In regards to the meaning of this song:
Before a live performance on the EP Five Stories Falling, Geoff states “It’s about the last time I went to visit my grandmother in Columbus, and I saw that she was dying and it was the last time I was going to see her. It is about realizing how young you are, but how quickly you can go.”
That’s the thing about Geoff and his sublime poetry, you think it’s about one thing, but really it’s about something entirely different. But the lyrics are still universal and omnipresent, ubiquitous, even. So relatable. That’s one thing I love about this band. I also love their live performances, raw energy and Geoff’s beautiful, imperfectly perfect vocals. His voice soothes my aching soul.
Thought I was different, it seems I'm just the same
As again I put my hand over the flame
I thought I was smarter as I flew into the sun
But it turned out the way it does with everyone
I don't fly around your fire anymore
I don't fly around your fire anymore
Burned and fallen down so many times before
I don't fly around your fire anymore
I love the heat, I love the things that I forgot
I love the strings that tied me down and cut me off
I was a king, I was a moth with painted wings made of cloth
When did the flame burn so high and get so hot?
[Repeat: x3]
I don't fly around your fire anymore
I don't fly around your fire anymore
Burned and fallen down so many times before
I don't fly around, fly around
Fly around
Fly around
As again I put my hand over the flame
I thought I was smarter as I flew into the sun
But it turned out the way it does with everyone
I don't fly around your fire anymore
I don't fly around your fire anymore
Burned and fallen down so many times before
I don't fly around your fire anymore
I love the heat, I love the things that I forgot
I love the strings that tied me down and cut me off
I was a king, I was a moth with painted wings made of cloth
When did the flame burn so high and get so hot?
[Repeat: x3]
I don't fly around your fire anymore
I don't fly around your fire anymore
Burned and fallen down so many times before
I don't fly around, fly around
Fly around
Fly around
Lyrics submitted by ColdenScence
Moth Lyrics as written by Chris Cornell Timothy Commerford
Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing, Hipgnosis Songs Group
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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Everyone is arguing what the song is to Cornell, but that's only half of what the song is.
I think songs like this are written without specificities so that all people can relate to it in one way or another.
Having said that, this song is obviously about an addiction of some sort. Addicted to a person, drug, habit etc. The fact that you can be so screwed around by an addiction once - and vow never to return to it again - yet you come crawling back. And you get screwed all over again. This song is about realising the mistakes and vowing never to be a slave to the addiction again.
The chord progression in the chorus is brilliant. And Cornell has lost nothing as a lyricist.
As for those who say the new album sucks, I don't see how you can say that.