I think that Chris is singing about himself. He's looking back on his life and at his many sorrows and he's seeing and speaking to himself through the window of time. The storm clouds and rain are a metaphor for how he feels inwardly. The light of his countenance mirrors the gloomy weather he's grown accustomed to. As a writer he was able to convey his sadness through the written word and that would help him manage his pain but as he says, they've lost their power.
He's imprisoned by the memories of the past and to his many regrets. He wishes he'd gone another path... been another man entirely.
Instead, he chose his current path, the life of a rock star but that is only a persona, a lie. He feels like he gave himself away, sold out for fame but it's empty and wasn't worth the price.
He tried to find happiness and peace by creating a new life and persona, even adopting a new name, "Cornell". But the suffering continued.
"I wish that I could find a seed..." etc. He's looking for the key to Peace. Something to lift him out of sorrow and heal his pain. But his past regrets continue to haunt him. They're like a rope connected to the present, impossible to escape.
Finally, he's suffering in front of the entire world. His drug abuse, his sorrowful lyrics are all out there for everyone to see his true state of being.
Now he even feels too "tired" (sadly, these were similar to his last words to his wife) to muster up any hope in the possibility that he can be saved from his torment by someone he would need to love so that he could finally, once and for all receive a new life from somebody outside this time and from far away. Someone willing to truly give Chris, a new name.
I don't know if Chris, in his last moments might have reached out to that one who could give him a new name and take away his suffering. I hope and pray that he did. I think that Chris was writing about Jesus Christ in the final words of the song, Maybe without realizing it. Christian imagery is a common element within Chris' music over the years and though I'm certain he didn't write as a Christian of any stretch, I don't think it's far fetched to think that there might have been times of desperation, when Chris wondered if it was his answer. These are my thoughts on the song. It's a heart breaking listen now that Chris is gone and makes me wish I had had the opportunity to be a friend to him. There are a lot of hurting people in the world and this song fills me with the conviction to not let them suffer alone.
I echo a lot of what you wrote. Specifically as it pertains to this particular song. It hit me pretty hard when I first listened to but I didn't really hear until after 5/18/2017.
I echo a lot of what you wrote. Specifically as it pertains to this particular song. It hit me pretty hard when I first listened to but I didn't really hear until after 5/18/2017.
I think that Chris is singing about himself. He's looking back on his life and at his many sorrows and he's seeing and speaking to himself through the window of time. The storm clouds and rain are a metaphor for how he feels inwardly. The light of his countenance mirrors the gloomy weather he's grown accustomed to. As a writer he was able to convey his sadness through the written word and that would help him manage his pain but as he says, they've lost their power.
He's imprisoned by the memories of the past and to his many regrets. He wishes he'd gone another path... been another man entirely.
Instead, he chose his current path, the life of a rock star but that is only a persona, a lie. He feels like he gave himself away, sold out for fame but it's empty and wasn't worth the price.
He tried to find happiness and peace by creating a new life and persona, even adopting a new name, "Cornell". But the suffering continued.
"I wish that I could find a seed..." etc. He's looking for the key to Peace. Something to lift him out of sorrow and heal his pain. But his past regrets continue to haunt him. They're like a rope connected to the present, impossible to escape.
Finally, he's suffering in front of the entire world. His drug abuse, his sorrowful lyrics are all out there for everyone to see his true state of being.
Now he even feels too "tired" (sadly, these were similar to his last words to his wife) to muster up any hope in the possibility that he can be saved from his torment by someone he would need to love so that he could finally, once and for all receive a new life from somebody outside this time and from far away. Someone willing to truly give Chris, a new name.
I don't know if Chris, in his last moments might have reached out to that one who could give him a new name and take away his suffering. I hope and pray that he did. I think that Chris was writing about Jesus Christ in the final words of the song, Maybe without realizing it. Christian imagery is a common element within Chris' music over the years and though I'm certain he didn't write as a Christian of any stretch, I don't think it's far fetched to think that there might have been times of desperation, when Chris wondered if it was his answer. These are my thoughts on the song. It's a heart breaking listen now that Chris is gone and makes me wish I had had the opportunity to be a friend to him. There are a lot of hurting people in the world and this song fills me with the conviction to not let them suffer alone.
I echo a lot of what you wrote. Specifically as it pertains to this particular song. It hit me pretty hard when I first listened to but I didn't really hear until after 5/18/2017.
I echo a lot of what you wrote. Specifically as it pertains to this particular song. It hit me pretty hard when I first listened to but I didn't really hear until after 5/18/2017.