Mind Riot

Soundgarden

I was slipping through the cracks of a stolen jewel
I was tightrope walking in two ton shoes
Now somebody is talking about a third world war
And the police said this was normal control (I've been caught in a mind riot)

Candle's burning yesterday
Somebody's best friend died
And I've been caught in a mind riot (mind riot)

I was crying from my eye teeth and bleeding from my soul
And I sharpened my wits on a dead man's skull
I built an elevator from his bones
Had climb to the top floor just to stamp out the coals (I've been caught in a mind riot)

Candle's burning yesterday
Somebody's best friend died
I've been caught in a mind riot

I'm tied within

Candle's burning yesterday
Like somebody's best friend died
I've been caught in a mind riot

I'm tied within
I'm luck's last match struck
In the pouring down wind, pouring down wind

(Mind riot)


Lyrics submitted by jt

Mind Riot Lyrics as written by Cornell

Lyrics © HIPGNOSIS SONGS GROUP, Peermusic Publishing

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Mind Riot song meanings
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24 Comments

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  • +3
    General Commenti can't believe no one has commented on this astoundingly poetic and wonderful song
    Fred39on March 11, 2003   Link
  • +3
    General CommentWhich looks like it's about Andy Wood, by the way. Or how important both he and his tragic end was for chris' own life.
    aldeayeahon March 30, 2003   Link
  • +3
    General CommentI dont think this song is about Andy Wood. Andy wasnt the only death in Chris' life. Just because this song is congruous to Andy's death at times, it's not necessarily about it... even though at times I did think it was. A lot of Soundgarden's songs arent necessarily about anything specific, they just capture a state of mind in a moment of time. It's quite profound.
    Tig45on March 20, 2014   Link
  • +2
    General CommentYup, and Chris' ex-room mate and close friend as well.
    aldeayeahon March 31, 2003   Link
  • +1
    General Commentis andy wood the guy from mother love bone?
    Fred39on March 31, 2003   Link
  • +1
    General CommentI'm not entirely sure that this is the gist of it but at the minute, it consolidates the feeling I know people can get when they're faced with death and find it hard to escape the pessimism and futility you can get enveloped in when you concentrate on it too long.
    JohnBonuson April 29, 2005   Link
  • +1
    General CommentAgreed to what the first dude said, this is a great song and i wish more people realized it. This is one of my favorite guitar parts. But ya it could be about Andrew Wood, a lot of bands were making little tributes to him at this time.
    Tallbob88on January 14, 2006   Link
  • +1
    General CommentWether or not JohnBonus is right i like his interpretation. yeh its a great song too and to play this song every string on the guitar is tuned to E. thts why it sounds quite different.
    longliveconradon January 20, 2006   Link
  • +1
    General CommentIs it just me or did soundgarden take all the cool names? Soundgarden for a start, Loud Love, Mind Riot, Superunknown, Ultramega OK, Screaming Life...all aesthetically pleasing
    fade_out_againon February 19, 2007   Link
  • +1
    General CommentI refuse to believe a song this beautiful was written about something as ugly as Politics.
    SMUSER17506205on January 23, 2013   Link

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