I think that we all for the most part can agree it is about someone waiting to die. Lets get past that.
This person waiting to die, has not found God or religion again, but rather still is in that state of searching for god; as shown by "room by room, patiently". He is still SEARCHING. This can also be verified by "On my deathbed I will pray to the gods and the angels. Like a pagan to anyone who will take me to heaven" he has NOT truly found god, but rather, still believes in their presence. He just wants to go to this place that is heaven when he dies, not wanting to lose what he has enjoyed during his long experience in life (not only age, but cobwebs could also represent experience).
The searching theme is further enhanced by "To a place I recall. I was there so long ago. The sky was bruised, the wine was bled. And there you led me on" He recalls what he once had; security and spiritual affirmation of a heaven and in particular, Jesus. Apparently at some point in his life he uncovered some information or had an experience which caused him to lose faith, hence "lead me on" which proposes that god was never there for him. He does want to see him, as he still searches for him. HIS SEARCH WILL ONLY BE ENDED BY THE BITTERSWEET EVENT THAT IS DEATH.
He [the man in the song] regrets finding god earlier, even though he has still not found him. He "regrets" the life he has lived, and it was a long one ("cobwebs"). Everybody has left him, or perhaps, he has left them in his recent confrontation with approaching death
The man waiting to die is one that I think many of us can identify with. Our insecurities and fears of death; and at the same time a strong willingness to want to find out what lies on the other side. This is a very spiritual song.
@dookiedude8 Great analysis, but it's entirely possible that the cobweb is a descriptive term that simply enhances the overall image of a barren room. A room with a man inside waiting to die and nothing else. It could also be interpreted as a kind of metaphor for the unremarkable day that he is describing, as in life the day we day may not be symbolic or meaningful at all save for the fact that it is the day of our demise. I completely agree with your take on his relationship with God or spirituality in general, and...
@dookiedude8 Great analysis, but it's entirely possible that the cobweb is a descriptive term that simply enhances the overall image of a barren room. A room with a man inside waiting to die and nothing else. It could also be interpreted as a kind of metaphor for the unremarkable day that he is describing, as in life the day we day may not be symbolic or meaningful at all save for the fact that it is the day of our demise. I completely agree with your take on his relationship with God or spirituality in general, and the cobweb afternoon also potentially adds to the idea of a guy whose life has been empty of such meaningful things to that point. He has been devoid of something to believe in, and therefore the afternoon of his death is empty, the room or place where he is waiting to die is empty, and he waits alone because he hasn't committed himself to anything with enough sincerity to warrant any company as he waits for death to find him. He waits, hoping for death to bring with it redemption and a passage to a place akin to heaven, but his desperation is readily apparent and the only thing he is certain of is that death is coming. This in itself is very deep but unfortunately both poignant and thoroughly depressing. It encourages the idea of belief in the spiritual without the need to be given proof while at the same time reminding us that without such belief the only thing all of us can be completely certain of in this life is that it will end. Cornell is not only the greatest singer in rock music because of his absolutely phenomenal vocal range, but he is also a wordsmith whose ability to create meaningful and haunting verse is spectacular.
@dookiedude8 The room he is in at the beginning of the song is an empty church or some other house of worship, be ii buddhist, catholic, Hindu, etc. He goes to various houses of worship hoping to find god someday "Room by room , patiently"
@dookiedude8 The room he is in at the beginning of the song is an empty church or some other house of worship, be ii buddhist, catholic, Hindu, etc. He goes to various houses of worship hoping to find god someday "Room by room , patiently"
I think that we all for the most part can agree it is about someone waiting to die. Lets get past that.
This person waiting to die, has not found God or religion again, but rather still is in that state of searching for god; as shown by "room by room, patiently". He is still SEARCHING. This can also be verified by "On my deathbed I will pray to the gods and the angels. Like a pagan to anyone who will take me to heaven" he has NOT truly found god, but rather, still believes in their presence. He just wants to go to this place that is heaven when he dies, not wanting to lose what he has enjoyed during his long experience in life (not only age, but cobwebs could also represent experience).
The searching theme is further enhanced by "To a place I recall. I was there so long ago. The sky was bruised, the wine was bled. And there you led me on" He recalls what he once had; security and spiritual affirmation of a heaven and in particular, Jesus. Apparently at some point in his life he uncovered some information or had an experience which caused him to lose faith, hence "lead me on" which proposes that god was never there for him. He does want to see him, as he still searches for him. HIS SEARCH WILL ONLY BE ENDED BY THE BITTERSWEET EVENT THAT IS DEATH.
He [the man in the song] regrets finding god earlier, even though he has still not found him. He "regrets" the life he has lived, and it was a long one ("cobwebs"). Everybody has left him, or perhaps, he has left them in his recent confrontation with approaching death
The man waiting to die is one that I think many of us can identify with. Our insecurities and fears of death; and at the same time a strong willingness to want to find out what lies on the other side. This is a very spiritual song.
@dookiedude8 Great analysis, but it's entirely possible that the cobweb is a descriptive term that simply enhances the overall image of a barren room. A room with a man inside waiting to die and nothing else. It could also be interpreted as a kind of metaphor for the unremarkable day that he is describing, as in life the day we day may not be symbolic or meaningful at all save for the fact that it is the day of our demise. I completely agree with your take on his relationship with God or spirituality in general, and...
@dookiedude8 Great analysis, but it's entirely possible that the cobweb is a descriptive term that simply enhances the overall image of a barren room. A room with a man inside waiting to die and nothing else. It could also be interpreted as a kind of metaphor for the unremarkable day that he is describing, as in life the day we day may not be symbolic or meaningful at all save for the fact that it is the day of our demise. I completely agree with your take on his relationship with God or spirituality in general, and the cobweb afternoon also potentially adds to the idea of a guy whose life has been empty of such meaningful things to that point. He has been devoid of something to believe in, and therefore the afternoon of his death is empty, the room or place where he is waiting to die is empty, and he waits alone because he hasn't committed himself to anything with enough sincerity to warrant any company as he waits for death to find him. He waits, hoping for death to bring with it redemption and a passage to a place akin to heaven, but his desperation is readily apparent and the only thing he is certain of is that death is coming. This in itself is very deep but unfortunately both poignant and thoroughly depressing. It encourages the idea of belief in the spiritual without the need to be given proof while at the same time reminding us that without such belief the only thing all of us can be completely certain of in this life is that it will end. Cornell is not only the greatest singer in rock music because of his absolutely phenomenal vocal range, but he is also a wordsmith whose ability to create meaningful and haunting verse is spectacular.
@dookiedude8
@dookiedude8
You got it right on...good words my friend
You got it right on...good words my friend
@dookiedude8 The room he is in at the beginning of the song is an empty church or some other house of worship, be ii buddhist, catholic, Hindu, etc. He goes to various houses of worship hoping to find god someday "Room by room , patiently"
@dookiedude8 The room he is in at the beginning of the song is an empty church or some other house of worship, be ii buddhist, catholic, Hindu, etc. He goes to various houses of worship hoping to find god someday "Room by room , patiently"