Reach Down
Temple of the Dog Lyrics

Well, I had a dream the other night
The singer had a dream recently.

You were in a bar in the corner on a chair
In the dream, the singer saw the addressee in a bar, sitting alone in a corner on a chair.

Wearing a long white leather coat
In the dream, the addressee wore a long white leather coat.

Purple glasses and glitter in your hair
In the dream, the addressee had purple glasses on and glitter in their hair.

And you said, "hey, this is where I'm gonna sit
In the dream, the addressee told the singer that they would sit in that corner.

And buy you a drink someday
In the dream, the addressee promised to buy the singer a drink someday.

Well, you were going to the dog shows
The addressee was originally headed to dog shows.

But you kinda lost your way
However, they lost their way and did not make it to the destination.

Now you said, "now I got all this room
The addressee told the singer that they now had a lot of space.

And no money to decorate it"
However, they did not have any money to decorate it.

So some local customer put me in touch with the man upstairs
A local person referred the addressee to a higher power.

But he said, "little man, you got no business gettin' frustrated
The higher power cautioned the addressee not to get frustrated.

You gotta rest, you gotta rest, you gotta rest"
The higher power advised the addressee to rest and take a break.

You gotta reach down and pick the crowd up
The addressee needs to help and uplift others.

Oh, I wanna reach down and pick the crowd up
The singer also wants to reach down and help others.

Carry back in my hand to the promised land
The goal is to lift people up and bring them to a better place.

Ooh, I had an angel shine my wings
The singer had a divine experience.

She said, "nothin' but the best for the golden boy
The divine figure promised the singer the best things in life.

And she made me promise not to tell
However, the singer was sworn to secrecy.

I had her under a spell
The singer had a special influence over the divine figure.

Singin' golden words in a broken voice
The singer sang beautiful words despite their voice being broken.

Now I caught a blessing on the wind
The singer received a blessing from the universe.

I'm feelin' lighter than a breath from a dove
As a result, the singer feels very light and free.

I got no hands to tie behind my back
The singer feels unencumbered and free to act.

And I'm sparkin' like a heart attack
The singer feels energized and inspired.

And I got room to spread my wings
The singer has space and opportunities to grow and develop.

And my messages of love, yeah
The singer wants to spread messages of love to others.

Love was my drug
The singer used to rely on love as a source of happiness.

But that's not what I died of
However, the singer did not die due to a lack of love.

So don't ya think of me
The singer is telling the listener not to think of them.

Cryin' louder than some billion dollar baby
The singer does not want to be remembered as a crybaby.

Ooh, I wanna rest I wanna rest I wanna rest"
The singer wants to rest and take a break.

Yeah, ooh, ooh
The singer expresses excitement and energy.

Yeah, I wanna reach down
The singer still wants to help others.

Oh yeah, and pick the crowd up
The singer wants to lift and inspire people.

(I wanna reach down) I wanna reach down
The singer repeats their desire to help others.

(And pick the crowd up) and pick the crowd up
The singer repeats their desire to lift and inspire people.

(Carry back in my hand) hand
The goal is to bring people to a better place in life.

(To the promised land) to the promised land
The 'promised land' is a metaphor for a better, happier place.

(To the promised land) ooh, yeah
The singer repeats the importance of striving for a better place.

Ah, oh
The song ends with a final exclamation of excitement and inspiration.