When I'm Down

The speaker's lady accuses him of only feeling love for her when he's depressed. He's saying that may be true, but he's always depressed so he always feels the love.

Chris has got such a friggen awesome soulful voice. Sends me shivers, it does.

this is my favorite song out of this album...along with preachin' i guess,... i guess...love its like to be a philosopher ...they write their best..when they are at their worst... and sometimes..we just love the most when we feel like theres only one person who loves us back...cuz no one else's there but that only person.. when we need love..and when we just need something we feel its missin in our lifes its when love strickes its biggest... and maybe..we're just too down and low to show that love the right way..and we send all the opposite signs..but thats our way..to love and to show it.. theres no love like the depressive,obssesive,dramatic love..cuz because of its intensity..we just dont know how to let go of that.. might sound sick..and twisted.. but thats just the way we humans..work.. we're just victims of our emotions..

peace

I listen to this song when I get depressed. Believe me, it helps.

I'm sorry. But wtf no your all wrong. I think it is a song for his wife Susan Silver whom he divorced not long after this album's release. Keep in mind this was a period of heavy drinking and smoking for Chris. The song is pretty straight forward not much translation is needed. I think people over-analyze Cornell's works.

ADORE this song! It's awesome

btw, nice interpratation isobel. Really nice:D

It holds similarities to Sonnet 130.

isobel-i think we know what you mean. I reckon everyone has had that love at some point. It's so hard to find that balance. Too much or too little love. Emotions are seldom balanced.

Favourite song. Plus 'Nowhere But You' - dark things...

This is obvioulsy about being depressed. Like, nothing really matters when you fel that way, you just want to be numb. Having just broken up with my girlfriend, I know how he feels right now (boo).

In general, the speaker realizes that his love for this individual is only felt in connection to some kind of depression or grief.

Chris is an owl in this song, he roams through the night, he gets high and leaves his girl to sleep alone. Time passes by and she starts to wake up too, and when she arrgues with him he explains to her that he loves her but doesnt know how to deal with sadness so he tooks off cause nothing helps him

I have been in this exact situation year in, and year out for the past 10 years with a woman. here's my take:

The door is opening on your vigil And I'm in my usual way (She's been waiting and waiting for another chance, and here it comes, but for him, he thinks nothing of it) I save my breath, knowing what you're Wanting me to say (He won't yet acknowledge the she is his rock) I only love you when I'm down You say that midnight opens its arms to me Leaving you alone, and I fly so far away Until the light blurs my vision And I have nowhere to roam (He goes out, parties, chases women, but feels empty, and again comes back) I only love you when I'm down And I only love you when I'm down And I'm only near you when I'm gone (Misses her and realizes she's not so bad, when he's not around her) But one thing for you to keep in mind, you know I'm down all the time

Well I know you're reaching out And you need to feel my hand You want to be understood, yeah well I understand I know you hold precious little hope for me (She is holding out, hoping he realizes they should be together)

And in your hapiness I'm always drowning in my grief (He comes home broken hearted, beaten up, hungover..and she is thrilled to have him home)