Excellent video Scott! Cornell without a doubt was one of the greatest vocalists in Rock n Roll history and his name should be mentioned alongside people like Freddie Mercury
Scott Green dude you absolutely smashed the nail on the head. chris's depression and slow death was hiding in plain sight, his grace made it appear otherwise.
Scott Green hey Scott, I've heard Brad from audioslave say that Chris told him that like a stone is about an old man who has lost everyone he loves and is sitting there waiting to die
"Chris sang, with grace" is a very accurate way to describe him. He has that power and the range but there's always that delicate touch to it, the despair that accompanies power and vulnerability.
The man took away a piece of my childhood from the 90's when he took his life. Scott Green, I think you hit the nail on the head with the analysis of this song. I will say, however, that I saw some interview once where Chris stated that when someone hears one of his songs and they interpret it one way, then THAT is the way he wants it to be for them. I think Chris was a very conflicted person, and it's sad to realize the depth of his demons. Been jamming my Audioslave cd for the past week, and in most of his songs (the lyrics) he: stays away from love, if he's singing to someone it's usually to some higher power (not another person), and he mentions the sun a LOT in his songs. I've always admired this legendary person and hopefully I'll cheer up sooner than later, and just appreciate the fact that I was around when he was.
When I first began listening to Chris it was purely because of his amazing talents as a singer. Needless to say, it didn't take long to realize how talented he was as a songwriter. To me, he seemed to be able to say just the right things to make me feel like I could relate to his lyrics. I've suffered from depression for many years too and maybe that contributed to this, but honestly, I think that what made Chris such an amazing songwriter was that he could make almost anyone relate to what he wrote. His lyrics were open to interpretation, leaving it to the listener to figure out what it meant to them personally, like how a well-written book lets the imagination of the reader make the experience great for them.
I know it's been a week already, but I'm still sad that Chris Cornell has left this planet. I have never been this sad over some celebrity's death before, but I guess this one really hit me hard. To me he is the iconic representation of all that's ever been good about 90's music, and the fact that his passing-away, meaning all the sweet memories of my not-so-happy youth, have died with him too. You have no idea how this guy connects millions of minds like mine, and how much his music has helped me survive different stages of the dark hours in my life. I still can't believe that his life can last so short and end so sudden.
Cornell is one of those artists who you can appreciate equally by just taking in the abstract imagery, and by picking apart each line. Which is what he wants us to do, I think - he wants to feel vulnerable yet at the same time he wants people to know he's just a voice in passing, and we're all directionless souls just waiting around to die.
I just discovered this channel whit this video, and im amazed i really never understood the song because english is not my first language, i take it for granted a lot of things and even when i was not completely wrong about the meaning im glad whit this. i always liked the song because it sounds for my very sad but empowering Just like a reflection. and i really like the way you sayed the real meaning. yes i will miss chris because he really helped to breack my rusty cage.
U need not apologize, for how u speak, or what they hear. One voice, Outshined so beautifully- as if meant for only me; Blessed All, who need only Listen, Soundgarden unto Thee!
Timmy mentioned this on a past interview also, how this song seemed like a love song in the beginning, but later on he realized it was actually a song to death... waiting for death on an empty room, while all your friends are already dead, just Chris sitting there. Haunting indeed.
So perfectly and beautifully worded. Chris was a songwriter's songwriter. It's a shame our collective pleasure from his genius songwriting came from the very pain and depression he just could not beat. Thanks for this wonderful YT posting. Your analysis of his lyrics is so spot-on.
Condolences to familiy and friends ... Rest in peace and Heaven and Thank You for everything Mister Sir Chris Cornell Legend ... Pocivajte u miru i Raju , neka je laka zemlja , vecna slava i veliko Hvala na svemu gospodine Kris Kornel Legendo ... Amen ... Amin ...
this song not only touches me the most of Chris's work, but was a cue to his own death...in the same week before he died, this song played over n over in my head...a god of a performer...this song immortalisez Cornell
This song is probably the one I made the most intimate connection with, when I first had the privilege to hear Chris' voice and get to know who he was... from the beginning I didn't believe it was a love song but a direct reproach to a god he wasn't certain was there, so I had a communion with it and later with other songs that he sang, also with powerful messages.
I have to disagree with the "Euphoria Morning was a flop" part. That is an amazing album. It set Cornell apart and above all of his 90s grunge peers showing his diversity and pure talent. It is the album that pushed me from being a vocalist/guitarist to being a hungry musician.
You make the best videos on RU-vid, every damn video is consistently perfect and flawless. The detail you go into is truly beautiful. Your dimebag video was the first I saw and it made me very emotional, I definitely subscribed. Thank you.
'Humanitarian' and 'philanthropist' are not the first things that come to mind when the average person thinks of Chris Cornell, and it is a side of him that often goes overlooked. In remembrance of his beautiful soul, and to ease my broken heart, I will be making a donation to 'The Chris and Vicky Cornell Foundation'. It is a charitable organization, begun in 2012 by Chris and his wife, that supports children facing problems such as homelessness, poverty, abuse, and neglect. This is what Chris had to say about it: “I was lucky enough to be in the right place at the right time to make a career doing something I love. Not every kid gets those opportunities. I’m in a fortunate position to use music to support important causes that help foster change." RIP Chris Cornell. You stood among giants, and you towered above them.
so very well said. Thank you sir for the enlightenment on the song. I love this video and I love and appreciate what Chris had to offer to music. You will be missed Mr Chris. RIP
Your video was very touching. I was never a huge fan of Soundgarden or Cornell, but I've always admired that he can 'catch' some important moments or thoughts in his songs. He'll certainly be missed. Thank you for your work, and as always, I wait for more your videos!
Thanks for the critique of one of my favorite Audioslave songs. I appreciate the detail and perspective. I for one new what this song meant the moment I heard it and back then I thought it was profound now I realize there were more clues in this song about how he felt than anyone around him could see.
I agree with your interpretation of the lyrics. What made him so special was the mixture of rock music often combined with melancholic lyrics. That is what touched lots of hearts I think. I always felt his vulnerability by listening to this song. Yes, it was not supposed to be a love song, but a song about the finiteness of life and thinking about that in a metaphisical way. Great song, great singer, lovely man, sad end. R.I.P.
[Apologies for the rant, long comment incoming.] Well, I mean Chris had the opportunity to be in multiple projects and experiment with different musicians as well as by himself enough over the years that he was able to hone his craft and make many different masterpieces with the time he was given. With Kurt, while he was certainly talented and also had the same kind of potential, didn't really live long enough to see it done. Kurt had three albums, Chris had dozens. I don't think they can be adequately compared in the idea of "who has more talent" because one had a much greater opportunity due not only to the circumstances of their musical upbringing and blossoming, but also given how their mental health declined and at what rate they did so.
Great Video Man, Chris Cornells Passing really hit me hard even though I didn't know about it till late 2017 to early 2018. It still makes me sad everyday listening to songs to like a stone or the day I tried to live, He was a amazing vocalist, one of my favorites. #RIPChrisCornell.
Thank you for making the video. I'm not sure I agree with your interpretation but, then again, the song itself is pretty wide open to interpretation. I do agree with your end assessment except for the small detail of it being one of the reasons instead of the reason we'll miss Chris. Oh and that solo album that flopped....for me, that's the greatest album ever created. :)
Fantastic analysis of "Like a Stone", Scott! Soundgarden's music got me hooked and the lyrics kept me to them and later Audioslave and Chris's solo music since I was 10 years old. Last night I read someone's comment about depression in an unrelated article, and couldn't get "Blow Up the Outside" out of my head, although I haven't heard it in some time. I truly believe Chris Cornell was one of the greatest singer /songwriters of our time. RIP
Trauma is a wound...pain is the way body comunicates something's off balance ....addiction is the way to cope with it. Chris was just one more , part of the fatherless generation...the greatest wound in a person's life. In this song he's comteplating and asking real life questions...seems like he was more than a poet but a philosopher.
That was an excellent tribute to Chris's work and his life overall, and an interesting analysis of the song. I had never thought about this song's meaning before. I'm binging on SG for the last 8 days since he passed on. Despite Chris's vulnerability, he seemed to possess a rock solid strength through his look, sound and character, and seemed always like a loving friend, especially to those he collaborated over the last 30 years. It's impossible for me to believe that he hasn't reached peace in Heaven. ❤
Death Is Just the beginning to be Immortal not like a Stone but like a legend. Say hello 2 heaven my friend, your fell on black days are finally over, for everyone of us life Is like an highway of feelings and emotiones. Nothing compares too you Chris, somehow i see myself too you not completely. Everyday Is a day to try enjoy the Life, now you are free from your rusty Cage🙏
thank you for this comment.i feel in this song more than the pacience i feel a very deep mesage about religión about heaven and maybe he is waiting for God or for Crist like stone.In every room of the house of god..SOmething like that..and waiting like stone is having the certanly that something or somebody is come and helping me ..i think is a song of a very deep hope ..
I agree it is odd, but then a lot of interpretation is based on how the individuals life forms those interpretations. For me personally I have always loved this song. It has a real melancholy edge.
I always read it as a cobweb afternoon...an afternoon that goes nowhere and is the same "repetitive, old crap" that we all go through. He reads by a freeway which is where we visualize the rock bottom "under a bridge and by a freeway where all the homeless live". It is here where we are given a rather morose setting. He confesses to the population that he was lost in the pages of a book full of death, a further metaphor to him thinking he is wasting his life away and if he is not careful he will die alone. People say when we die we will lay to rest and in a religious aspect the afterlife would be where we would want to go after reading through our wasted life because it's such a pain to live a purposeless life. He is alluding to people who wade through life without a purpose, to which he speaks the words "in your house I long to be room by room patiently" he is waiting for whoever is GOD in the afterlife and he will wait forever like a stone. I think he just threw in the word alone at the end for emphasis how the thought of death is just an impending eternal loneliness which is why he will wait for anyone who will take him to heaven as spoken in the second verse. The premise is more colored with mentioning on his death bed he will pray to the gods and the angels or anyone who will take him to heaven--a clear desperation for redemption of his soul at the end of all things. Where the sky was bruised and the wine was bled references his home in Seattle because of the bruised sky always raining and the wine being bled I surmise would be a reference to his old band Soundgarden which was the proverbial cup of fame spilling over containing his own metaphorical blood, sweat and tears and in the case of him speaking from another, less fortunate persons point of view it spells out a better time where things were going right for them; not in his/her imagination to imagine anything greater but just enough to sate one's pragmatic taste. In the bridge which cornell actually plays guitar in it is more significant when he says he read until the day was gone sitting in regret of all the things he had done, because it's the one line where it's pure cornell and raw in the delivery of those lines which allude to his own personal regret after reflecting on his life. He will wander aimlessly in his dreams since he already has everything anyone else would want, yet his depression is too great for him to take a light and shine upon it, truly hold it and be grateful for it. Depressed people have a hard time with gratitude and usually "want out" of the cards they are dealt no matter how great and grandiose it may be to another's point of view. This song shines a light upon his negative view and his bleak outlook on his otherwise magnanimous life. A testament to the genius of Cornell, a Tesla with Song and Voice.
