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Soundgarden — Fell On Black Days
Album: Superunknown
Avg rating:
7.6

Your rating:
Total ratings: 3501









Released: 1994
Length: 4:35
Plays (last 30 days): 1
Whatsoever I feared has come to life
Whatsoever I fought off became my life
Just when every day seemed to greet me with a smile
Sunspots have faded and now I'm doing time
Now I'm doing time

'Cause I fell on black days
I fell on black days

Whomsoever I cured, I've sickened now
Whomsoever I cradled, I've put you down
Search my soul, they say, but I can't see it in the night
I'm only faking when I get it right
When I get it right

'Cause I fell on black days
I fell on black days

How would I know that this could be my fate?
How would I know that this could be my fate?

So what you wanted to see good has made you blind
And what you wanted to be yours, you've made it mine
So don't you lock up something that you wanted to see fly
Hands are for shaking, no, not tying
No, not tying

I sure don't mind a change
I sure don't mind a change
Yeah, I sure don't mind
I sure don't mind a change
I sure don't mind a change

But I fell on black days
I fell on black days

How would I know that this could be my fate?
How would I know that this could be my fate?
How would I know that this could be my fate?
How would I know that this could be my fate?
I sure don't mind a change
Comments (310)add comment
Heavy as anything else ever made, and yet it still kinda swings.

That's a heck of a trick, fellas.
Chillingly prescient lyrics...
I love this as much today as I did back when it was first released.  In fact if it's possible, I love it more, nearly 30 years later.

Whenever I turn my computer on, 'Fell On Black Days' greets me.

Absolutely awesome track.

Sweet bass!
always in love with his voice
zweimal Chris Cornell geht immer, topđź‘Ť
EXCELLENT TUNE!!!  ...spooky album cover.
 Ok_Sobriquet wrote:


Wat? 1. Elvis 2.  Robert Plant 3. Grace Slick

Wat?   Mercury, Aretha, Tiny Tim.  
 xc.farmer.antoine486 wrote:

Best Rock Vocalists All Time? 1. Chris Cornell 2. Jeff Buckley 3. Freddie Mercury ...?



Wat? 1. Elvis 2.  Robert Plant 3. Grace Slick
 Peyote wrote:


Freddie a GOD but Chris Cornell next to him in rock Heaven


Possessing that level of talent is deadly apparently. Like Jimi and Janis and Jim
 xc.farmer.antoine486 wrote:

Best Rock Vocalists All Time? 1. Chris Cornell 2. Jeff Buckley 3. Freddie Mercury ...?



Freddie a GOD but Chris Cornell next to him in rock Heaven
Best Rock Vocalists All Time? 1. Chris Cornell 2. Jeff Buckley 3. Freddie Mercury ...?
Depression is real.
No one is immune no amount of money , material things or even friends can inoculate one!
Alienation is the vehicle that brings one deeper into "said darkness"!

If you have a friend or loved one who is acting different or unusual or seemingly shielding your closeness !
urge them to open up. Urge them to share what is going on inside them !
Sometimes that can make a difference!

It's not easy but just might save a life!
#MyBrothersKeeper 



 nicknt wrote:
He fell on black days in fact.

 Easyrider wrote:

Superb album,love live grunge✌️




Live, Love, Grunge!
Superb album,love live grunge✌️
He fell on black days in fact.
Hands down the finest voice in Rock 'n Roll. RIP Chris. I'm sorry the only way you could silence the demons was to exit stage left.
Grunge rules
This is HIS song! More feeling is only in "burden in my hands" ... His voice is the greatest of all times.... Sinatra, Sting, Cornell my private musical history POINT
 MrStatenIsle wrote:
That low bass note is still lower than any of my speakers can handle!
 
I am listening in FLAC with great headphones, amp & DAC! ...very well recorded! ....GREAT TUNE!
I have to give this slow burn grunge classic  a "9" .
Chis Cornell had an excellent  voice,,,,,RIP
The greatest rock voice for me and gone too soon
This is such a great song.  Very sad that we lost Chris.
One of the best! 
That low bass note is still lower than any of my speakers can handle!
 freddyfender wrote:
 coloradojohn wrote:
I don't — and I hope I never do — buy into "sympathy for the junkie," but I'll say that I can sort of appreciate his passionate ownership.

 
What a ridiculous statement; it was metal illness that drove him through his dark and winding road and to his ultimate demise.  His addictions were his unfortunate attempt to deal with his demons.  It is people like you that continue the stigma associated with mental illness.
 There is no passionate ownership of an addiction. An addiction is something that  interferes / gets in the way  of your  life in a way you can't deal with and then realise for yourself. In some cases after many many damaging years. There are usually  underlying demons as said above that lead to addictive behaviours. Self destruction and inevitable  effect on significant others around you are just some of the results. A good percentage  of people in general are probably on the edge of addiction all their lives. Its just that it does not interfere enough for that person to realise it as an addiction. Rock ad roll has all the  ingredients to make addiction seem more "normal" than other spheres of life. Just an observation , please don't shoot me .
So sad we lost the singer of all those "grunge" bands... Kurt, Scott, Layne and Chris... btw, as I listen to this it's Kim Thayil's birthday today
 freddyfender wrote:
 coloradojohn wrote:
I don't — and I hope I never do — buy into "sympathy for the junkie," but I'll say that I can sort of appreciate his passionate ownership.

 
What a ridiculous statement; it was metal illness that drove him through his dark and winding road and to his ultimate demise.  His addictions were his unfortunate attempt to deal with his demons.  It is people like you that continue the stigma associated with mental illness.

Not all drug users would rather be thought of as mentally ill - defective - than despised for what they do
Reading most of the comments below I only have this to say:

Legalize all drugs and deal with the addiction problem rather than criminalizing addicts just to turn them into profit within a privatized failing prison system that does not and never has rehabilitated anyone.
 freddyfender wrote:
 coloradojohn wrote:
I don't — and I hope I never do — buy into "sympathy for the junkie," but I'll say that I can sort of appreciate his passionate ownership.

 
What a ridiculous statement; it was metal illness that drove him through his dark and winding road and to his ultimate demise.  His addictions were his unfortunate attempt to deal with his demons.  It is people like you that continue the stigma associated with mental illness.
 
"Metal illness" thanks for that one, brightened up a dull evening {#Laughing}
 freddyfender wrote:
 coloradojohn wrote:
I don't — and I hope I never do — buy into "sympathy for the junkie," but I'll say that I can sort of appreciate his passionate ownership.

 
What a ridiculous statement; it was metal illness that drove him through his dark and winding road and to his ultimate demise.  His addictions were his unfortunate attempt to deal with his demons.  It is people like you that continue the stigma associated with mental illness.
 
Easy on there FreddyFender,  ColoradoJohn is a long time commentator on this Forum and I have never read any disrespectful comments by him about anybody.

You are just too quick to jump in and judge ColoradoJohn - he was only stating his position... that Chris Cornell was an addict and that he was not going to give him too much sympathy.

It could be mental illness caused the addiction but it could just as easily have been the other way around. You chose one interpretation - CJ took the other position.

I loved Chris Cornell and am distressed about how his life should have ended that way leaving a wife and family without a husband and father.

Personally, I would not characterise Chris Cornell as a "junkie" and on reflection CJ might reconsider his choice of words but I think we can all agree - mental illness and drug addition are the scourges of modern society and we should all do more to help those less fortunate than ourselves.
 coloradojohn wrote:
I don't — and I hope I never do — buy into "sympathy for the junkie," but I'll say that I can sort of appreciate his passionate ownership.

 
What a ridiculous statement; it was metal illness that drove him through his dark and winding road and to his ultimate demise.  His addictions were his unfortunate attempt to deal with his demons.  It is people like you that continue the stigma associated with mental illness.
If I could rate this an 11 I would, since that's usually the volume I play it at.
Stills sounds so good,RIP Chris❤️
yuck.
not here for this.
One of the few bands labeled metal of any atomic number that had rhythm and time.  
That sound. That voice. 
 Internazionale wrote:
great heavy album

 
Yes but unlike some bands this one had the one and only Chris Cornell.

Fantastic then and I hope Chris has transcended to a better place now.
More like this, please. 10.
great heavy album
Not many of these guys left now{#Neutral}
I don't — and I hope I never do — buy into "sympathy for the junkie," but I'll say that I can sort of appreciate his passionate ownership.
RIP Chris
This song takes on a new eerily prophetic meaning now
ive never been so upset over the passing of a musician. god rest his tortured soul
 pankman wrote:
Oh Chris ... why, just why? R.I.P.
 

Another great voice gone. Mistery of life and death; this guy apparently had everything, at least my love and admiration...
 pankman wrote:
Oh Chris ... why, just why? R.I.P.

 

Could be the ghost of Kurt , his own ghost and misuse of Ativan.
me neither Bill, me neither... 
black days indeed

{#Cry}
That which is meant to alleviate anxiety only amps up the dark side and lures the demons. 
 
Well said Bill.
Not happy here either.
Oh Chris ... why, just why? R.I.P.
I wore this CD out back in the day! I just read that they'll be touring again soon.
Shit on my guitar! 
 Stephen_Phillips wrote:
To those that say this song (and the album in general) has been overplayed... you must not assume everybody listening to RP have heard this.  I only learnt about Chris Cornell when he recorded that song for a James Bond film. Although I am of an age where the 70's was my favourite era I skipped the 90's because I was absorbed in bringing up a young family and did not have much "me" time.

When the kids were growing up I started to hear the music they were playing (Greenday, Blink 182, Nirvana, Foo FIghters etc) and I had to learn these new bands quickly to be a relevant father.  Somehow a few names slipped through the net and I did not 'get' Soundgarden or the The Pixies at the time.

Radio Paradise fills in the gaps in my musical education, bit by bit, and I listen to everything without prejudice and an open mind.

I am sorry for those of you that are maybe a bit sick and tired of hearing some things over the decades due to mainstream overexposure, like I might be if RP played, say, Pink Floyd Dark Side of The Moon all the time. 

For those of us that find 'new to us' bands and songs, Radio Paradise is a godsend.

Let the music play on! 

 
{#Clap}
 Stephen_Phillips wrote:
To those that say this song (and the album in general) has been overplayed... you must not assume everybody listening to RP have heard this.  I only learnt about Chris Cornell when he recorded that song for a James Bond film. Although I am of an age where the 70's was my favourite era I skipped the 90's because I was absorbed in bringing up a young family and did not have much "me" time.

When the kids were growing up I started to hear the music they were playing (Greenday, Blink 182, Nirvana, Foo FIghters etc) and I had to learn these new bands quickly to be a relevant father.  Somehow a few names slipped through the net and I did not 'get' Soundgarden or the The Pixies at the time.

Radio Paradise fills in the gaps in my musical education, bit by bit, and I listen to everything without prejudice and an open mind.

I am sorry for those of you that are maybe a bit sick and tired of hearing some things over the decades due to mainstream overexposure, like I might be if RP played, say, Pink Floyd Dark Side of The Moon all the time. 

For those of us that find 'new to us' bands and songs, Radio Paradise is a godsend.

Let the music play on! 

 
I had a similar experience but for a different reasons Stephen. I lost much of the 90's because I moved out of the demographic of the BBC, who I had relied on for new music. 'Radio One' went with the charts, which became about as melodic as my car alarm. 'Radio Two' became an 'oldy' station. Both had DJ prattle that insulted anyone with more brains than a rubber plant. As a result I turned inwards to my record/CD collection. I was saved by the internet and Radio Paradise. I hope Rebeca and Bill live forever (or at least longer than me) because I don't know how I'd manage with out their input into my life! 
Loud and without merit. 
 floydoftherocks wrote:
This should be Hillary Clinton's campaign song... {#Beat}

 
...
I saw Cornell this summer on an acoustic tour, and he LOOKS AND SOUNDS exactly the same as he did 25 years ago!

Wish I could say the same... 
Unmistakable 90's song of my youth! Dude, it's awesome.
Love Me Two Times > My Propellor > this ................. Genius set.
 Stephen_Phillips wrote:
To those that say this song (and the album in general) has been overplayed... you must not assume everybody listening to RP have heard this.  I only learnt about Chris Cornell when he recorded that song for a James Bond film. Although I am of an age where the 70's was my favourite era I skipped the 90's because I was absorbed in bringing up a young family and did not have much "me" time.

When the kids were growing up I started to hear the music they were playing (Greenday, Blink 182, Nirvana, Foo FIghters etc) and I had to learn these new bands quickly to be a relevant father.  Somehow a few names slipped through the net and I did not 'get' Soundgarden or the The Pixies at the time.

Radio Paradise fills in the gaps in my musical education, bit by bit, and I listen to everything without prejudice and an open mind.

I am sorry for those of you that are maybe a bit sick and tired of hearing some things over the decades due to mainstream overexposure, like I might be if RP played, say, Pink Floyd Dark Side of The Moon all the time. 

For those of us that find 'new to us' bands and songs, Radio Paradise is a godsend.

Let the music play on! 

 
Well played sir! Game, set, match!
I sometimes forget what a damn-near perfect song this is....the groove, the guitar, the drumming nuances, Chris Cornell's voice, the composition, the recording—-just f-ing awesome. And especially when you're listening on headphones at work on a Friday.
To those that say this song (and the album in general) has been overplayed... you must not assume everybody listening to RP have heard this.  I only learnt about Chris Cornell when he recorded that song for a James Bond film. Although I am of an age where the 70's was my favourite era I skipped the 90's because I was absorbed in bringing up a young family and did not have much "me" time.

When the kids were growing up I started to hear the music they were playing (Greenday, Blink 182, Nirvana, Foo FIghters etc) and I had to learn these new bands quickly to be a relevant father.  Somehow a few names slipped through the net and I did not 'get' Soundgarden or the The Pixies at the time.

Radio Paradise fills in the gaps in my musical education, bit by bit, and I listen to everything without prejudice and an open mind.

I am sorry for those of you that are maybe a bit sick and tired of hearing some things over the decades due to mainstream overexposure, like I might be if RP played, say, Pink Floyd Dark Side of The Moon all the time. 

For those of us that find 'new to us' bands and songs, Radio Paradise is a godsend.

Let the music play on! 
 lemmoth wrote:

Commercial radio cannot "destroy" a great song.  Repeated listenings do not "destroy great songs."

Unless a song is played 4 or 5 times an hour maybe then I can see someone saying enough to a "great song."

Of course I no longer listen to commercial radio, but not because of their overplay of "great songs."

To the contrary it is because they very much play many "not so great" and "pretty bad songs" that I don't really want to hear at all and of course because of the commercials themselves.

"Not so great" and "pretty bad songs" rarely if ever happen hear at RP where I trust my DJ to keep me interested 90% of the time. 

By the way, this is a "great song." 

 
I agree, truly good songs can at the worst be temporarily knocked down by overexposure, but they will sound great again when enough time has passed. Long ago I have used this very album to test a cassette deck while repairing it. In the end it took so many iterations to fix the problem that I had listened to the first track like 50 times in a row and I couldn't hear it anymore for about a year. But when I hear that same track now, it sounds great again.
By the way, this entire album is a “great album”. {#Wink}
good kick-ass rock.
 floydoftherocks wrote:
This should be Hillary Clinton's campaign song... {#Beat}

 
Yup! and Bernie's should be Gimme Some Truth
This should be Hillary Clinton's campaign song... {#Beat}
What a voice.

A 9 for Chris alone. But jeez these guys their spare bars. 
 sirdroseph wrote:


Sorry but there is nothing that you have said that can make me enjoy listening to this good song after so many plays. Overplay has indeed destroyed this great song in terms of my listening pleasure. I have not listened to commercial radio since the early 90s when this song was out and it is still ruined for me to this very day.

 
Yeah, I understand that but... I'm sure - almost - that you have played some song over and over on repeat for hours; a song you love that just cannot be overplayed. Yeah? :o)
The song gets a 9 from me. Still.
 sirdroseph wrote:


Sorry but there is nothing that you have said that can make me enjoy listening to this good song after so many plays. Overplay has indeed destroyed this great song in terms of my listening pleasure. I have not listened to commercial radio since the early 90s when this song was out and it is still ruined for me to this very day.

 
It must suck to be you.
{#Bananajam}
How would I know that this could be my fate?
The last outstanding rock song I discovered on FM radio. I think it coincides with the demise of WHFS, the late, great rock radio station in suburban Washington DC.
 lemmoth wrote:

Chris Cornell has a decent voice = Jimi Hendrix can strum some decent chords on the guitar

 
 alux wrote:

Blasphemy to draw analogy to Jimi here.  This tune barely exceeds run-of-the-mill.  

 
 TEG wrote:
Nothing to compare to so called - and justified - Anthology Pop/Rock Bands.
I meant Jimmy Hendrix and others.
Forgive me 
 
It seems pretty clear to me that Lemmoth's point (in the top post) was to assert that "Saying Chris Cornell has a decent voice is like saying that Jimi Hendrix can strum some decent chords on the guitar".  There is no mention of any specific song in his post, nor is there any comparison of Chris Cornell's work to that of Jimi Hendrix.
 lemmoth wrote:

Commercial radio cannot "destroy" a great song.  Repeated listenings do not "destroy great songs."

Unless a song is played 4 or 5 times an hour maybe then I can see someone saying enough to a "great song."

Of course I no longer listen to commercial radio, but not because of their overplay of "great songs."

To the contrary it is because they very much play many "not so great" and "pretty bad songs" that I don't really want to hear at all and of course because of the commercials themselves.

"Not so great" and "pretty bad songs" rarely if ever happen hear at RP where I trust my DJ to keep me interested 90% of the time. 

By the way, this is a "great song." 

 

Sorry but there is nothing that you have said that can make me enjoy listening to this good song after so many plays. Overplay has indeed destroyed this great song in terms of my listening pleasure. I have not listened to commercial radio since the early 90s when this song was out and it is still ruined for me to this very day.
Nothing to compare to so called - and justified - Anthology Pop/Rock Bands.
I meant Jimmy Hendrix and others.
Forgive me 
They played this full album when they played before Sabbath last year in Hyde Park and it was really bloody good.  That was one awesome gig. Still like Badmotorfinger better as an album but hearing Superunknown cover to cover live has really raised it in my estimations.  You feel a little bit of that live vibe every time its on now.
I like this one better every time I hear it.  And meaning hits home sometimes.  My Wave with 9/8 tempo is my fave from this album.  Go Bill for playing the Soundgarden.
 lemmoth wrote:

Chris Cornell has a decent voice = Jimi Hendrix can strum some decent chords on the guitar

 
Blasphemy to draw analogy to Jimi here.  This tune barely exceeds run-of-the-mill.  
 ppopp wrote:
This guy has a decent voice....until he raises it.

 
Chris Cornell has a decent voice = Jimi Hendrix can strum some decent chords on the guitar
This guy has a decent voice....until he raises it.
 sirdroseph wrote:
This is the poster child of a perfectly good song absolutely destroyed by commercial radio. Damn this song is really good too, listening pleasure completely sapped.{#Frown}

 
Commercial radio cannot "destroy" a great song.  Repeated listenings do not "destroy great songs."

Unless a song is played 4 or 5 times an hour maybe then I can see someone saying enough to a "great song."

Of course I no longer listen to commercial radio, but not because of their overplay of "great songs."

To the contrary it is because they very much play many "not so great" and "pretty bad songs" that I don't really want to hear at all and of course because of the commercials themselves.

"Not so great" and "pretty bad songs" rarely if ever happen hear at RP where I trust my DJ to keep me interested 90% of the time. 

By the way, this is a "great song." 
STFU!

Insta-PSD to Black Sabbath — Planet Caravan

still sounds great


 shellbella wrote:
Luv it!!  {#Hearteyes}

 
Yessss. {#Bananajam}
 Stingray wrote:
So much better than Nirvana - believe it!

 
So, so laughable...
Good one!
love that grunge rock -- {#Mrgreen}
Luv it!!  {#Hearteyes}
In the summer of '94 my wife left me for someone else after 12 years of relationship. I bought a big audiosystem in my car, Alpine receiver and Rockford Fosgate amp with an Caliber subwoofer and 8 Mac Audio speakers, almost 750 watt output. Soundgarden was in my CD-changer and stayed there for almost a year. Late night drives with this CD on volume 10 made was my way to deal with all the anger and sorrow of that time. Good memories though..>9
Great song overplayed by terrestrial radio.which is why I psd it.
If Bill traded out half of the Billy Corgan songs for more Chris Cornell, I would be a happier camper. 
 Sasha2001 wrote:
 Byronape wrote:
This song helped me crawl out of the adolescent depressive funk that characterized much of my high school experience.  Of course, I was a socially aware, marginally intelligent (on my best days), introspective, and somewhat shy kid in a school full of elitist snobs, farm boys (and girls), ignorant rednecks, and white trash.  Needless to say, I didn't really have much of a place yet had friends in various social circles.  
 



Oh, so you're from Western Massachusetts too?

 
Or rural NC
RP getting me fired up this morning with some great Rock'n'Roll
So much better than Nirvana - believe it!
No need to qualify praise for this man's vocals
Not even close to one of my fav bands but this is a great song
 Stingray wrote:
Among the best voices in modern ROCK

 
All time
Just saw them in concert last weekend.  Great show.  Incredibly loud.  Ears rang the whole next day.
such an outstanding album,more please Bill.
WHAT CAN I SAY?!?!?! THANK YOU FOR YOUR GOOD MUSIC!
 Byronape wrote:
This song helped me crawl out of the adolescent depressive funk that characterized much of my high school experience.  Of course, I was a socially aware, marginally intelligent (on my best days), introspective, and somewhat shy kid in a school full of elitist snobs, farm boys (and girls), ignorant rednecks, and white trash.  Needless to say, I didn't really have much of a place yet had friends in various social circles.  
 



Oh, so you're from Western Massachusetts too?

'Byronape', you give yourself too little credit. Someone "marginally intelligent" could not write such a reflective, descriptive paragraph of one's life and times.
Oh, and man, this vocal is ridiculously powerful.
This song helped me crawl out of the adolescent depressive funk that characterized much of my high school experience.  Of course, I was a socially aware, marginally intelligent (on my best days), introspective, and somewhat shy kid in a school full of elitist snobs, farm boys (and girls), ignorant rednecks, and white trash.  Needless to say, I didn't really have much of a place yet had friends in various social circles.  
I am in my element to hear this,thanks bill.
Great song!  Thank You RP!
Not my favorite Soundgarden tune, but always nice to hear them here on RP!
This is the poster child of a perfectly good song absolutely destroyed by commercial radio. Damn this song is really good too, listening pleasure completely sapped.{#Frown}
Not my fav. band/song, but refreshing and surprising to hear on RP
 vandal wrote:
Best concert I've seen in a long, long time. . . 
 
I'm green with envy. I wish I had realized they were playing Vegas before it happened. Seeing Soundgarden live is still on my bucket list.

Soundgarden > AiC > Pearl Jam > Nirvana 
Among the best voices in modern ROCK
LOVE Chris Cornell...
Best concert I've seen in a long, long time. . . 
love.
 StoneyG wrote:

Nice!  Looking forward to seeing them in just nine more days....
 
Three days and a wake-up. . . 

 

 vandal wrote:

My son and I have tickets to see Soundgarden at the Gorge on July 30th, I can hardly wait. . . 
 
 
Nice!  Looking forward to seeing them in just nine more days....

If you get a chance to catch Chris Cornell's solo (mostly) acoustic show, don't miss it.

A fabulous vocalist with a multi-octave range. And a heck of a songwriter and guitarist.

My son and I have tickets to see Soundgarden at the Gorge on July 30th, I can hardly wait. . . 
 
currently my theme song I'm afraid...then again...
Great album, great song!  Sometimes I wish that Seattle sound had stuck around longer...