Lyric discussion by EternalTearsOfSorrow 

Cover art for Hunger Strike lyrics by Temple of the Dog

Chris Cornell says of this song, it came about because of an existential crisis that his band Soundgarden faced at that moment he told Rolling Stone. "[It] is a statement that I'm staying true to what I'm doing regardless of what comes of it, but I will never change what I'm doing for the purposes of success or money."

Song Meaning