Superunknown by Soundgarden Lyrics Meaning – Unveiling the Cryptic Enigma of Chris Cornell’s Lyrical Journey
Lyrics
It doesn’t make you blind
Yea, if this doesn’t make you feel
It doesn’t mean you’ve died
Where the river’s high
Where the river’s high
If you don’t want to be seen
Well you don’t have to hide
And if you don’t want to believe
Well you don’t have to try to feel alive, yea
Alive in the superunknown
Alive in the superunknown
Alive in the superunknown
First it steals your mind and then it steals your
If this doesn’t make you free
It doesn’t mean you’re tied
If this doesn’t take you down
It doesn’t mean you’re high
If this doesn’t make you smile
Yea, you don’t have to cry
If this isn’t making sense
Yea, it doesn’t make it lies, oh
Alive in the superunknown
Alive in the superunknown
Alive in the superunknown
First it steals your mind and then it steals your soul, oh
Get yourself afraid
Get yourself alone
Get yourself contained
Get yourself control, control
Yeah, oh, yeah
Oh, oh
(Alive in the superunknown)
First it steals your mind and then it steals your
First it steals your mind and then it steals your
First it steals your mind and then it steals your soul
Plunging deep into the enigmatic abyss of Soundgarden’s ‘Superunknown’, one finds a composition rich with existential musing and a cryptic undertone that both challenges and comforts the listener. Chris Cornell’s ethereal vocals, coupled with the band’s grunge-soaked instrumentals, etch a sonic tableau that encourages a rendezvous with the many layers of human consciousness.
On the surface, the track from the band’s 1994 monumental album of the same name appears to be a foray into the unknown realms of experience, yet, as we delve deeper, we’ll find that ‘Superunknown’ bears a universal message about freedom, realization, and the struggle with the internal and external forces that govern our perception of reality.
Exploring the Superunknown: Between Disillusionment and Discovery
The very concept of the ‘Superunknown’ opens up a spectrum of interpretations. It may signify the unexplored territories of one’s psyche or the vast, unsolved mysteries of existence. Cornell’s lyrics play on this ambiguity, where being ‘alive in the superunknown’ suggests a state of consciousness that embraces the inexplicable. One can’t help but see it as a nod to the human endeavor to find meaning amidst uncertainty, and the exhilarating sensation that comes with venturing into realms beyond comprehension.
This trek into uncharted territory requires an acceptance of the esoteric and opaque nature of life. The song becomes a siren call for listeners to confront the ‘superunknown’ within themselves, to stir from complacency, and embark upon a profound journey of self-discovery.
Decoding the Dichotomy: Illusion Vs. Reality in ‘Superunknown’
Through a juxtapose of paradoxical phrases, the song places one in a liminal space where opposites dissolve into a singular truth. ‘If this doesn’t make you free/It doesn’t mean you’re tied’ – these lines unravel societal and self-imposed constraints. It’s a declaration that our sense of bondage or liberation isn’t dictated by external phenomena, but rather the perspective from which we choose to view them.
The song’s lyrical maze prompts one to question the nature of their perceptions. What it means to be ‘alive’, ‘free’, ‘tied’, or ‘high’ becomes subjective, leading listeners on a personal quest to unravel the truth beyond the superficial layers of their existence, urging them to redefine the parameters of their own reality.
The Cryptic Call to Self-Dominion: Control and Its Illusive Grip
Nestled within the visceral tone of the song lies a subtle commentary on self-governance. The cryptic commands – ‘Get yourself afraid/Get yourself alone/Get yourself contained/Get yourself control’ – may read as dark imperatives or ironic observations. The ‘control’ could be enlightening or stifling, depending on the angle from which one views it.
Cornell insinuates that the pursuit of control can be a double-edged sword. In seeking to master our fears and loneliness, we might cage our true selves in the process. Here, ‘Superunknown’ serves as a cautionary tale of the potential consequences of overreaching in our quest for power over oneself and over the indefinable.
Memorable Lines That Burn Through the Soul
Certain lines in ‘Superunknown’ have a flammable quality to them, igniting thought and feeling with a single spark. ‘First it steals your mind and then it steals your soul’ repeats like a mantra of transformation. It signals a process of absorption and change, a symbolic loss that might precede an awakening or new awareness.
Whether this theft is a forceful taking or a willing surrender, the audience can sense a tread along the fine line separating enlightenment from erasure. As haunting as it is evocative, this line etches itself into the psyche, prompting introspection about what we allow to influence us and to what extent it transforms who we are.
The Hidden Meaning: A Universality Found in Personal Allegory
A careful study of ‘Superunknown’ reveals a masterful weave of personal allegory and universal human sentiment. Though layered with Cornell’s own existential musings, the song captures a sentiment with which many can resonate – the desire for understanding within the chaos of the human experience.
In this perspective, ‘Superunknown’ transcends its enigmatic poetry to illustrate a fundamental aspect of life: The unknown can be a source of fear or inspiration, and we each have the power to choose whether to hide, to seek control, or to embrace the unpredictable journey of being alive in the ‘superunknown’. What the song aims to steal is not just the listeners’ mind or soul, but the veil from their eyes, showing that within the inescapable unknown lies the ultimate freedom.
