Long time coming
It seemed to take me through
Long time coming
Many served the few
And long to taste the shame
That bows down before you

Long time coming
It seemed to get me by
Long time coming
It seemed to satisfy
You longed to taste the shame
That everybody tries

Shame shame
Throw yourself away
Give me little bits of
More than I can take
If it sits upon your tongue
Or naked in your eyes
Give me little bits of
More than I can try

Long time coming
It seemed to take me through
Long time coming
Many served the few
And long to taste the shame
That bows down before you

Shame shame
Throw yourself away
Give me little bits of
More than I can take
If it sits upon your tongue
Or naked in your eyes
Give me little bits of
More than I can try



Lyrics submitted by jt

Track duration: 04:16

"Fresh Tendrils" as written by Cornell/cameron

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

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Fresh Tendrils song meanings
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30 Comments

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  • 0
    Song Meaning:Well, this song is wide open to interpretation, as the lyrics do not refer directly about anything from the "real" world, but rather to intimate sensations and feelings.

    It could have been about anything: a cat that died, drugs, a baby with horns from outer space... you name it! And the real situation that led Chris (I belive the lyrics are his) to feel that way and describe those sensations can only be revealed by him. Personally, I think we would be kind of surprised if we had the chance to know what inspired him.

    The inspiration does not "own" the song "meaning". Actually, "meaning" should be substituted by "sense" or "interpretation", because it's impossible to guess what gave him those feelings - as I've already said, it could have been anything!

    That said, I really like to hear this song when I'm under a heavy stressful situation or period of my life. It's like: "I'm already screwed, I'm at the bottom, and I'm not ceasing to exist". So throw yourself away makes me feel like "I don't have any self esteem anymore, you can spit on me, you can do anything, I'm like a dog right now" and then "give me little bits of / more than I can take" is like, since I don't have any self esteem left, I want more, I want the extreme, try and push me beyond my limits (in a bad way), so you can see that nothing is gonna happen. It puts morals and our capability of facing the hardest things in life in perspective: you can live hell, but you'll still be alive. You won't faint and die like a fairy tale princess, you'll just live that hell - so "give me little bits of / more than I can try".

    It can be related to hitting the bottom, like when you're addicted to drugs (as people had already mentioned), but you can also feel this way when you're being humiliated but yet are forced to go on, when you're facing something very difficult but quitting is not possible, or is not an option.

    So I think the lyrics "mean" (rather express) these feelings you have when in extreme hard and stressfull situations which you cannot make stop and you just must go on, and you're about to break and go nuts, but you don't. You just become kind of numb, apathetic, starting to like pain just to mock and defy everything good - man, you'll be nuts already. You'll cut yourself. You'll hurt yourself.

    Well... lol

    That's what this song means to me, independently from Chris' original inspiration, as the lyrics are about those feelings.
    Flag superbee82on April 09, 2012   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Synopsis:
    (I've learned from the mistakes of the other men I've seen.
    I know that you are tired of sumbissive men and
    want to be dominated. I am in awe of you like they were
    but I will pretend to be above you in order to please
    you. Such is the depth of my submission. I am not afraid. Let's go)

    (Line by Line)
    I waited
    sustained by desire
    I waited
    You had lots of suitors
    they were eager for the feeling
    of being humbled by you

    I waited
    sustained by desire
    I waited
    desire alone seemed like enough
    you want to know what it's like
    to trade places with someone ordinary

    Trade pride for humility, forget yourself
    I don't care if you are too much for me
    I fear no experience, not drugs not sex
    I am ready to be overwhelmed

    I waited
    sustained by desire
    I waited
    You had lots of suitors
    they were eager for the feeling
    of being humbled by you

    Trade pride for humility, forget yourself
    I don't care if you are too much for me
    I fear no experience, not drugs not sex
    I am ready to be overwhelmed
    Flag CptZackSavvyon August 19, 2011   Link
  • +1
    General Comment:This song has a very cool sound and vibe. Very mellow and heavy at the same time, I love it.
    Flag Musicmutton August 12, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Shame shame throw yourself away
    Give me little bits of more than I can take

    sounds like the early stages of someone becoming a junkie
    Flag cornellvsliddellon June 20, 2010   Link
  • +2
    General Comment:The War on Drugs has done a lot of awful things but the absolute worst is the influence it's had on song interpretation.

    But this song does seem to be about drugs, specifically alcohol. It sounds like it's about a teetotaller who takes up alcohol to help them out socially with fitting-in but eventually becomes addicted, leading to feelings of shame that he conformed rather than be himself.

    "seemed to take me through, get me by, satisfy, etc." - drinking helping him fit-in with others and giving him relief from problems

    "many served the few" - drinkers encouraging teetotallers to drink

    "give me little bits of more than I can take, try, etc." - the teetotaller commits himself to taking-up drinking and encourages offers of more shots, different drinks etc.

    "that everybody tries" - very few people never try alcohol
    Flag acphenomon April 13, 2010   Link
  • +1
    General Comment:i think theres some drug elements in it but i agree with the parent/child interpretation, on account of the title... i always thought of the "shame shame throw yourself away" line as something a parent or teacher would say to a kid. and for some reason this song really, really reminds me of the show malcolm in the middle, if thats relevant to anyone.
    Flag SludgeGarden13on March 09, 2010   Link
  • -1
    My Interpretation:I believe its about acid. Sitting upon your tongue (acid in a strip) naked in your eye (acid in drops)

    he sometimes uses shame along with drug use in songs
    Flag jdunon February 11, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:It seems like this song is about drugs. The narrator hasn't done them in a while, but now he's doing it again.
    Flag KillViacomon September 10, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Those who say this isn't about drugs, and saying its about other things. I'm afraid you're just wrong. Fresh Tendrils is another name for drugs. Read the lyrics. It's obvious, and I can actually confirm it.
    Flag Supah Dudeon July 07, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Oh yeah and wikipedia anyone can edit, so some judgemental person prolly was like "oh yeah it's another grunge album about drugs blah blah etc." Anything can be about drugs if you twist the words, but I think it's better to be original.
    Flag DJgifon February 16, 2009   Link

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