The song was written by frontman Chris Cornell. Cornell said that he wrote the song in about 15 minutes. Cornell came up with the song while using a Leslie speaker. Kim Thayil said that the Leslie speaker was perfect for the song as "it's very Beatlesque and has a distinctive sound." The song was performed in drop D tuning. Matt Cameron called the song "a huge departure."
Cornell stated, "It's just sort of a surreal dreamscape, a weird, play-with-the-title kind of song." He also said that "lyrically it's probably the closest to me just playing with words for words' sake, of anything I've written. I guess it worked for a lot of people who heard it, but I have no idea how you'd begin to take that one literally." In another interview he elaborated further, stating, "It's funny because hits are usually sort of congruent, sort of an identifiable lyric idea, and that song pretty much had none. The chorus lyric is kind of beautiful and easy to remember. Other than that, I sure didn't have an understanding of it after I wrote it. I was just sucked in by the music and I was painting a picture with the lyrics. There was no real idea to get across." Commenting upon how the song was misinterpreted as being positive, Cornell said, "No one seems to get this, but "Black Hole Sun" is sad. But because the melody is really pretty, everyone thinks it's almost chipper, which is ridiculous."
07- BLACK HOLE SUN
soundgarden Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
In disguises no one knows
Hides the face, lies the snake
In the sun, in my disgrace
Boiling heat, summer stench
'Neath the black the sky looks dead
Call my name through the cream
And I'll hear you scream again
Black hole sun
Won't you come
And wash away the rain
Black hole sun
Won't you come
Won't you come (won't you come)
Stuttering, cold and damp
Steal the warm wind, tired friend
Times are gone for honest men
And sometimes far too long for snakes
In my shoes, a walking sleep
And my youth, I pray to keep
Heaven sent hell away
No one sings like you anymore
Black hole sun
Won't you come
And wash away the rain
Black hole sun
Won't you come
Won't you come
Black hole sun
Won't you come
Black hole sun
Won't you come
Won't you come (black hole sun, black hole sun)
Won't you come (black hole sun, black hole sun)
Won't you come (black hole sun, black hole sun)
Won't you come (black hole sun, black hole sun)
Hang my head, drown my fear
'Til you all just disappear
Black hole sun
Won't you come
And wash away the rain
Black hole sun
Won't you come
Won't you come
Black hole sun
Won't you come
And wash away the rain
Black hole sun
Won't you come
Won't you come (black hole sun, black hole sun)
Won't you come (black hole sun, black hole sun)
Won't you come (black hole sun, black hole sun)
Won't you come (black hole sun, black hole sun)
Won't you come (black hole sun, black hole sun)
Won't you come (black hole sun, black hole sun)
Won't you come
Won't you come
"Black Hole Sun" is a song by the American rock band Soundgarden, released in 1994 as the lead single from their fourth studio album, "Superunknown". The song uses various metaphorical images to present an apocalyptic view of the world, which is characterized by extreme heat, decay, and frustration. The lyrics describe the singer's feelings of disdain for the world around him, which he perceives as chaotic and oppressive.
The first verse describes the singer's "indisposed" state - a feeling of being trapped and unable to fully express himself. He is surrounded by people who are wearing disguises, and he can't see their true faces. The "snake" represents deceit and treachery, which are hiding behind the façade of the people around him. The "sun in my disgrace" refers to the singer's discontent with the world around him, and the way it makes him feel. The second verse talks about the oppressive summer heat, which is made worse by the pervasive stench of decay. The singer is trying to escape this suffocating atmosphere but finds it impossible.
The chorus of the song is the most memorable part, with the repetition of "black hole sun, won't you come" creating a feeling of desperation and longing. The "black hole sun" represents the idea of something so oppressive and powerful that it can blot out the light of day, just as a black hole can swallow up everything around it. The singer is pleading with this force to come and "wash away the rain", which could be interpreted as a cleansing of the decay and decayed world around him.
Overall, "Black Hole Sun" is a powerful song with a complex set of metaphors that convey a sense of frustration and anger towards the world. Its catchy chorus and haunting melodies make it an enduring classic of the 90s grunge era.
Line by Line Meaning
In my eyes, indisposed
Feeling vulnerable and exposed, unable to hide emotions
In disguises no one knows
Hiding true identity and emotions from others
Hides the face, lies the snake
Concealing true intentions and deceitfully manipulating others
The sun in my disgrace
Feeling guilty and shameful in the midst of overwhelming negativity
Boiling heat, summer stench
Unbearable and uncomfortable conditions in a toxic environment
'Neath the black the sky looks dead
Feeling hopeless and drained in a dark and lifeless world
Call my name through the cream
Desperately reaching out for help and connection
And I'll hear you scream again
The pain and suffering of others is unbearable and echoes within
Black hole sun
A metaphor for a dark and inescapable force consuming everything in its path
Won't you come
A plea for relief and escape from the agony of the present
And wash away the rain
A desire for cleansing and renewal, to start anew
Stuttering, cold and damp
Feeling lost and uncertain, with confusion and discomfort
Steal the warm wind tired friend
Taking advantage of someone's vulnerability and trust for personal gain
Times are gone for honest men
A recognition that the world is unfair and corrupt, and those who do right suffer
And sometimes far too long for snakes
People who deceive and manipulate to get ahead are often rewarded, despite their wrongdoing
In my shoes, a walking sleep
Feeling numb and disconnected from reality, going through the motions of life without truly living
And my youth I pray to keep
A desire to hold onto innocence and purity in the face of a harsh and cruel world
Heaven sent hell away
A belief that despite the pain and suffering in the world, there is some good
No one sings like you anymore
A sense of loss and nostalgia for a better time or a better version of oneself
Hang my head, drown my fear
Giving up and succumbing to the overwhelming negative emotions
Till you all just disappear
A desire to escape the world and the negative people in it
Won't you come (black hole sun, black hole sun)
Repeating the plea for relief and escape from the pain
Won't you come
The repeated plea for relief and escape from the agony of the present
Lyrics © O/B/O DistroKid, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: Christopher J. Cornell
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind