I think much like another song “Anti-Matter” (that's also on the same album as this song), this one is also is inspired by a horrifying van crash the band experienced on Nov 3, 2022. This, much like the other track, sounds like it's an extension what they shared while huddled in the wreckage, as they helped frontman Garrett Russell stem the bleeding from his head wound while he was under the temporary effects of a concussion. The track speaks of where the mind goes at the most desperate & desolate of times, when it just about slips away to all but disconnect itself, and the aftermath.
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
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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I think the song's meaning is pretty straightforward.
The narrator is so tired of humanity that they're longing and hoping for the world to end. Pretty similar to "Aenema" by Tool.
"Times are gone for honest men And sometimes far too long for snakes"
The 70s, 80s, and 90s are the age when, at least in the United States, capitalism and corporations began to have an influence on every aspect of our daily lives. The good came with the bad, as people stepped all over each other just to get their piece of the pie. Things like honesty and integrity went out the window and the opportunists took over. "Nice guys finish last" became a mantra for many people.
"In my shoes, a walking sleep And my youth I pray to keep Heaven sent hell away No one sings like you anymore"
The narrator would rather die young than see society and humanity head in the direction that it's going. "Heaven sent hell away" refers to nature ending society on Earth. "No one sings like you anymore" seems to refer to how all of the old moral tenets – such a honesty, substance, and compassion – aren't really celebrated anymore.
"Hang my head, drown my fear Till you all just disappear"
The narrator will wait in despair until the annihilation of the human race.
Seems pretty screwed up, but misanthropy is common in a lot of Cornell's writing. He writes a lot of songs about the apocalypse ("New Damage," "4th of July") but also how he's looking forward to it. "Limo Wreck" is pretty much about the same thing. Also, "The Day I Tried To Live" seems to continue the whole theme of being an outsider and not feeling like a part of society.
The real question is whether or not there ever was a "Time for honest men," unfortunately. History doesn't seem to indicate that there ever was. You always get the good with the bad.
This is absolutely and completely what I have always believed this song to be. And I sometimes empathize these days. Great explanation.
@lastanzabianca Love your interpretation. Although Cornell stated he would just let the words flow lyrically and hasn't thought so much about the meaning and that it has no actual meaning at all, I do very much believe that his subconsciousness would let flow his actual views and feelings about the world and society into it. In "automatical writing" it happens too that the subconsciousness plays it's part, so I agree very much to every word you wrote here.
@lastanzabianca Any song means whatever you need it to mean at any given time. Many songs have hit me differently throughout the years.