Soundgarden – Black Hole Sun

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In my eyes, indisposed
In disguises no one knows
Hides the face, lies the snake
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

[Chorus]
Black hole sun
Won't you come
And wash away the rain
Black hole sun
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

[Chorus]

Hang my head, drown my fear
Till you all just disappear

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Lyrics submitted by jt, edited by DarthSailr

Track duration: 05:19

"Black Hole Sun" as written by Chris Cornell

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

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Black Hole Sun song meanings
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  • +1
    General Comment:I think it‘s about how disasterous too much optimism can be. If you try to always think positively and not accept the bad things, at some point, something in you will get fed up with the constant smile (the sun in my disgrace) and you start destroying everything.
    Flagged waldeswindon April 09, 2013   Link
  • +1
    General Comment:A couple of the biggest secrets of the occult are revealed in this song. No joke. The truth really is stranger than fiction sometimes, and I think it's safe to say anyone who knows the true meaning would no doubt be labeled insane if they were to share it with others.
    Flag Sineistimeon April 09, 2013   Link
    • 2 Replies
  • +1
    General Comment:When I hear the song and see the Video clip I cannot help thinking of that feeling when you see the world as dull and superficial. and you see the negetivity in everything, behind every smile.
    and you miss the good stuff that made you smile though they arent gone, u just don't see 'em at that moment.

    and what could be better at that moment then a black hole in the sky to wash all that shit away, but there is none.

    I can't really interpetate every phrase but that's what I feel the song is about.
    and hey, sometimes when writing the words just fit in with no explenation
    Flagged IdoFon January 30, 2013   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I was 19 when I first heard this song. I'm glad to know that so many young people like Soundgarden. I don't know if Cornell was honest about the meaning of this song but I know we (myself and others from my generation) listened to lot's of music that had little or no meaning. We tried to find meaning in all of it. Lot's of us were taking drugs and open to almost anything that involved partying or a philosophical conversation. I think the lyrics of this whole era were always vague because half the fun was finding your own meaning. An intelligent songwriter may not want to divulge the meaning of his or her work because if it means a lot of different things to a lot of different people, it just might sell a few more copies. We liked our music very abstract in those days. They were just giving us what we wanted. So it IS open to any interpretation and I care not what Chris Cornell said in any interview!

    One thing I think should be mentioned about this album, in general: It was a departure from they're hardcore grunge days. This was the beginning of the end of grunge. When the album was new it seemed as though they were selling out. And maybe they were but the music was so great, no one cared if they were selling out. All the way up to the point of breaking up, Soundgarden was the band everyone wanted to see live. I saw them a few times myself. Incredible band! All 4 band members are great musicians and each have a hand in song writing. Soundgarden was famous for recording full length albums that could easily be listened to from beginning to end. Every track a masterpiece. Something that is almost unheard of today. If you like Superunknown check out Bad Motor Finger. Arguably, their best work.
    Flagged kanoe13on November 24, 2012   Link
    • 2 Replies
  • 0
    Song Meaning:I always thought the meaning was about the anticipated arrival of the AntiChrist (e.g. the Black Hole Son). While water usually represents life, the AntiChrist is expected to wash away spiritual life in the Tribulation. With these two ideas in place the rest of the song reads quite easily.
    Flagged zman0009on November 23, 2012   Link
  • 0
    My Interpretation:It seems to be about loosing a loved one and becime very bitter and jaded about it. Looking around and seeing all these assholes and snakes and thinking 'how the hell did my friend deserve to go and yet all of these bad people are still breathing.' Like the anger stage of grieving.
    It's an amazing song . Love the melodies, love the the riffs. A very underrated song.
    Flagged dream2niteon November 13, 2012   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Simple me. I think it's about mental illness and a hope for an outside force to end it.
    Flagged novedson September 20, 2012   Link
  • -3
    My Interpretation:its about but sex or anal bleaching
    Flagged vinny91on August 12, 2012   Link
  • +3
    General Comment:It's just sort of a surreal dreamscape, a weird, play-with-the-title kind of song. He also that "lyrically it's probably the closest to me just playing with words for words' sake, of anything 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. "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 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." the song was misinterpreted as being positive, 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
    Flagged XXX729on June 28, 2012   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:his inner hole of darkness one find false sense of light or comfort
    Flagged erv187on May 13, 2012   Link

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