Out Of Exile by Audioslave Lyrics Meaning – Unraveling the Depths of Isolation and Redemption
Lyrics
That I called by my own name
I was happy in this fortress
In my exile I remained
But the hours grew so empty
And the ocean sent her waves
In the figure of a woman
And she pulled me out to sea
Oh oh when you come down to take me home
Oh oh send my soul away
Oh oh when you come round you’ll make me whole
Oh oh send my soul away
On the altar of a sunrise
Was a wedding in the waves
And inside her shown a young light
From her labor I was saved
Though I’ve traveled long in darkness
In her harvest I’m embraced
Oh oh when you come down to take me home
Oh oh send my soul away
Oh oh when you come round you’ll make me whole
Oh oh send my soul away
Now the spires and gables
Grow in orchards to the sky
And the blessings on the table
Multiply and divide
Oh oh when you come down to take me home
Oh oh send my soul away
Oh oh when you come round you’ll make me whole
Oh oh send my soul away
Yeah, when you come down to take me home
When you come round you’ll make me whole
When you come round to take me home
Send my soul away
Send my soul away
Send my soul away
Send my soul away
Audioslave’s ‘Out of Exile’ is more than just a song; it’s a profound exploration of solitude, transformation, and the human spirit’s irrepressible longing for connection. This track, nestled firmly in the heart of their 2005 album of the same name, continues to resonate deeply with listeners, offering a mosaic of emotion and introspection cloaked within its hard rock exterior.
The poetry of the lyrics, combined with the band’s powerful instrumental articulation, paints a vivid tale of seclusion and the eventual liberation from one’s own emotional confines. Beneath the surface of its melodic drive, ‘Out of Exile’ encapsulates themes both personal and universal, crafting an anthemic cry for redemption and the undeniable urge to be understood and brought back home.
Isolation Turned Sanctuary: The Song’s Psychological Hideaway
The opening verse places us on an island — a self-ascribed safe haven. It’s a metaphorical fortress where the protagonist declares a sovereign state of mind, unbothered by the world’s chaos. But soon, the safe harbor of solitude becomes a prison of ennui, the ‘hours growing so empty’ symbolizing the creeping sense of existential despair that often accompanies prolonged isolation.
The island, once a proud self-proclamation, gradually turns into an echo chamber of loneliness. Audioslave masterfully translates this internal battle into sound, capturing the shift from contentment in solitude to the desperate need for contact and meaning beyond one’s self-imposed barriers.
A Soulful Siren’s Call: Liberation Through Connection
Audioslave draws on the mythological image of the siren to represent a turning point in the narrative — a catalyst for change delivered ‘in the figure of a woman’ who lures the protagonist ‘out to sea.’ This woman, or perhaps the ocean itself, signifies a powerful, natural force capable of breaking through the walls of exile.
The song suggests that it is through connection with another — symbolized by the ‘wedding in the waves’ and the harvest’s embrace — that one truly finds a path out of darkness. In these moments, Audioslave bridges the gap between the individual’s troubled introspection and the redemptive power of love and kinship.
The Vows Beyond the Shore: Unveiling the Song’s Hidden Meaning
The ‘wedding in the waves’ isn’t merely about a romantic union; it’s a larger allegory for commitment and integration with the world. Such a binding ceremony symbolizes growth, the acceptance of life’s blessings and trials, and the shared human experience that transcends our solitary struggles.
This marriage is not just to another person, but to life itself — a vow to engage with its tides, to accept its light and darkness. Audioslave’s use of this imagery suggests an awakening, the emergence from exile that comes with the recognition of one’s place in the greater tapestry of existence.
Bridging to the Infinite: The Spiritual Undertones
The song’s chorus is a litany, a repeated cry for salvation that echoes with spiritual undertones. The phrase ‘send my soul away’ strikes a chord that resonates on a level beyond the physical, hinting at the lead singer’s (Chris Cornell’s) own complex relationship with faith and eternity.
As the lyrics dance between earthly images and spiritual yearnings, ‘Out of Exile’ concerns itself with the soul’s journey towards transcendence, an escape from the internal exiles we each navigate, towards a realm of communal and spiritual wholeness.
Empowerment in Echoing Lines: The Memorable Mantra
The song doesn’t just end; it leaves us with a mantra, a series of powerful, memorable lines that suggest the perpetual cycle of seeking and finding. ‘Yeah, when you come down to take me home,’ sung with Cornell’s riveting intensity, reverberates as a declaration of readiness to be led out of darkness.
This repetition solidifies the song’s core message, ensuring that it’s etched into the listeners’ consciousness — we are never too far gone to be brought back, never too lost to be found. ‘Out of Exile’ is thus transformed from a song into a sanctuary, a musical beacon of hope for those yearning for return.
