I think the song's meaning is pretty straightforward.
The narrator is so tired of humanity that they're longing and hoping for the world to end. Pretty similar to "Aenema" by Tool.
"Times are gone for honest men
And sometimes far too long for snakes"
The 70s, 80s, and 90s are the age when, at least in the United States, capitalism and corporations began to have an influence on every aspect of our daily lives. The good came with the bad, as people stepped all over each other just to get their piece of the pie. Things like honesty and integrity went out the window and the opportunists took over. "Nice guys finish last" became a mantra for many people.
"In my shoes, a walking sleep
And my youth I pray to keep
Heaven sent hell away
No one sings like you anymore"
The narrator would rather die young than see society and humanity head in the direction that it's going. "Heaven sent hell away" refers to nature ending society on Earth. "No one sings like you anymore" seems to refer to how all of the old moral tenets – such a honesty, substance, and compassion – aren't really celebrated anymore.
"Hang my head, drown my fear
Till you all just disappear"
The narrator will wait in despair until the annihilation of the human race.
Seems pretty screwed up, but misanthropy is common in a lot of Cornell's writing. He writes a lot of songs about the apocalypse ("New Damage," "4th of July") but also how he's looking forward to it. "Limo Wreck" is pretty much about the same thing. Also, "The Day I Tried To Live" seems to continue the whole theme of being an outsider and not feeling like a part of society.
The real question is whether or not there ever was a "Time for honest men," unfortunately. History doesn't seem to indicate that there ever was. You always get the good with the bad.
@lastanzabianca Love your interpretation. Although Cornell stated he would just let the words flow lyrically and hasn't thought so much about the meaning and that it has no actual meaning at all, I do very much believe that his subconsciousness would let flow his actual views and feelings about the world and society into it. In "automatical writing" it happens too that the subconsciousness plays it's part, so I agree very much to every word you wrote here.
@lastanzabianca Love your interpretation. Although Cornell stated he would just let the words flow lyrically and hasn't thought so much about the meaning and that it has no actual meaning at all, I do very much believe that his subconsciousness would let flow his actual views and feelings about the world and society into it. In "automatical writing" it happens too that the subconsciousness plays it's part, so I agree very much to every word you wrote here.
I think the song's meaning is pretty straightforward.
The narrator is so tired of humanity that they're longing and hoping for the world to end. Pretty similar to "Aenema" by Tool.
"Times are gone for honest men And sometimes far too long for snakes"
The 70s, 80s, and 90s are the age when, at least in the United States, capitalism and corporations began to have an influence on every aspect of our daily lives. The good came with the bad, as people stepped all over each other just to get their piece of the pie. Things like honesty and integrity went out the window and the opportunists took over. "Nice guys finish last" became a mantra for many people.
"In my shoes, a walking sleep And my youth I pray to keep Heaven sent hell away No one sings like you anymore"
The narrator would rather die young than see society and humanity head in the direction that it's going. "Heaven sent hell away" refers to nature ending society on Earth. "No one sings like you anymore" seems to refer to how all of the old moral tenets – such a honesty, substance, and compassion – aren't really celebrated anymore.
"Hang my head, drown my fear Till you all just disappear"
The narrator will wait in despair until the annihilation of the human race.
Seems pretty screwed up, but misanthropy is common in a lot of Cornell's writing. He writes a lot of songs about the apocalypse ("New Damage," "4th of July") but also how he's looking forward to it. "Limo Wreck" is pretty much about the same thing. Also, "The Day I Tried To Live" seems to continue the whole theme of being an outsider and not feeling like a part of society.
The real question is whether or not there ever was a "Time for honest men," unfortunately. History doesn't seem to indicate that there ever was. You always get the good with the bad.
This is absolutely and completely what I have always believed this song to be. And I sometimes empathize these days. Great explanation.
This is absolutely and completely what I have always believed this song to be. And I sometimes empathize these days. Great explanation.
@lastanzabianca Love your interpretation. Although Cornell stated he would just let the words flow lyrically and hasn't thought so much about the meaning and that it has no actual meaning at all, I do very much believe that his subconsciousness would let flow his actual views and feelings about the world and society into it. In "automatical writing" it happens too that the subconsciousness plays it's part, so I agree very much to every word you wrote here.
@lastanzabianca Love your interpretation. Although Cornell stated he would just let the words flow lyrically and hasn't thought so much about the meaning and that it has no actual meaning at all, I do very much believe that his subconsciousness would let flow his actual views and feelings about the world and society into it. In "automatical writing" it happens too that the subconsciousness plays it's part, so I agree very much to every word you wrote here.
@lastanzabianca Any song means whatever you need it to mean at any given time. Many songs have hit me differently throughout the years.
@lastanzabianca Any song means whatever you need it to mean at any given time. Many songs have hit me differently throughout the years.