Fell on Black Days

@Smolten Grove, spot on. Thanks to you I don't have to dissect the song word for word. The whole album is about heroin..
3 down..

@SludgeGarden13 do you have a source for his statement??

This is a special song to me. It came on the car radio when I was on my way home after a month alone in a spectacular fire lookout, back in 89 or 94 or whenever this song was new. A month alone always makes one sensitive. I was stunned, listening to this song. I was in tears. And then I couldn't find out who or what it was, not for months. I had listened to one of Soundgarden's early albums and I wasn't impressed; I'm still not, with their early work. It just isn't there yet. They're amateurish. So eventually I found out, and got the next two albums, and love them.

So when I first came to this thread and read it, I couldn't believe that no one but me hears the first stanza tell how things used to be fine, and "now I'm doing time," and no one but me thinks, "This is a convict singing." You know, as in "doing time?" That's where the expression comes from. Does anyone out there know that? Unable to fly? Hands tied?

Well, one person got it, he was reminded of when he was arrested, but wasn't clear that that's what the song is about.

So then I had to ask myself if it made any difference: either way, prison is being used as a metaphor for a bad time, so does it matter? My way, Chris Cornell who was never in prison is singing a song for millions of listeners who were never in prison, and he chooses to use prison as a metaphor which will help make it more vivid for us to think about depression.

Everyone else is just hearing the everyday cliche "doing time," which is most often used to say that a person is bored with their life and vaguely supposes that something may come along sooner or later to engage them fully in their own life. It hints at a bit of self-pity for a person who is merely unengaged in their life to use an expression originally used by convicts to describe prison terms. But the rest of the song offers plenty to convey the idea of deep failure and depression.

Still, I think it's more dramatic and poetic to hear a prisoner regretting a life fallen on black days, and its his own fault for having harmed others. And he remembers his early promise, his potential for good. The anguished chorus, How would I know that this could be my fate?

PS. I've never understood "Sure don't mind the change." What change? The change in his life that the whole rest of the song describes is tragic for him.

FYI, Andy Wood died in early 1990, and then Mother Love Bone's bassist and guitarist formed Pearl Jam. Not 1995.

Very good explanation. So very true in my own mind. My wife loves this song, I on the other hand can no longer listen to it because of what it reminds me of. It among other bands like it remind me to much of the days i wanted to end it all. Actually just got into an argument about this band because she came in all hyped up because her friend is going to see them in NYC tonight and I don't care.

@crushedbyeyeliner apply this logic to All soundgarden songs... True

@crushedbyeyeliner sorry 1 more thing, "sure don't mind the change", in my mind, he enjoys his addiction to heroin more than any other drug. (no one sings like you anymore)...

Yeah not about jail. "Hands are for shaking not tying" probably relates to tying off to shoot. But either way, heroin does imprisson you. "How would i know this could be my fate" I feel is saying you don't expect to be an addict when you first try it, you dont think one day its gonna make you so sick, that you'll do anything to fucking get it. Heroin is the worst drug there is, its the devil, I hate it. But that's because I use. You want help until your 3 days in and you just can't do it, cuz the pain, or because your being obligated to work or some shit, how you gonna work when walking up 4 steps is a work out ....

@crushedbyeyeliner sure don't mind the change... Refer to slaves and bulldozers.. (laughing everytime I toke).. He went from smoking heroin to shooting up.. Quite a change..

@WinterOnyx, I like the way you think, and yes I do wonder about that.

@WinterOnyx Chris?

@WinterOnyx I know who you are, and I know what you done...

@D_Psi4or really? Doubtful

@WinterOnyx yes, it is doubtful. However, this is the only post you've replied to. So, you are someone, and you've done something......
;)

@WinterOnyx I sincerely hope that you aren't actually Chris.. RIP To a true legend..

@WinterOnyx vailx10048, please contact me

@vailx10048 I don't even know how one would contact someone on here.

@WinterOnyx it's a mystery.

@WinterOnyx amazing that I have 2 private messages from you then... I was just curious about something, but the whole point is moot.. Hope you've had fun.

@suckmykiss which line are you referring to? Please share.

@suckmykiss do you think it implies he wants change or not?

@suckmykiss maybe it just implies he knows he's fucked up, and doing the wrong thing with his hands... Tying off..