I've always thought that this song is a reference to suicide. The verses are a little vague, but the chorus is a tell tale sign to me that this song might be, or at least can be, about suicide...
The first lines describe how the character hides his sadness. His eyes are indisposed, and the snake (his depression or sadness) is in disguise. It hides behind his eyes, but is omnipresent in his mind. He's always depressed, but no one knows but him.
Now onto the chorus. "Black Hole Sun"... I've always thought that a Black Hole Sun was referring to the way a gun barrel looks when it goes off. When a gun goes off, there is a black hole in the middle of a ring of fire, which is exactly what a "Black holed Sun" would look like. "Won't you come and wash away the rain." I've always thought that Cornell was asking the Black Hole Sun to come and wash away his sadness, meaning that he wanted to shoot himself to end his pain.
I dont know. It's late at night and I can't sleep so i thought i'd present this theory. I'm a huge Soundgarden fan, and this is one of my favorites. I'd never seen this take on this song before, so these are my thoughts.
@jep321 "" I've always thought that a Black Hole Sun was referring to the way a gun barrel looks when it goes off... a black hole in the middle of a ring of fire.. exactly what a "Black holed Sun" would look like... come and wash away his sadness,"
@jep321 "" I've always thought that a Black Hole Sun was referring to the way a gun barrel looks when it goes off... a black hole in the middle of a ring of fire.. exactly what a "Black holed Sun" would look like... come and wash away his sadness,"
e> WOA~! Now that's one deep interpretation.
I never really heard it like that myself, as I only half-listened and thought it was somehow the feeling of 'being with a woman' and 'her' dark-hole-sun washing away my loneliness'.
But WOW! Yours was way deep - I pictured that shotgun blast in my mind - your thoughts about the lyrics and yes it definitely fits well with the words.
I have a theory when it comes to how people interpret song lrics in particular.
That most of us simply hear what it is that we're feeling and hearing in our heads you know?
Like I've been more of a lonely/missing someone, so for me..
the "black-hole-sun" was about wanting 'her' - wanting her to want me, and being 'with her' - to enter into 'her' black hole sun (so-to-speak) and for her rain to wash me clean of my lonely misery. (i really hope that made some bit of sense!)
But were I in a depressed suicidal type of mood or even thinking about someone I had loved who left this world by way or a gun then I have little doubt Your Interpretation would be very much hae been mine as well. For especially songs with imagery, imagery that isn't clearly one thing or another.., we tend to fill in those with our own unspoken or deeply felt feelings of the time.
if i may ask then...
Was the case with you? - or someone close to you?
Or did you come up with your lyrical view and meaning simply because that's what you heard in it - despite having no personal experiences with such deep depression
>
The later might single-handedly blow that whole theory of mine to crap! But I'd rather know if for the most part whether we all tend to do this.. if it's something most of us all do.. or mostly just me.
"I've always thought that a Black Hole Sun was referring to the way a gun barrel looks when it goes off. When a gun goes off, there is a black hole in the middle of a ring of fire, which is exactly what a "Black holed Sun" would look like."
"I've always thought that a Black Hole Sun was referring to the way a gun barrel looks when it goes off. When a gun goes off, there is a black hole in the middle of a ring of fire, which is exactly what a "Black holed Sun" would look like."
Yeah, that's what I came to think since entering the state of mind I have fairly recently, which OP was/is likely also in.
Yeah, that's what I came to think since entering the state of mind I have fairly recently, which OP was/is likely also in.
I've always thought that this song is a reference to suicide. The verses are a little vague, but the chorus is a tell tale sign to me that this song might be, or at least can be, about suicide...
The first lines describe how the character hides his sadness. His eyes are indisposed, and the snake (his depression or sadness) is in disguise. It hides behind his eyes, but is omnipresent in his mind. He's always depressed, but no one knows but him.
Now onto the chorus. "Black Hole Sun"... I've always thought that a Black Hole Sun was referring to the way a gun barrel looks when it goes off. When a gun goes off, there is a black hole in the middle of a ring of fire, which is exactly what a "Black holed Sun" would look like. "Won't you come and wash away the rain." I've always thought that Cornell was asking the Black Hole Sun to come and wash away his sadness, meaning that he wanted to shoot himself to end his pain.
I dont know. It's late at night and I can't sleep so i thought i'd present this theory. I'm a huge Soundgarden fan, and this is one of my favorites. I'd never seen this take on this song before, so these are my thoughts.
@jep321 "" I've always thought that a Black Hole Sun was referring to the way a gun barrel looks when it goes off... a black hole in the middle of a ring of fire.. exactly what a "Black holed Sun" would look like... come and wash away his sadness,"
@jep321 "" I've always thought that a Black Hole Sun was referring to the way a gun barrel looks when it goes off... a black hole in the middle of a ring of fire.. exactly what a "Black holed Sun" would look like... come and wash away his sadness,"
e>
WOA~! Now that's one deep interpretation. I never really heard it like that myself, as I only half-listened and thought it was somehow the feeling of 'being with a woman' and 'her' dark-hole-sun washing away my loneliness'. But WOW! Yours was way deep - I pictured that shotgun blast in my mind - your thoughts about the lyrics and yes it definitely fits well with the words.I have a theory when it comes to how people interpret song lrics in particular. That most of us simply hear what it is that we're feeling and hearing in our heads you know? Like I've been more of a lonely/missing someone, so for me.. the "black-hole-sun" was about wanting 'her' - wanting her to want me, and being 'with her' - to enter into 'her' black hole sun (so-to-speak) and for her rain to wash me clean of my lonely misery. (i really hope that made some bit of sense!)
But were I in a depressed suicidal type of mood or even thinking about someone I had loved who left this world by way or a gun then I have little doubt Your Interpretation would be very much hae been mine as well. For especially songs with imagery, imagery that isn't clearly one thing or another.., we tend to fill in those with our own unspoken or deeply felt feelings of the time. if i may ask then... Was the case with you? - or someone close to you?
Or did you come up with your lyrical view and meaning simply because that's what you heard in it - despite having no personal experiences with such deep depression
>
thanks. Peace.
@jep321 Perhaps the most prescient comment on the whole of this site.
@jep321 Perhaps the most prescient comment on the whole of this site.
"I've always thought that a Black Hole Sun was referring to the way a gun barrel looks when it goes off. When a gun goes off, there is a black hole in the middle of a ring of fire, which is exactly what a "Black holed Sun" would look like."
"I've always thought that a Black Hole Sun was referring to the way a gun barrel looks when it goes off. When a gun goes off, there is a black hole in the middle of a ring of fire, which is exactly what a "Black holed Sun" would look like."
Yeah, that's what I came to think since entering the state of mind I have fairly recently, which OP was/is likely also in.
Yeah, that's what I came to think since entering the state of mind I have fairly recently, which OP was/is likely also in.