116 Meanings
Add Yours
Follow
Share
Q&A
Video
Show Me How to Live Lyrics
And with the early dawn
Moving right along
I couldn't buy and eyeful of sleep
And in the aching night under satellites
I was not received
Built with stolen parts
A telephone in my heart
Someone get me a priest
To put my mind to bed
This ringing in my head
Is this a cure or is this a disease
[Chorus]
Nail in my head
From my creator
You gave me life
Now show me how to live [Repeat: x2]
And in the after birth
On the quiet earth
Let the stains remind you
You thought you made a man
You better think again
Before my role defines you
[Chorus]
And in your waiting hands
I will land
And roll out of my skin
And in your final hours I will stand
Ready to begin [Repeat: x4]
[Chorus]
Show me how to live [Repeat: x4]
Moving right along
I couldn't buy and eyeful of sleep
And in the aching night under satellites
I was not received
Built with stolen parts
A telephone in my heart
Someone get me a priest
To put my mind to bed
This ringing in my head
Is this a cure or is this a disease
Nail in my head
From my creator
You gave me life
Now show me how to live [Repeat: x2]
On the quiet earth
Let the stains remind you
You thought you made a man
You better think again
Before my role defines you
I will land
And roll out of my skin
And in your final hours I will stand
Ready to begin [Repeat: x4]
Song Info
Copyright
Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing, Hipgnosis Songs Group
Writer
Brad Wilk, Chris Cornell, Timothy Commerford, Tom Morello
Duration
4:37
Submitted by
ruben On Jun 29, 2003
Add your song meanings, interpretations, facts, memories & more to the community.
It has nothing to do with god or religion. Seriously guys? No one caught on that this entire song is a giant reference to Mary Shelly's Frankenstein?
'I was not received - but with stolen parts' is a reference to Frankenstein's "monster" not being created by traditional means ('received' is a colloquialism for childbirth), but instead being created from various body parts stolen from dead bodies. Hence "but with stolen parts".
'Nail in my head from my creator' is a reference to the procedure by which Victor Frankenstein's "monster" was created.
'You gave me a life, now show me how to live' is a reference to what the "monster" tells Frankenstein. The monster resents Frankenstein for creating and then immediately abandoning him. Never showing him what to do with his life or how to deal with the people that fear him.
'Is this a cure, or is this a disease' is a reference to Frankenstein's motives. He created the "monster" in hopes of finding a 'cure' for death. But instead all it brought was unimaginable horrors and grief. For the monster, Frankenstein, and the town's people it turned out to be more 'disease' than cure.
'You thought you made a man - You better think again' is a reference again to Frankenstein's initial expectations for what he was creating. And then subsequent fear and horror. 'before my role defines you' is a reference to the way Frankenstein's life, once normal and wholesome, becomes defined by the existence of the "monster", to whom, after losing everything he loves, he follows all the way to the north pole.
'Somebody get me a priest' is a reference to the "monster's" struggle with whether or not he has a soul. Whether he is worthy of happiness and life, or if he should be doomed to torment.
'And in your final hours - I will stand - Ready to begin' is a reference to the "monster's" reaction upon finding his creator dead. Because he thinks of Frankenstein - his creator - as his father, he immolates himself with his father's burning body on a pyre, now sorrowful and angry at himself for all the grief he selfishly caused his father. He dies with him, ironically ready to begin his life as it should be. Which is to say, finally dead.
@rufsketch1 Nice attempt, but if you look in the pamphlet distributed with the cd, the lyrics clearly say "Nail in my hand" not "Nail in my head".
@rufsketch1 Nice attempt, but if you look in the pamphlet distributed with the cd, the lyrics clearly say "Nail in my hand" not "Nail in my head".
I like your interpretation, but I wouldn't make the claim that it for sure was about that.
I like your interpretation, but I wouldn't make the claim that it for sure was about that.
Here is the link to the pamphlet. http://coverlib.com/Download/1439621/Audioslave-Audioslave_Canada-Booklet.JPG
Here is the link to the pamphlet. http://coverlib.com/Download/1439621/Audioslave-Audioslave_Canada-Booklet.JPG
@rufsketch1 the link may seem broke, but you have to add a colon after the http, just a heads up
@rufsketch1 the link may seem broke, but you have to add a colon after the http, just a heads up
@rufsketch1. I know in the lyrics its say Hans but if you listen closely or ever seen a video, he says head and in one video of a concert he points at his head when he says it
@rufsketch1. I know in the lyrics its say Hans but if you listen closely or ever seen a video, he says head and in one video of a concert he points at his head when he says it
@rufsketch1 hands*
@rufsketch1 hands*
@rufsketch1
@rufsketch1
Someone get me a priest says that Chris was a Catholic most likely in his childhood. Frankenstein played God and the monster never asked for a priest. Also, the monster did not have afterbirth to remind him of being created. Built with stolen parts may refer to his mother being raped. (From a comment on "Songfacts") Satellites above are the stars and/or angels as mentioned in "Like a Stone", pray to the gods and the angels... Message not received. Prayer not answered. Cure or disease. Drug addiction. His friends were dying, possible by the nail/needle in the hand. Blaming God for being born....
Someone get me a priest says that Chris was a Catholic most likely in his childhood. Frankenstein played God and the monster never asked for a priest. Also, the monster did not have afterbirth to remind him of being created. Built with stolen parts may refer to his mother being raped. (From a comment on "Songfacts") Satellites above are the stars and/or angels as mentioned in "Like a Stone", pray to the gods and the angels... Message not received. Prayer not answered. Cure or disease. Drug addiction. His friends were dying, possible by the nail/needle in the hand. Blaming God for being born. Job cursed the day he was born and it was not counted as sin. You gave me life now show me how to live.
(If you don't accept Jesus as the Way the Truth and the Life. Then, which gods are you praying to?)
May our God and Father have mercy on Chris Cornell's soul in the name of His Son Jesus my Lord and Christ. Amen.
P.S. I am not the Reality Unicorn. I don't know how that happened. You can comment on my email. arnoldj777@gmail.com
P.S. I am not the Reality Unicorn. I don't know how that happened. You can comment on my email. arnoldj777@gmail.com
@rufsketch1 this song has nothing to do with Frankenstein's monster, Chris says before some of his live concerts that this song is a "Religious Testimony", when the man who wrote it himself clear states that it is religious, how arrogant is it of you to claim that this song has nothing to do with god or religion?
@rufsketch1 this song has nothing to do with Frankenstein's monster, Chris says before some of his live concerts that this song is a "Religious Testimony", when the man who wrote it himself clear states that it is religious, how arrogant is it of you to claim that this song has nothing to do with god or religion?
Just because Chris Cornell wouldn't define himself as a Catholic or a Christian doesn't mean he can't sing a song with strong Christ-related references in it to question why he is on earth and why God created him. I know next to nothing about him or the bands he's been in, but I do know that seeking purpose in life is pretty much universal and if you've been immersed in a religious setting as a child that stuff stays with you in some way, even if you rebel.
"Show me how to live" is a great thing to say to God, actually.
@jenbebe The song is about Frankenstein's monster. Nail in my head. Not hand.
@jenbebe The song is about Frankenstein's monster. Nail in my head. Not hand.
@jenbebe Exactly.
@jenbebe Exactly.
@jenbebe Chris used a lot of christian imagery in his lyrics. Solo, in Soundgarden, with audio slave and even with temple of the dog. The man was curious about the spiritual realm at least. He may not have been christian but he was very spiritual. Listen to some of interviews in his later life. If there was one word I would use to describe Chris ....it would be shaman. All that being said, I agree with you. I just ramble a lot.
@jenbebe Chris used a lot of christian imagery in his lyrics. Solo, in Soundgarden, with audio slave and even with temple of the dog. The man was curious about the spiritual realm at least. He may not have been christian but he was very spiritual. Listen to some of interviews in his later life. If there was one word I would use to describe Chris ....it would be shaman. All that being said, I agree with you. I just ramble a lot.
Classic song,like most Audioslave songs it is a deep as you want it to be,but it sure is a great song.
This is probably my favorite Audioslave song... Doesnt this song just make you wanna run wild? Or is that just me
@Darkstar Battalion 20 years later I agree with your comment. This is exactly how it makes me feel. It is my favourite Audioslave song. I created an account just to reply to your comment. Hope you're doing well
@Darkstar Battalion 20 years later I agree with your comment. This is exactly how it makes me feel. It is my favourite Audioslave song. I created an account just to reply to your comment. Hope you're doing well
@Darkstar Battalion this song to me sounds like Chris is frustrated with the Christian story and yelling at God. It's fucking brilliant. It's also a common theme among people seeking.
@Darkstar Battalion this song to me sounds like Chris is frustrated with the Christian story and yelling at God. It's fucking brilliant. It's also a common theme among people seeking.
to me this song has always been associated with the fact that we as humans have no idea what our true purpose in life is. A lot of these lines refer to our creator, so i think he's kind of directly asking to be told what our purpose is. I dunno, that's just what i've always thought about this song. great song.
@Pushit117 exactly. He is angry or frustrated and doing the same thing we all have done at some point. Why am I here and what am I supposed to do. The only questions in life more important than that is , what comes next? I also think he had the Frankenstein+; technology angle going for parts of this song. It's deep lyrically imo even though it's still simple at the same time. Chris was just a brilliant poet that did not get enough credit for his writing because his voice was always stealing the show. This man is so missed.
@Pushit117 exactly. He is angry or frustrated and doing the same thing we all have done at some point. Why am I here and what am I supposed to do. The only questions in life more important than that is , what comes next? I also think he had the Frankenstein+; technology angle going for parts of this song. It's deep lyrically imo even though it's still simple at the same time. Chris was just a brilliant poet that did not get enough credit for his writing because his voice was always stealing the show. This man is so missed.
Read Frankenstein, please. It's all there. The Modern Prometheus and the responsibility that comes when we try to play the role of god, using science or any other means.
@MagnusonPark this could certainly be part of it. I personally feel this song has several angles, Frankenstein one. The chorus is a powerful statement that I think he means literally. Frustration at your creator taken to the brink of anger coming very close to telling him/ her to fuck off. I think some of the better lyric writers, and Chris is definitely in that category, wrote songs branching out in several meanings. Not all his songs. Just some.
@MagnusonPark this could certainly be part of it. I personally feel this song has several angles, Frankenstein one. The chorus is a powerful statement that I think he means literally. Frustration at your creator taken to the brink of anger coming very close to telling him/ her to fuck off. I think some of the better lyric writers, and Chris is definitely in that category, wrote songs branching out in several meanings. Not all his songs. Just some.
I was born with birth defects and was sent home the day I was born on the condition I would die quickly. 9 days later I turned blue, but instead of letting me die my mother demanded that they save me. What a mistake, I had to live with a colostomy as a child and had numerous invasive procedures done to me. I relate to this song a lot, especially the built with stolen parts part. This song came on today and word for word I relate to it. I always felt like a monster in a way, even though they removed my colostomy, the memories of the horror of it remain. Darkest comment I ever posted, luckily nobody knows who I am here.
@brokentelephone78 I'm so sorry u went through that
@brokentelephone78 I'm so sorry u went through that
@chrismattgard Thanks for your kind words. Whatever doesn't kill you makes you resilient. I was pretty shook up when Chris ended his life though. Still can't believe it, he was one of the best. Cheers.
@chrismattgard Thanks for your kind words. Whatever doesn't kill you makes you resilient. I was pretty shook up when Chris ended his life though. Still can't believe it, he was one of the best. Cheers.
@brokentelephone78
@brokentelephone78
@brokentelephone78 I just read this ten years later. I am sending you as much good will and love that I can. You must be one strong person for going through all that.
@brokentelephone78 I just read this ten years later. I am sending you as much good will and love that I can. You must be one strong person for going through all that.
Ohhhh! Scratch that! I just remembered my olllld thoughts on this song. Its about Jesus! I think its about a human view of Jesus as a man with human thoughts and emotions.
1) Jesus is a drifter...a vagabond who moves with the early dawn
2) In the most difficult trials of Jesus (temptation by the devil, crucifixion), his prayers (satellites) are not answered by God (he is not recieved)
3) The telephone in the heart and ringing in the head signify Jesus' sort of 'direct line' to God and to man...something he can't turn off even when he wants to (wouldn't that drive you crazy?)
4) The chorus is Jesus begging God for direction in life (Jesus was sort of plopped on earth without a manual)
5) The bit about the afterbirth represents all time after the crucifixion on earth when Christianity is born (as a big scary force). God's creation of Jesus as a man is changed by the religion and instead of the mouthpiece of the New Covenant, Jesus becomes the Deity Himself.
6) The "final hours bit is like above, but about the death of Jesus. Then its about all time after the crucifixion (in heaven) when at armageddon, Jesus is ready to begin the new kingdom.
Just my take...
@forthelove LOL The sone is about Frankenstein's monster and his angst! Jesus was built with stolen parts..telephone in is heart..and the son of God needed a priest?? Ringing in his head?? You thought you made a man..you better think again. These are the monsters thoughts..And btw it's nail in my head. Not hand.
@forthelove LOL The sone is about Frankenstein's monster and his angst! Jesus was built with stolen parts..telephone in is heart..and the son of God needed a priest?? Ringing in his head?? You thought you made a man..you better think again. These are the monsters thoughts..And btw it's nail in my head. Not hand.
It seemingly has something to do with stigmata with the line "Nail in my hand"
like previous posters had mentioned http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0067927/