Well it's late in the hour
And a few more grains of sand will fall
On the colorful flowers
Have grown upon the dust and moss

Now I fear the worst is near
I hold them close and count their years
And pray a ray of light appears
To shine down on us here

Break down in the shape of things to come
But I'm moving on like a soldier
And I say now when all is said and done
It's not ours to break
The shape of things to come

There's a crack in the clouds
But only for a moment now
Like an eye looking out, in blue skies
Finds the roads we will go down

I wonder what they hold for us
I hold my family to my breast
I fear the worst and hope the best
Will come to see us blessed

Break down in the shape of things to come
But I'm moving on like a soldier
And I say now when all is said and done
It's not ours to break
The shape of things to come

Given one more try, wonder what I'd change?

I won't deny the thought is strange

I've done my best and I will lay no blame myself

Break down in the shape of things to come
But I'm moving on like a soldier
And I say now when all is said and done
It's not ours to break
The shape of things to come [Repeat: x3]


Lyrics submitted by ColdenScence

Shape of Things to Come Lyrics as written by Chris Cornell Timothy Commerford

Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing, Hipgnosis Songs Group

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Shape of Things to Come song meanings
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15 Comments

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  • +1
    General Comment

    I think it's about the end of days. I feel like Chris is talking about the time where he will look back on his life and see his future as the past. If that makes sense...

    Alice_in_Soundweezeron March 19, 2016   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    This is missing the first verse: Well it's late in the hour and a few more grains of sand will fall on the colorful flowers grown upon the dust and moss

    (not too sure about the last part but it seems right to me)

    Coolest_Loseron September 07, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    This one seems to be Cornell's expression of family related emotions, his fear of the future but unwillingness to 'break down in the shape of things to come'.

    Runningace18on September 11, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    This songs sounds a lot like audioslaves older music, and yea i agree with Runningace, most likly to be about family ect.. is it just me or is are the lyics off revelations not as deep as the previous two albums

    hd676on September 25, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Also has anyone else noticed that the guitar riff durring the song is almost the same as the guitar riff in Out of Exile? very similar

    hd676on September 25, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I thought the lyrics on this were deeper than those of Out of Exile. However, they weren't as deep as the lyrics of Audioslave.

    Lyrics from songs like Exploder, I am the Highway, Shadow of the Sun, Last Remaining Light, were very deep and among my favorite lyrics of all time.

    Runningace18on September 26, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Great track. Amazing. Very catchy!

    Themactatoron September 27, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Didn't realize it was used in the "Miami Vice" movie. "Wide Awake" was, as well, but for the wrong reason - that song has real meaning, and the movie didn't reflect that.

    xpdraconon November 01, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    i thought the song was about a failing relationship i.e. late in the hour and a few more grains of sand references that things are coming to an end, but there is still some time.

    He still wants to fix things and that is what the crack in the clouds bit means.

    the flowers are his memories of when times were good

    he looks to his family for support

    in the end he has tried and it aint his fault that things no longer work i.e. "i lay no blame myself". he's saying that he isnt gonna blame her himself but it's obvious tht it's her fault.

    in the end he finds it's his responsibility to move on "like a soldier" into the future or "the shape of things to come"

    Gabriel88on December 12, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I think this song is indeed about family but more importantly it is about God, and the Book of Revelations. Chris has a irish-catholic religious background and i think, overall, the song reflects the fear of being judged before god in our final days on earth.

    The first verse is saying that the end of days is coming upon us.

    The second verse is about him protecting his family and he prays God will save his family before the Armageddon and take them to heaven.

    The chorus is simply saying we cant change the past or control the future so we have to forgive ourselves and forget our mistakes and move on...

    The third verse is referring to God(the eye) watching from the heavens and he sees all of our accomplishes and all of our sins

    The fourth verse he says he wonders what God holds in the future for his family and hopes they will be blessed.

    Towards the end he asks for one more try to change where he went wrong

    And last he says he has done the best he can and he has forgiven himself for his sins, now he is just waiting for.... the shape of things to come.

    What do you think? Anybody agree/disagree with me?

    REEDLYN

    Reedlynon December 22, 2006   Link

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