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".
Your Savior
Temple of the Dog Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Walk in the shoes of somebody else
Whisper to me, my tragic fate
Whisper to me, my tragic end
But don't give me your savior
People I choose, life on my own
Burn me your fuse, throw me your stones
Whisper to me, my tragic end
But don't give me your savior
People I choose, I know myself
Lay my need out, give you my help
But you give me your blues
And you whisper my fate
But don't give me your savior
In the song "Your Savior" by Temple of the Dog, the singer highlights the importance of self-discovery and the value of living life on one's own terms. The lyrics evoke a sense of determination and individuality, as the singer refuses to accept the standards imposed by others. He urges people to empathize with each other, to walk in each other's shoes, and to resist forcing their views on others.
The lyrics also acknowledge the presence of tragedy and suffering in life, but the singer seeks to face them head-on without relying on external saviors or solutions. He rejects the notion of blindly following others, instead embracing his own identity and taking control of his life. The words reflect a sense of empowerment and resilience, as the singer asserts his independence and refuses to be swayed by external pressures.
Overall, the song encourages listeners to stay true to themselves and to find their own path in life rather than accepting the offerings of others. It's a powerful message of self-discovery that resonates with people of all ages and backgrounds.
Line by Line Meaning
People like you, I know myself
I understand who I am when I encounter people like you
Walk in the shoes of somebody else
Empathize with another's experience to gain perspective
Whisper to me, my tragic fate
Speak to me softly about my unfortunate destiny
Whisper to me, my tragic end
Talk quietly to me about my unfortunate demise
But don't give me your savior
I don't need your 'hero' to rescue me, I can handle it myself
People I choose, life on my own
I decide who I associate with, I live independently
Burn me your fuse, throw me your stones
Challenge me with your aggression, insult me with your criticism
Give me your brand, burn on my hand
Show me your identity, leave a permanent mark
Whisper to me, my tragic end
Speak quietly to me about my unfortunate demise
But don't give me your savior
I don't need your 'hero' to rescue me, I can handle it myself
People I choose, I know myself
I am aware of who I am and who I associate with
Lay my need out, give you my help
Express my requirements, offer my assistance
But you give me your blues
Instead, you bring me sadness or depression
And you whisper my fate
You talk quietly about my destiny
But don't give me your savior
I don't need your 'hero' to rescue me, I can handle it myself
Contributed by Colin F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.