I wrote it in my head driving home from Bear Creek Studio in Woodinville, a 35–40 minute drive from Seattle. It sparked from something a news anchor said on TV and I heard wrong. I heard ‘blah blah blah black hole sun blah blah blah’. I thought that would make an amazing song title, but what would it sound like? It all came together, pretty much the whole arrangement including the guitar solo that’s played beneath the riff. I spent a lot of time spinning those melodies in my head so I wouldn’t forget them. I got home and whistled it into a Dictaphone. The next day I brought it into the real world, assigning a couple of key changes in the verse to make the melodies more interesting. Then I wrote the lyrics and that was similar, a stream of consciousness based on the feeling I got from the chorus and title
– Chris Cornell
“Black Hole Sun” is a 1994-released single from Soundgarden’s, “Superunknown” album. Superunknown was the album that made me a superfan of the band. After that, I bought all of their albums and followed songwriter and lead singer, Chris Cornell, wherever he went, until his tragic overdose death on May 18, 2017. “Black Hole Sun” is the first song that got me to notice them and now one of so many that I cherish. It’s the music but as much or more the lyrics, almost without exception, anguished and full of dark matters of the soul.
Soundgarden members at the time were Chris Cornell (lead vocals,) Kim Thayil (lead guitar,) Matt Cameron (drums and who now drums for Pearl Jam,) and Ben Shepherd (bass.)
From wiki:
“Black Hole Sun” was released as the third single from the band’s fourth studio album, Superunknown. Considered to be the band’s signature song, it topped the US Billboard Album Rock Tracks chart, where it spent a total of seven weeks at number one. Despite peaking at number two on the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart, “Black Hole Sun” finished as the number-one track of 1994 for that listing. Worldwide, the single reached the top 10 in Australia, Canada, France, and Ireland, while in Iceland, it reached number one.
In 1994, Superunknown was nominated for a Grammy for Best Rock Album, and the song was nominated for both Best Rock Song and Best Hard Rock Performance. It won the Grammy for Best Hard Rock Performance.
I included this 2023 cover by Peter Frampton because Peter is becoming totally disabled. It may be the last year he is able to play it. It’s a priceless cover. Just listen and see for yourself.
In my eyes, indisposed
In disguises no one knows
Hides the face, lies the snake
The sun in my disgrace
Boiling heat, summer stench
‘Neath the black, the sky looks dead
Call my name through the cream
And I’ll hear you scream again
Black hole sun, won’t you come?
And wash away the rain
Black hole sun, won’t you come?
Won’t you come?
Stuttering, cold and damp
Steal the warm wind, tired friend
Times are gone for honest men
And sometimes far too long for snakes
In my shoes, a walking sleep
And my youth, I pray to keep
Heaven send Hell away
No one sings like you anymore
Black hole sun, won’t you come?
And wash away the rain
Black hole sun, won’t you come?
Won’t you come? X 2
Black hole sun, black hole sun
Won’t you come x 4
Hang my head, drown my fear
Till you all just disappear
[instrumental]
Black hole sun, won’t you come?
And wash away the rain
Black hole sun, won’t you come?
Won’t you come?
Black hole sun, won’t you come?
And wash away the rain
Black hole sun, won’t you come?
Won’t you come?
Black hole sun, black hole sun
Won’t you come x 7
Songwriter: Chris Cornell
Jim Adams is the host of Song Lyric Sunday. Jim says:
This week the theme is to find a song by an artist or group that won a Grammy.
Tao Talk 
I always liked this song Lisa, and it was interesting to learn more about it. The lyrics create a surreal dreamscape where this guy is trying to get warm. Thank for including the Peter Frampton cover, as he really looks like he is enjoying himself in this video.
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Glad you know it and like it, Jim. I decided against posting “the official video” because I didn’t want anything distracting from the song/lyrics. Here’s another one of their songs (with official video) that I love from another one of their albums:
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I’ve never been a particular fan of the band but I’ve always liked this one. Good choice!
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Thanks, Clive! I bet you like “Spoon Man” also?
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Sorry, but no. As I said, I’m not really a fan!
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Nice 👌
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One of my favourites…..thanks for all that background, Lisa.
JIM
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JIM, you’re very welcome and geeked to hear you are a Soundgarden fan. IIRC you live out that way where they got started.
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Chris Cornell…what a loss. Every way he did this song was special. (K)
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<3 I think of the song "Blow Up the Outside World" and video and how the world broke him at the end :(
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I love this song! I used to listen to it on the bus to school in the 90’s :-)
~David
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YES! A Soundgarden Fan! My older son is the one who first got me acquainted with them.
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One of my faves. Glad to know the back story.
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Soundgarden and Pearl Jam, closely connected but so very different in timbre. Happy you are a Soundgarden fan, Paul. Have you heard “Temple of the Dog” album? Members of Soundgarden and Pearl Jam got together to make it after Mother Love Bone’s singer, Andy Wood, overdosed and died.
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No I haven’t encountered that album – but now the seed is sown lol.
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tribute song to Andy from it:
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Great song and terrific album too.
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100% agree, Glyn!
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While at the time “Black Hole Sun” came out I thought it was too dark, these days I feel it’s a great-sounding song – sadly the only one by Soundgarden I can name, though I’ve probably heard some of their other tunes.
I also love Peter Frampton’s rendition, which reminds me a bit of Jeff Beck. I feel fortunate to have seen Frampton back in July. While his condition forced him to perform seated, he was in superb shape in terms of his guitar-playing.
I read the other day that he’s feeling better than anticipated and wants to continue performing as long as he can play up to his standard.
Frampton seems to be a genuinely nice guy who truly loves performing. Keeping fingers crossed his condition will allow him to continue to play!
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Christian, when I first heard it, I was more focused on the music, which I found haunting. Only after buying the album and learning the lyrics did I realize how dark it was. It spoke to the depression that held me hostage way more back then.
I thank you for hearing that Peter Frampton version. If you hadn’t linked to it back in July I would never have known it existed.
Such happy and blessed news Peter is feeling better. As one of those Star Wars characters said, “The Force is strong in this one.” He has great spirit and sheer will and heart keep him going. I’ve experienced that energy exchange between musician and audience before and sincerely believe the audience may be what’s keeping him going.
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I love this song and how cool to read about how it came to be :)
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Glad you love the song. I think Chris’ songs were his therapy for many years.
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As it is for many poets and writers and songwriters, I don’t doubt…
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<3
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💞
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Cornell’s voice sounded so good on this…well on everything he did…but it fits so well in this.
It’s cool to see Peter cover it.
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Yes on everything you said. Two creative artists who knew/know how to connect with their abilities.
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I always thought he was the best pure singer to come out of that era….thats just me.
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I am with you on that. I’m sure you’ve heard him sing, “Nothing Compares to U.” It’s a trip to me to know Prince wrote that song.
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You know what made me notice him? When he covered “You’ve Got To Hide Your Love Away” and A Day In The Life… I know that music best so when I heard his voice do those…I was knocked out….also a Doors song.
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Max, I didn’t know he’d done covers of those but for you that would the true test of how he sang them.
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On some of those Seattle songs in that era…sometimes it’s hard to judge how good singers are…you know what I mean? But when they slow it down…you can tell…wow he had a great voice.
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<3
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Here’s one from when he was in Audioslave. This song haunted me after he died.
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That does sound really good….and on top of it it’s a great song.
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I have that album on cd but haven’t listened to it in ages.
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Glyn, I was playing it on repeat after Chris died :( Glad you have the cd. Audioslave didn’t seem to get as much attention as Soundgarden did, which is a shame. No Kim Thayil, but Tommy Morello ain’t no slouch.
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Oooh I’ve always loved this song – I think of it often :)
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:) <3
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