I don't really see it as anything about religion or drugs or a nuclear holocaust, but about war and the irony of American pride.
Now follow me on this, but if you think of a war veteran with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, what do you
think they feel on the 4th of July? Fireworks are a little cliched of being reminiscent of gunfire. The noise will often take a soldier right back to those awful days:
"And I heard it in the wind
And I saw it in the sky"
this would make this veteran consider the similarities between the sound of gunfire and the sound of fireworks. But is the relationship just physical?
Fireworks are THE symbol of American pride. They stand for all American values. i.e. freedom and justice.
On the other hand, guns are a symbol of war, which is seen as having the qualities of oppresion and unjust killing.
These two symbols are contrasted against eachother.
Back to the veteran, when he's hearing the fireworks, he's thinkinng of war
"And I thought it was the end,
I thought it was the 4th of July"
He's thinking: "I thought I heard war, but I really just heard American Pride."
And that's where the irony comes from. America, and all its core values are built on the exact opposite OF those values. America derives its peace from unnecessary bloodshed, and its justice from its unjustified violence.
So from the perspective of the veteran(and who should understand Amercan pride better?), these two symbols have a remarkable resemblance both aurally, AND in their meaning.
that's why I like this song. because the symbols are both aural, they lend themselves well to some intense imagery.
but anyway, that's what I get from the lyrics. If Chris Cornell says it's about an acid trip then that's what it is.
@mitchgustavtherobot
I think this is exactly what he's writing about. The imagery is clear. A nuclear war or some type of war where there is a hail of missiles raining down on a people. However, this is clearly the literal meaning.
@mitchgustavtherobot
I think this is exactly what he's writing about. The imagery is clear. A nuclear war or some type of war where there is a hail of missiles raining down on a people. However, this is clearly the literal meaning.
Anyway, he says once he released a song it is about whatever the listener thinks it's about. He was such an inspiration. RIP.
Anyway, he says once he released a song it is about whatever the listener thinks it's about. He was such an inspiration. RIP.
I don't really see it as anything about religion or drugs or a nuclear holocaust, but about war and the irony of American pride.
Now follow me on this, but if you think of a war veteran with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, what do you think they feel on the 4th of July? Fireworks are a little cliched of being reminiscent of gunfire. The noise will often take a soldier right back to those awful days:
"And I heard it in the wind And I saw it in the sky"
this would make this veteran consider the similarities between the sound of gunfire and the sound of fireworks. But is the relationship just physical?
Fireworks are THE symbol of American pride. They stand for all American values. i.e. freedom and justice.
On the other hand, guns are a symbol of war, which is seen as having the qualities of oppresion and unjust killing.
These two symbols are contrasted against eachother.
Back to the veteran, when he's hearing the fireworks, he's thinkinng of war
"And I thought it was the end, I thought it was the 4th of July"
He's thinking: "I thought I heard war, but I really just heard American Pride."
And that's where the irony comes from. America, and all its core values are built on the exact opposite OF those values. America derives its peace from unnecessary bloodshed, and its justice from its unjustified violence.
So from the perspective of the veteran(and who should understand Amercan pride better?), these two symbols have a remarkable resemblance both aurally, AND in their meaning.
that's why I like this song. because the symbols are both aural, they lend themselves well to some intense imagery.
but anyway, that's what I get from the lyrics. If Chris Cornell says it's about an acid trip then that's what it is.
Very good interpretation....too bad I only get 1 vote...
Very good interpretation....too bad I only get 1 vote...
@mitchgustavtherobot I think this is exactly what he's writing about. The imagery is clear. A nuclear war or some type of war where there is a hail of missiles raining down on a people. However, this is clearly the literal meaning.
@mitchgustavtherobot I think this is exactly what he's writing about. The imagery is clear. A nuclear war or some type of war where there is a hail of missiles raining down on a people. However, this is clearly the literal meaning.
Anyway, he says once he released a song it is about whatever the listener thinks it's about. He was such an inspiration. RIP.
Anyway, he says once he released a song it is about whatever the listener thinks it's about. He was such an inspiration. RIP.