Bring Em Back Alive by Audioslave Lyrics Meaning – Unraveling the Depths of Audioslave’s Solemn Anthem
Lyrics
When I lost my wings and I fell into a crowd
And they carried me to a hole in the ground
And they buried me, where no one could see
And no one would be around
I
I am a virus
I
I live in silence
I was on my way to a city in the clouds
When I lost my mind and I had to settle down
Then I had a dream of an island in the sea where the lepers die
Where no one survives and no one can hear the cries
I
I am a virus
I live in silence
Just like heathens thinking
On our feet we’ll believe in God
With one step, two steps, three steps toward the graveyard
On the high road to remembering
It seems that we forgot
I am a virus
I
I live in silence
Audioslave’s ‘Bring Em Back Alive’ is a monumental track that encapsulates the raw energy and depth of expression the band was known for. The convergence of Chris Cornell’s impassioned vocals with Tom Morello’s innovative guitar work creates a soundscape that is as haunting as it is powerful.
More than just a hard rock marvel, ‘Bring Em Back Alive’ is a poignant narrative on human existence, self-discovery, and the often unnoticed battles fought within the silence of one’s being. It’s a venture into the depths of the human psyche, an interpretation which finds itself vividly illuminated in the lyrics.
A Flight Towards Enlightenment, A Fall Into Reality
Opening lines in songs often serve as the compass to the journey listeners are about to embark upon. ‘I was on my way to the center of the sun,’ Cornell sings, referring to a metaphysical journey towards ultimate knowledge or enlightenment. However, the ‘fall into a crowd’ and subsequent burial signify a shattering fall back to earthly struggles and an erasure from collective memory—a theme echoed by many philosophers who see life as a quest cut short by societal downfall.
This stark contrast in the opening verse, flanked by urgent instrumentals, underscores the duality of ambition against human fallibility. It suggests a tension between one’s inner aspirations and the external forces that can suppress or derail one’s existential journey.
The Lyrical Virus: An Allegory On Self-Awareness
Repetitive, almost mantra-like, the proclamation ‘I am a virus’ spreads through the song, evoking a feeling of inescapable contagion. While a virus typically connotes negativity, in the realm of Audioslave’s poetics, it could suggest an awakening—an insidious awareness seeping through the crevices of the subconscious.
Cornell’s deliberate delivery, paired with Morello’s piercing riffs, crafts an atmosphere of brooding introspection. The virus here can be interpreted as the truth of one’s existence, a silent but all-consuming realization that infects the mind and influences every action.
Isolation on the Island of Desolation
The dream of ‘an island in the sea where the lepers die’ paints a desolate picture, an allegorical representation of ostracism and suffering. Leprosy, historically seen as a mark of shame, ties into the song’s overarching narrative of facing one’s demons and the loneliness that accompanies profound personal tribulation.
Cornell’s voice carries the metaphor across a sea of heavy rhythms. The island emerges as a motif for the mental scape where individuals combat their deepest fears away from the gaze and help of their peers, resonating with the struggle to find peace within oneself.
A Stairway of Philosophy: The Steps to Oblivion
Interwoven within the thunderous anthem are traces of profound existential pondering – ‘With one step, two steps, three steps toward the graveyard.’ The staircase imagery conjures the unavoidable march towards mortality, suggesting a memento mori that persists despite our spiritual quests or denials.
Engaging with the themes of faith and our collective end, these lines strike a chord in the human narrative about belief and the irony of religious conviction in the face of certain death. They highlight a bittersweet acknowledgment of fate, urging listeners to ponder their footing on this metaphysical stairway.
The Eerie Silence of Existence: ‘I Live in Silence’
Perhaps one of the most resonant messages of the song emanates from the recurring line ‘I live in silence.’ The persisting quietude operates as a stark backdrop to the song’s tumultuous themes, paralleling the silence that often blankets our inner existential dialogues.
Cornell’s confession of a life lived in silence is not merely the absence of sound but rather the void of being unheard, a sentiment that rings true for many grappling with the unseen battles of the mind. It acts as a mirror, reflecting our own struggles with inner turmoil and the human yearning for understanding.
