The song lyrics were written by the band Van Halen, as they were asked to write a song for the 1979 movie "Over the Edge" starring Matt Dillon. The movie (and the lyrics, although more obliquely) are about bored, rebellious youth with nothing better to do than get into trouble. If you see the movie, these lyrics will make more sense. It's a great movie if you grew up in the 70s/80s you'll definitely remember some of these characters from your own life. Fun fact, after writing the song, Van Halen decided not to let the movie use it.
In my eyes, indisposed
In disguises no one knows
Hides the face, lies the snake
In the sun, in my disgrace
Boiling heat, summer stench
'Neath the black the sky looks dead
Call my name through the cream
And I'll hear you scream again
Black hole sun
Won't you come
And wash away the rain
Black hole sun
Won't you come
Won't you come (won't you come)
Stuttering, cold and damp
Steal the warm wind, tired friend
Times are gone for honest men
And sometimes far too long for snakes
In my shoes, a walking sleep
And my youth, I pray to keep
Heaven sent hell away
No one sings like you anymore
Black hole sun
Won't you come
And wash away the rain
Black hole sun
Won't you come
Won't you come
Black hole sun
Won't you come
And wash away the rain
Black hole sun
Won't you come
Won't you come (black hole sun, black hole sun)
Won't you come (black hole sun, black hole sun)
Won't you come (black hole sun, black hole sun)
Won't you come (black hole sun, black hole sun)
Hang my head, drown my fear
'Til you all just disappear
Black hole sun
Won't you come
And wash away the rain
Black hole sun
Won't you come
Won't you come
Black hole sun
Won't you come
And wash away the rain
Black hole sun
Won't you come
Won't you come (black hole sun, black hole sun)
Won't you come (black hole sun, black hole sun)
Won't you come (black hole sun, black hole sun)
Won't you come (black hole sun, black hole sun)
Won't you come (black hole sun, black hole sun)
Won't you come (black hole sun, black hole sun)
Won't you come
Won't you come
In disguises no one knows
Hides the face, lies the snake
In the sun, in my disgrace
Boiling heat, summer stench
'Neath the black the sky looks dead
Call my name through the cream
And I'll hear you scream again
Black hole sun
Won't you come
And wash away the rain
Black hole sun
Won't you come
Won't you come (won't you come)
Stuttering, cold and damp
Steal the warm wind, tired friend
Times are gone for honest men
And sometimes far too long for snakes
In my shoes, a walking sleep
And my youth, I pray to keep
Heaven sent hell away
No one sings like you anymore
Black hole sun
Won't you come
And wash away the rain
Black hole sun
Won't you come
Won't you come
Black hole sun
Won't you come
And wash away the rain
Black hole sun
Won't you come
Won't you come (black hole sun, black hole sun)
Won't you come (black hole sun, black hole sun)
Won't you come (black hole sun, black hole sun)
Won't you come (black hole sun, black hole sun)
Hang my head, drown my fear
'Til you all just disappear
Black hole sun
Won't you come
And wash away the rain
Black hole sun
Won't you come
Won't you come
Black hole sun
Won't you come
And wash away the rain
Black hole sun
Won't you come
Won't you come (black hole sun, black hole sun)
Won't you come (black hole sun, black hole sun)
Won't you come (black hole sun, black hole sun)
Won't you come (black hole sun, black hole sun)
Won't you come (black hole sun, black hole sun)
Won't you come (black hole sun, black hole sun)
Won't you come
Won't you come
Lyrics submitted by jt, edited by DarthSailr
Black Hole Sun Lyrics as written by Christopher J. Cornell
Lyrics © O/B/O DistroKid, Peermusic Publishing, Hipgnosis Songs Group
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Great version of a great song,
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I know I new to the site, but damn...do some research before you assume
I pulled this from an article, "Regarding "Black Hole Sun", Cornell stated, "It's just sort of a surreal dreamscape, a weird, play-with-the-title kind of song."[5] He also said that "lyrically it's probably the closest to me just playing with words for words' sake, of anything I've written. I guess it worked for a lot of people who heard it, but I have no idea how you'd begin to take that one literally."[6] In another interview he elaborated further, stating, "It's funny because hits are usually sort of congruent, sort of an identifiable lyric idea, and that song pretty much had none. The chorus lyric is kind of beautiful and easy to remember. Other than that, I sure didn't have an understanding of it after I wrote it. I was just sucked in by the music and I was painting a picture with the lyrics. There was no real idea to get across."[4] Commenting upon how the song was misinterpreted as being positive, Cornell said, "No one seems to get this, but "Black Hole Sun" is sad. But because the melody is really pretty, everyone thinks it's almost chipper, which is ridiculous."[7] When asked about the line, "Times are gone for honest men," Cornell said:
Thank God for people like you. New or not you have the wherewithal to realize somewhere out there on the Internet the artist has commented on the lyrics or whatever. Again, I applaud you.
Not being rude, but the meaning is more than clear:<br /> <br /> BLACK HOLE SUN: The external opening of the rectum<br /> SNAKE: A Willy (Man sexual organ)<br /> <br /> Once you know that the rest is easy to understand. ;)<br /> All the best and hope this is not a shock to many.<br /> <br /> PD. Limp Bizkit has similar a song called Chocolate StarFish.
@MrSwindler Ouch, people can no longer interpret a piece of art in their own eyes, thanks to the "new guy" here who says only the artists' intention matters in this song meaning forum.
@MrSwindler I want to start off with sometimes we do not make art but rather it happens to us in a subconscious level. I know he said the lyrics were bs in one part but there were reflection thoughts as well that I looked up as well. I can't copy and paste the first one but it was on wiki. It said something like It's really difficult for people to create their own life and their own freedom and it's going to create more disillusioned people...
It goes on but check wiki if you don't believe me. Here's another thing I found.
Cornell reflected on the song's lyrical content to Uncut: "What's interesting to me is the combination of a black hole and a sun," he said. "A black hole is a billion times larger than a sun, it's a void, a giant circle of nothing, and then you have the sun, the giver of all life. It was this combination of bright and dark, this sense of hope and underlying moodiness."
"I even liked the way the words looked written down," Cornell added. "I liken it to Syd Barrett-era Pink Floyd, where there's a happy veneer over something dark. It's not something I can do on purpose but occasionally it will happen by accident."
@MrSwindler <br /> I think artists prefer to keep a songs true meaning up to the Interpreter. Art means different things to different people. <br /> <br /> There is a legend of the black sun said to be underneath the earth. It resides in the underworld where there is no war or suffering. <br /> Reading about it made me think of the song of course, though the internet was in it's infancy so I'm not sure Chris fully grasps the coincidence of the song. Coincidentally or not, he was inspired by the legend, if not subconsciously. <br />
@MrSwindler he wouldn't tell the truth about it, because it's about his "disgrace" he says this in the first verse... <br /> Black hole = point of a needle when viewed head on. <br /> Sun = the high from heroin. <br /> Snake = syringe (obvious metaphor) note that it gets mentioned twice the first time it's in his eyes (like a proper hardcore junkie, shooting into his eye) that's why it's the black hole sun. Second time it gets mentioned, he's talking about withdrawal (time is far too long for snakes = too long between hits) <br /> The high from heroin washes away the rain, heroin takes his emotional pain away. <br /> Research other Chris Cornell songs on this site, heroin comes up far too often to be ignored. He grew up in a heroin epidemic, he lost friends to it (all my friends are skeletons, spoonman).. <br /> Accept it.. <br /> But it doesn't mean the song is awesome.. <br /> It is truly an amazing piece of art..
@MrSwindler edit "isn't awesome" lol.. I just said my favourite song isn't awesome..
@MrSwindler
I don’t know, the content seemed to be explicitly clear to me — the world gets us down; especially for those of us in the privileged countries who can see how shitty humanity is to itself.
To me, a black hole sun is one that starts the world over again. One that obliterated humanity’s sins (in both an individual and human-encompassing level) by destroying it all.
However, I really appreciate your references, since it seems to imply that there’s an added meaning to the destruction: the world is being wished into destruction such that a better one can take its place. I wouldn’t have considered that meaning of the song without your comment; so thank you.
Granted, ultimately, it’s a condemnation of humanity. One that Chris recently confirmed through his own actions. (May he RIP.)