The Heartrending Story Behind Soundgarden’s “Blow Up The Outside World”

The Inspiration Behind “Blow Up The Outside World”

One of Soundgarden’s most popular songs, “Blow Up The Outside World” is a poignant and moving piece that stands out from the band’s usual sound.

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The song was included in Soundgarden’s 1996 album, “Down On The Upside”, which debuted at #2 on the Billboard 200 chart.

Lyrically, the song is haunting and poetic. It is filled with metaphors and abstract images that make it hard to decipher what the song is truly about.

However, according to Chris Cornell, the late frontman of Soundgarden, the song was inspired by a TV news report on a man who committed suicide by burying himself alive in the dirt.

The man was said to have a history of depression and tragically, no one was able to help him.

Cornell saw himself in the man, and he wrote the song as a form of catharsis. “The song is about feeling completely isolated and misunderstood,” he said in an interview. “It’s about feeling like there is no one who understands you or can help you.”

The Lyrics of “Blow Up The Outside World”

“Blow Up The Outside World” has some of the most memorable and heartbreaking lyrics in Soundgarden’s oeuvre. Here are some of the lines that stand out:

– “Nothing seems to kill me, no matter how hard I try / Nothing is closing my eyes, nothing can beat me down for your pain or delight”
– “Water down the drain / I’m, I’m, I’m gone and my right hand / Stands alone, drawing the darkness out / I’m, I’m, I’m gone”
– “Blow up the outside world / Kiss me goodbye / Pinch my cheeks and hope to die / I’m not dead but I’m not for real”

The song’s chorus, “Blow up the outside world”, is repeated several times throughout the song. Interpretations of what exactly the phrase means vary, but it is generally accepted that the “outside world” is an image of the world at large, with all its pressures and judgments.

The song is an expression of Cornell’s pain and anger, and the realization that sometimes, there is no escape from personal darkness.

The Legacy of “Blow Up The Outside World”

Since its release, “Blow Up The Outside World” has been hailed as a masterpiece of grunge music, and Soundgarden’s most powerful ballad.

The song’s message of hopelessness and disconnection from the wider world is something many people can relate to, and the song remains a favorite among fans of Soundgarden, as well as those who appreciate honest, raw songwriting.

Unfortunately, the tragic loss of Chris Cornell, and the subsequent demise of Soundgarden, has given the song a renewed poignancy.

Cornell’s death by suicide in 2017 was a shock to the music world, and many have speculated that the themes of addiction, depression, and isolation in his music were indications of his own personal struggles.

Regardless, “Blow Up The Outside World” remains a powerful and moving piece of music, and a testament to the enduring legacy of Soundgarden as one of the greatest rock bands of all time.