Pretty Noose

Soundgarden

I caught the moon today
Pick it up
And throw it away all right
I got the perfect steal
A cleaner love
With a dirty feel all right
Fallout and take the bait
Eat the fruit
And kiss the snake goodnight

Common ruse, dirty face
Pretty noose is pretty hate
And I don't like what you got me hanging from
And I don't like what you got me hanging from
And I don't like what you got me hanging from

Let your motor race
Pick it up
And get this mother gone
Out from and far away
The wooden stake
This thing has got me on

Diamond rope, silver chain
Pretty noose is pretty pain
And I don't like what you got me hanging from
And I don't like what you got me hanging from
And I don't like what you got me hanging from
And I don't like what you got me hanging from

Common ruse, dirty face
Pretty noose is pretty hate
And I don't care what you got
I don't care what you need
I don't want anything
And I don't like what you got me hanging from
And I don't like what you got me hanging from
And I don't like what you got me hanging from
And I don't like what you got me hanging from

And I don't like what you got me hanging from
And I don't like what you got me hanging from
Yeah


Lyrics submitted by jt

Pretty Noose Lyrics as written by Chris Cornell

Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing

Lyrics powered by LyricFind

Pretty Noose song meanings
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53 Comments

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  • +5
    General CommentAccording to Cornell, "Pretty Noose" is about "an attractively packaged bad idea...something that seems great at first and then comes back to bite you."

    Frank Kozik, the director of the song's music video, interpreted the song as "your average bad-girlfriend experience," an interpretation which Cornell agreed with.

    en.wikipedia.org/wiki/…
    HibernusMortison March 17, 2012   Link
  • +3
    General CommentI definately see the one-sided relationship thing. I think everyone knows that feeling at some point. It's like being trapped in a noose made of your feelings. It's choking you and the other person has the rope in their hands cause when you love someone more than they love you, they always have that control.

    And then sometimes you don't even have to love the person more for them to have the control, sometimes they're just evil and conniving hidden under a beautiful mask...hence the pretty noose.
    WinterOnyxon April 29, 2004   Link
  • +2
    My InterpretationI would agree with most of the commenters that this is a song about being stuck in a relationship where the woman has control. Nobody has mentioned the sexual imagery though.

    The first part is about what was to be a one night stand.

    "I caught the moon today
    Pick it up
    And throw it away all right" - Moon = piece of ass. Pick it up, throw it away. One night stand.

    A cleaner love
    With a dirty feel all right
    Fallout and take the bait
    Eat the fruit
    And kiss the snake goodnight - She seems innocent enough but just dirty enough to be hot. Eat the fruit (=peach = vagina)
    Kiss the snake goodnight = BJ

    Pretty Noose = the vaginal opening is the same shape of a noose.

    Let your motor race
    Pick it up
    And get this mother gone - Motor = Libido and its racing. He wants to do her and get out of there because he already knows shes bad news.

    Out from and far away
    The wooden stake
    This thing has got me on - When he's away from her, even though he knows she's bad for him, his "wooden stake" still wants her and he's essentially bound to the desires of the stake.

    Diamond rope silver chain
    Pretty noose is pretty pain
    And I don't like
    What you got me hanging from - As others have pointed out, "Diamond Rope, Silver Chain" sounds like marriage. Its both beautiful and painful to love someone that drives you nuts.

    The writer was definitely pussywhipped and had a love/hate relationship with the owner of said pussy

    Cawdoron December 03, 2009   Link
  • +1
    General CommentI thought it might be about being dissattisfied with the record label. They feel they're in a pretty noose? I have no supporting evidence to back this statement up with! Is there any?
    Oh Peaon July 02, 2003   Link
  • +1
    General CommentA fucking amazing song... one of my favourites... was really hooked on this one for a while
    Given-To-Flyon June 25, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Commentits probably about a one sided relationship where the pretty noose is a girl who controls her lover
    treestumpon May 10, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General Commenti agree with marksl, its about things that look good but really arent
    eigthon June 17, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General CommentThis song is incredible. It is by far the best song chris cornell has released since temple of the dog released "hunger strike" way back when. I believe that treestump is right because it is obviously about a girl who isn't at all as she appears on the outside.
    BC4221on July 05, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General Comment"diamond rope, silver chain"

    ^ sounds like a marriage to me
    aldeayeahon March 31, 2003   Link
  • 0
    General CommentOmfg... thios song... soo good love soundgarden soo much
    Bort_The_Greaton April 19, 2003   Link

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