The song lyrics were written by the band Van Halen, as they were asked to write a song for the 1979 movie "Over the Edge" starring Matt Dillon. The movie (and the lyrics, although more obliquely) are about bored, rebellious youth with nothing better to do than get into trouble. If you see the movie, these lyrics will make more sense. It's a great movie if you grew up in the 70s/80s you'll definitely remember some of these characters from your own life. Fun fact, after writing the song, Van Halen decided not to let the movie use it.
When I first came to this island
That I called by my own name
I was happy in this fortress
In my exile I remained
But the hours grew so empty
And the ocean sent her waves
In the figure of a woman
And she pulled me out to sea
Oh oh when you come down to take me home
Oh oh send my soul away
Oh oh when you come round you'll make me whole
Oh oh send my soul away
On the altar of a sunrise
Was a wedding in the waves
And inside her shown a young light
From her labor I was saved
Though I've traveled long in darkness
In her harvest I'm embraced
Oh oh when you come down to take me home
Oh oh send my soul away
Oh oh when you come round you'll make me whole
Oh oh send my soul away
Now the spires and gables
Grow in orchards to the sky
And the blessings on the table
Multiply and divide
Oh oh when you come down to take me home
Oh oh send my soul away
Oh oh when you come round you'll make me whole
Oh oh send my soul away
Yeah, when you come down to take me home
When you come round you'll make me whole
When you come round to take me home
Send my soul away
Send my soul away
Send my soul away
Send my soul away
That I called by my own name
I was happy in this fortress
In my exile I remained
But the hours grew so empty
And the ocean sent her waves
In the figure of a woman
And she pulled me out to sea
Oh oh when you come down to take me home
Oh oh send my soul away
Oh oh when you come round you'll make me whole
Oh oh send my soul away
On the altar of a sunrise
Was a wedding in the waves
And inside her shown a young light
From her labor I was saved
Though I've traveled long in darkness
In her harvest I'm embraced
Oh oh when you come down to take me home
Oh oh send my soul away
Oh oh when you come round you'll make me whole
Oh oh send my soul away
Now the spires and gables
Grow in orchards to the sky
And the blessings on the table
Multiply and divide
Oh oh when you come down to take me home
Oh oh send my soul away
Oh oh when you come round you'll make me whole
Oh oh send my soul away
Yeah, when you come down to take me home
When you come round you'll make me whole
When you come round to take me home
Send my soul away
Send my soul away
Send my soul away
Send my soul away
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yeah i dont know why some people are disappointed with this album. I thought Chris Cornell was married though and has kids. Like after Soundgarden broke up, he went solo and "went into exile" so to say, as the first verse says "When I first came to this island, that I called by my own name." I see that as him going solo. Maybe the song is about his marriage and then having kids and stuff, getting him out of exile, and not lonely. Or maybe the whole wedding reference is just a metaphor and maybe it's about him meeting up with the guys from Rage and making this fresh new band.