image link takes you to info on the cover art
I was first introduced to Soundgarden by my older son. After, “Spoonman” became a hit and got radioplay, he bought the album it was on, “Superunknown,” their fourth album, released in 1994. Another song that got a lot of radioplay from the album was, “Black Hole Sun.” It didn’t take me long to become a superfan of theirs. I continued to follow lead singer, Chris Cornell, wherever he went, which was solo and forming a supergroup, Audioslave, with former Rage Against the Machine members, Tommy Morello, Tim Commerford, and Brad Wilk. I’ve got two of Soundgarden’s albums – this one and the next one, Down on the Upside — and one or two of Audioslave’s. Whether solo or with the bands, the music’s lyrics travel to the bottom of the ocean of collective unconscious, exploring existentialism in an unvarnished way. The music and melodies are a living beast, rising, twirling, screaming, mesmerizing in their raw energy.
Band members on “4th of July” are:
Chris Cornell – vocals, rhythm guitar
Kim Thayil – lead guitar
Ben Shepherd – bass, backing vocals; additional drums and percussion (“Head Down”); additional vocals (“Spoonman”); lead vocals and guitar (“Half”)
Matt Cameron – drums, percussion; Mellotron (“Mailman”); pots and pans (“Spoonman”)
Wiki says the song is about LSD. Reading through various quotes by people involved in the album, you get a wide range of thoughts on perceptions of it. I guess it is up to each listener to grok it in their own way.
4th of July
Shower in the dark day, clean sparks diving down
Cool in the waterway where the baptized drown
Naked in the cold sun, breathing life like fire
I thought I was the only one, but that was just a lie
'Cause I heard it in the wind
And I saw it in the sky
And I thought it was the end
I thought it was the 4th of July
Pale in the flare light, the scared light cracks and disappears
And leads the scorched ones here
And everywhere no one cares, the fire is spreading
And no one wants to speak about it
Down in the hole, Jesus tries to crack a smile
Beneath another shovel load
And I heard it in the wind
And I saw it in the sky
And I thought it was the end
I thought it was the 4th of July
I heard it in the wind
Then I saw it in the sky
And I thought it was the end
I thought it was the 4th of July
July, July
Yeah, ooh, oh
But now I'm in control, now I'm in the fallout
Once asleep but now I stand
And I still remember your sweet everything
Light a Roman candle and hold it in your hand
'Cause I heard it in the wind
And I saw it in the sky
And I thought it was the end
I thought it was the 4th of July
I heard it in the wind
Then I saw it in the sky
And I thought it was the end
Thought it was the 4th of July, yeah
Yeah, yeah
written by: Chris J. Cornell
Tao Talk 
I mostly associate Soundgarden with “Black Hole Sun,” a song I’ve always dug. “4th of July” sounds dark and powerful!
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You’re right, Christian, it’s even darker than the usual dark. Maybe Umbra and Penumbra?
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Anything he sings I’ll listen to…it sounds huge! I’ll get with you tomorrow!
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OK, Max. I had a busy afternoon and evening. Went to meet up with friends for drinks earlier, then we all went for a 2.5 mile walk through dune trails. Stopped at the bar where my old co-worker’s band was doing open mike night. Just got home. I may sleep in tomorrow, just sayin’…
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Wow…sounds like you had a great time! Sleep in! I would.
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Got up just before noon lol.
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LOL! I’m about to leave to go home in a few minutes thank goodness…if I can get the owner off the phone.
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Can’t you unplug his phone or something ;) Be safe driving. Friday traffic is always the worst.
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LOL…if he used his company phone I could…but not his cell.
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Some great work
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<3
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Good choice from a great album
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Thanks, Glyn. I like the treasure your weekly treasure hunt unearths.
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Same with you Lisa
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I couldn’t believe it had been 11 years since I took my nephew to his first concert. Soundgarden and Black Sabbath on 4th July in Hyde Park London.
Soundgarden played the whole of Superunknown end to end. This song was a highlight.
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What the HELL?! That is fricking awesome. So you caught them post-disbandment and after they reformed, and just a few years before Chris did himself in because he wasn’t being monitored like he was supposed to be. I know, you might say a person determined to suicide can’t be stopped, and you may be right, but he was supposed to be monitored by a paid monitor and he wasn’t that night. Question: why do these f*cking d*ctors, aka legal drug pushers, never get charged with negligent homicide, criminal malpractice, etc? How many creative souls have they killed?
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American Healthcare baffles me. But those determined to head out west may be so determined that they will find their way.
Chris’ loss was a big one. Shook me and my nephew more than a celebrity death should. But he left us an incredible map of the stars to navigate by.
It was an awesome show and I won serious uncle points that day. He’s grown into a fine young man and is a teacher himself now. I’m very proud to have been his “bad influence”
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“I won serious uncle points that day” <3 <3 <3
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p.s. for a first concert, what a perfect one for your nephew. Is he into that kind of music? Or should I say is he into that kind of music after going to the concert?
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He’s a keen rock fan who came to work the farm with me every week and took armfuls of records and CD’s away each week while he got his “education”
We saw Motörhead, Faith No More, Rival Sons, Deep Purple. He’s all set
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He’s a lucky kid to have you as his bad influence. My granddaughter is only 4 so it will be awhile. Her uncle and I will make sure she gets her rock/metal doses. Her dad will introduce her to TMBG and midi music and probably already has.
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The future is in good hands
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Not a genre I follow closely, but my older son is big on Rage Against the Machine. Good take on a complicated day.
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Thanks for listening, Steve. RAM is a group that takes their music seriously. Never really got into them but have heard the songs that got airplay. I am a Tom Morello fan also.
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My pleasure, Lisa.
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Chris Cornell had a voice many people loved
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Indeed, he did. I think he is still singing in heaven.
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