Temple Of The Dog - Hunger strike - Meaning of the song
Temple of the Dog began when Chris Cornell of Soundgarden wrote two songs in honor of his good friend Andrew Wood, who died of a heroin overdose in March 1990. Wood was kept on life support for three days after he overdosed, during which time Cornell and his band mates came to see him. Wood was in a promising Seattle band called Mother Love Bone with Stone Gossard and Jeff Ament, who were forming their new band that would become Pearl Jam. Cornell teamed up with them and guitarist Mike McCready with the intention of recording some of Wood's solo songs along with Cornell's two tribute tracks. Responding to concerns that they were somehow exploiting Wood's work, the guys decided to release an album of all original material in tribute to Wood, and called the band Temple of the Dog after a Mother Love Bone lyric from their song "Man of Golden Words." "Hunger Strike" was the last song recorded for the album; Chris Cornell wrote it because they had only nine tracks and he has a compulsive distaste for odd numbers.
"I was wanting to express the gratitude for my life but also disdain for people where that's not enough, where they want more. There's no way to really have a whole lot more than you need usually without taking from somebody else that can't really afford to give it to you. It's sort of about taking advantage of a person or people who really don't have anything."
Hunger strike - Lyrics
I don't mind stealing bread From the mouths of decadence But I can't feed on the powerless When my cup's already overfilled Yeah But it's on the table The fire's cooking And they're farming babies The slaves are all working Blood is on the table The mouths are all choking But I'm goin' hungry, yeah I don't mind stealing bread From the mouths of decadence But I can't feed on the powerless When my cup's already overfilled, mmm mmm But it's on the table The fire is cooking And they're farming babies The slaves are all working And it's on the table Their mouths are all choking But I'm going hungry (going hungry) I'm going hungry (going hungry) I'm going hungry (going hungry) I'm going hungry (going hungry) I'm going hungry (going hungry) I'm going hungry (going hungry) Yeah, I don't mind stealing bread (Mmm, I don't mind) No, I don't mind stealing bread I'm going hungry (going hungry) I'm going hungry (going hungry, yeah)
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