the mouths are chokin'
But I'm goin' hungry, yeah
I don't mind stealin' bread from the mouths of decadents
But I can't feed on the powerless when my cup's already overfilled, uh huh
But it's on the table, the fire's cookin'
And they're farmin' babies, while the slaves are all workin'
And it's on the table, their mouths are chokin'
But I'm goin' hungry (goin' hungry)
I'm goin' hungry (goin' hungry)
I'm goin' hungry (goin' hungry)
I'm goin' hungry (goin' hungry)
I'm goin' hungry (goin' hungry)
I'm goin' hungry (goin' hungry)
uh, I don't mind
(No, I don't mind stealin' bread)
I'm goin' hungry (goin' hungry)
I'm goin' hungry (goin' hungry)
@Thedeafvisionary
I'm deaf, but luckily before losing my hearing, I was able to live through the 90s and know their voices still in my memory.
@steveainsworth3114
Love be with you brother
@57IAM
Yes, your memories will sustain y
@grumblesenrak4795
Patakanash Washnash nooch neeechee
@MTG1207
😥❤
@mauriciomalagutti3059
Te desejo paz meu amigo, abraços do Brasil
@bonzoshikisokuzekuu
I am a Japanese person who admired grunge and wanted to live in America and become an American. I was 21 years old at the time, and even though I didn't understand the meaning of the lyrics, my heart trembled. Now, at the age of 52, my heart trembles again.
@davemyers3553
I felt the same way about moving to Japan when I was that age, just turned 40. You are welcome at my house anytime.
@ol.delicious
These are beautiful words.
@rheahayes3149
I’d much prefer to Live In Japan Than In Canada 🇨🇦 Where I Was Born & Currently Live~I Love Your Culture & People. I’m Most Impressed With The Honour System Within Your Culture & Country❣️ Japan Is Truly A “One Of A Kind Culture/Country”~Cheers. 🎵🎶