It's about trying to step out of being patterned and closed off and reclusive, which I've always had a problem with. It's about attempting to be normal and just go out and be around other people and hang out. I have a tendency to sometimes be pretty closed off and not see people for long periods of time and not call anyone. It's actually, in a way, a hopeful song. Especially the lines "One more time around/Might do it", which is basically saying, 'I tried today to understand and belong and get along with other people, and I failed, but I'll probably try again tomorrow.' A lot of people misinterpreted that song as a suicide-note song. Taking the word "live" too literally. "The Day I Tried to Live" means more like the day I actually tried to open up myself and experience everything that's going on around me as opposed to blowing it all off and hiding in a cave.
From Chris Cornell himself:
It's about trying to step out of being patterned and closed off and reclusive, which I've always had a problem with. It's about attempting to be normal and just go out and be around other people and hang out. I have a tendency to sometimes be pretty closed off and not see people for long periods of time and not call anyone. It's actually, in a way, a hopeful song. Especially the lines "One more time around/Might do it", which is basically saying, 'I tried today to understand and belong and get along with other people, and I failed, but I'll probably try again tomorrow.' A lot of people misinterpreted that song as a suicide-note song. Taking the word "live" too literally. "The Day I Tried to Live" means more like the day I actually tried to open up myself and experience everything that's going on around me as opposed to blowing it all off and hiding in a cave.
@arhodd do you have a link or reference for that??
@arhodd do you have a link or reference for that??
@arhodd & @sokorny: http://web.stargate.net/soundgarden/articles/rs_1-12-95.shtml
@arhodd & @sokorny: http://web.stargate.net/soundgarden/articles/rs_1-12-95.shtml
Rolling Stone interview from 1995.
Rolling Stone interview from 1995.
Link Update: https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/chris-cornell-the-rolling-stone-interview-79108/
Link Update: https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/chris-cornell-the-rolling-stone-interview-79108/