Soundgarden – Zero Chance

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Send "Zero Chance" Ringtone to Cell

I think I know the answer
I stumbled on and all the world fell down
And all the sky went silent
Cracked like glass and slowly
Tumbled to the ground
They all say if you look hard
You'll find your way back home
Born without a friend
And bound to die alone

I'm thinking of your highness
And crying long upon the loss
I've found
And on the plus and minus
zero chance of ever
Turning this around

Why doesn't anyone believe
In loneliness
Stand up and everyone will see
Your holiness

They say if you look hard
You'll find your way back home
Born without a friend
And bound to die alone

Send "Zero Chance" Ringtone to Cell


Lyrics submitted by jt

Track duration: 04:18

"Zero Chance" as written by Cornell/shepherd

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

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Zero Chance song meanings
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27 Comments

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  • 0
    Memory:I remember sitting in the car when I first heard this song come on the local rock station. At the time, I didn't know SG, and it was about a decade later that I heard this song again. It brought back the memory of my childhood car-rides to and from school in a remote area of Oregon,(every part of Oregon is remote) gazing at the natural beauty surrounding me: the tall evergreens that populated dark, ominous forests, and the ever-present fog that shrouded the countryside. My, how time flies... Thanks Ben!
    Flag RacketManon April 04, 2013   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:It's funny, I came to know and like this song at a time in my childhood when I used to play Doom a lot. It seem to blend well with the feeling of despair in the game, that you (as a character) know that there's nothing waiting for you besides pain and death. Zero chance of making out of it alive. I've always imagined a video for this song featuring scenes from the game.

    In the real world though, it takes similar meaning for me - It talks about the futile race for sane, happy, healthy life in this corrupt world full of violence and apathy. At that time of my life, I looked around me and all I could see was narrow minded, violent, selfish people. So what's the point of growing up in such a world...
    Flag loneSolderon March 26, 2013   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I think it's about learning to live with loneliness. Having to accept it as not only a reality, but as THE reality. Accepting that, in life, all romantic relationships will come to an end and you'll end up at square one all over again. Chris seems to have the exact same mindset as myself on this topic. Maybe it's a natural component of personality, maybe it's a result of having major depressive disorder. It's believing that nothing will ever come, and if it does, it's not here to stay.
    Flag ultramegaunknownon December 27, 2012   Link
  • -1
    My Interpretation:One of the most enduring songs from my teenage years. 'Why doesn't anyone believe in loneliness' becomes more relevant as time goes on and we're all caught up in the whole facebook mobile phone network thing. But in reality the quality of human relationships is deteriorating. It's a shame Chris Cornell got caught up the MTV image thing and lost these flashes of genius.
    Flag Liminal2on January 28, 2011   Link
  • -2
    General Comment:I think when he says, "Stand up and everyone will see your holiness," he is sarcastic, meaning that he chose this loneliness in an attempt to serve God at fever pitch. Which is bullshit. :)
    Flag singlebarrel94on June 18, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Uh, Cornellian, I'm holding the CD booklet right now and it clearly states that Chris wrote the lyrics, not Ben. Ben wrote the music, though.

    Anyway, my interpretation of the song has always been that Chris is speaking to a woman, not the listener or just anybody. I've just always sensed an underlying esscence of romance in these lyrics.

    For example, I always took the line "I'm thinking of your highness" as Chris referring to a woman as "Your Highness", as in a queen. Then, "crying long upon the loss", "zero chance of ever turning this around" etc., refer to a relationship ruined by the woman's self-appointed sense of "holiness".

    Basically, I feel that this song is about dealing with the lonliness that comes after a failed relationship--one that left you broken-down and completely defeated.
    Flag wingsgluedon34on January 18, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Attention... wannabe Cornell Soundgarden fans! This song was written by Ben Shepard, not Cornell. I too love this song for many reasons. Lyrically it's beautiful in it's dire matter of factness. The melody and tempo of Chris's vocals with Matt's defining drum beats, the guitar etc.

    Does anyone else notice that Ben wrote "Half" on Superunknown. ..."We still have half a chance.." and Ben wrote "Zero Chance" "Zero chance of ever turning this around" on the bands last album? Ironic or prophetic... That band had talent to burn.
    Flag Cornellianon January 14, 2009   Link
  • +2
    General Comment:This song gives me goosebumps. Know that feeling when you're just not present? I like to listen to it in the train or bus. It's that kind of song I listen to when I feel alone. The funny thing is, that I'm not really alone. Even though there are many people around me I feel just alone. Cornell knows how to write authentic songs. But well, it's not only him. Soundgarden as a band is the thing I should talk about. They are just awesome and I can't anything add to it. The only thing I can do is to be grateful. Grateful for such meaningful and beautiful songs.
    Flag lost_oneon May 21, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:When I was working on the music development team for alpha dog we tried to get this song in the movie and on the soundtrack but SG declined.
    Flag kermitcintronon April 14, 2008   Link
  • +1
    General Comment:very depressing song, but often the great ones are. it has a very... ok, anyone heard of the composer eric whitacre? Maybe I'm crazy, but the songwriting is very whitacre-esque. it's very beautiful, mainly because it has this kind of struggle-release feel to it that comes from the suspensions that fill the chorus, pre-verse and bridge.
    Flag AllMyRivalson February 14, 2008   Link

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