Hunger Strike

by

Temple Of The Dog

Album: Temple Of The Dog      Released: 1990

UK Chart: 51

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Temple Of The Dog was formed by Stone Gossard and Jeff Ament after Andrew Wood, the lead singer for their band Mother Love Bone, died of a drug overdose. The album is a tribute to him. Chris Cornell, lead singer of Soundgarden, was Andrew Wood's roommate. He helped Gossard and Ament form Temple Of The Dog and was the lead vocalist.
Gossard and Ament formed Pearl Jam after this album was completed. Temple Of The Dog was considered a "project" and was put together to release just one album. Matt Cameron, who was with Soundgarden at the time, was the band's drummer. He ended up joining Peal Jam a few years later.

This song explores social inequality and the clash of classes, but it could also deal with Chris Cornell's personal pain from the loss of his friend and roommate, Andrew Wood of Mother Love Bone. Grunge was clearly anti-establishment. The lyrics speak to that, but this may have been more about feeling guilty for "making it." Contracts and royalties likely began rolling in for Soundgarden, since their first album with Wood dropped 5 days before his death. Wood never experienced this success and probably scraped by, and now the "fire was cooking" and the "blood was flowing on the table" (slaughter of animals for feast) and while hungry for that earned reward, Cornell could not enjoy it without his friend.

The video for the song was shot in Discovery Park in Seattle. The western view at sunset with band members' backs to the camera facing Bainbridge Island, home of Andrew Wood, was a symbolic goodbye to their friend. (thanks, Eric - Bainbridge Island, WA, for above 2)

Eddie Vedder did some of the vocals on this song (the "I'm Going Hungry" line in the chorus). He became the lead singer of Pearl Jam when the Temple Of The Dog project was finished.
Chris Cornell was having trouble with the vocals at practice when Vedder stepped in. Cornell later said, "He sang half of that song not even knowing that I'd wanted the part to be there and he sang it exactly the way I was thinking about doing it, just instinctively." Cornell has also called Vedder an amazing singer in interviews. (thanks, Jonathon - Clermont, FL)

Cornell has joined Pearl Jam on several occasions onstage to perform this. (thanks, Tom - New York, NY)

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Comments:

Eddie and Chris's voices are nothing alike. Anyone who can't tell that it's Cornell singing the first verse and Eddie singing the second should not listen to music anymore at all. It's wasted on you. Eddie's voice is much deeper and richer than Cornell's.
- Claude, Kingston, MA

cornell and vedders voice sound very much alike in this song, but if u watch the clip, its cornell at the start, then vedder and then they both sing in the chorus: vedder-"im goin hungry" cornell-"im going hungry..yeeaaaaahhhh!! lol
- Brigette, Melbourne, Australia

for those of you who are argue who sings what...watch the video.... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XjNjJR9jUGo
- Becky, Box Springs, GA

eddie vedder sings ALL lines in this song except Chris Corneal sings a little background vocals on the "I'm growing hungry-yeaaaaa' line. Plus I think this song is about all abuse and slavery
- Jacob, Rocky Mount, NC

Ha. Some of you think this song is about an actual hunger strike. Pull your heads out of you arse's and really think about it. This song is about social inequality and how the "higher" man will steal from the "middle" and "lower" men.
- Nick, westwood, NJ

Scott and Leigh from Canada... you talk out of your arse. So a band formed in 1990 were commenting on a issue in 1980? the song is about poverty you f**kwits. Read wikipedia...."The narrator, witnessing injustice in food distribution, both steals bread to give to the poor and protests in solidarity with them via a hunger strike." No real synergy between some mad republican murderers and third world starvation there then?
- Andy, Nottingham, United Kingdom

Here are the facts: TOTD is all of the current members of Pearl Jam (as of 2007) with Chris Cornell. that includes Vedder, Cornell, McCready, Ament, Gossard, and Cameron (formerly of Soundgarden). Vedder sang in songs other than just Hunger Strike, but only in backup vocals which are nearly unnoticeable. If you really want to feel moved, listen to the Mother Love Bone album, then immediately after listen to "Say Hello 2 Heaven." It is laced with Andrew Wood references and was written as a tribute to him...It is in the top 2 most tragically beautiful songs I've ever heard (the other is Tears in Heaven by Eric Clapton)
- Jason, Hartville, OH

Scott- I agree with you. The first time I heard ''Hunger Strike'', the Irish Hunger Strikers and their plight came to mind. I was 24 when this was happening, but when I heard that hauntingly beautiful song with its amazing vocals and powerful lyrics it was 1980-1981 again and the world was waiting for Thatchers next move. Leigh . Canada
- Leigh, St . John's, Canada

boy, tis only Eddie's voice i recognized here. the delivery of the strong vocals -- making the song more affecting... to me.
- joycemorrison, PH

this song marks a tragedy reagarding the "contemporary punk rock era" - a major blow when the alternative scene was slowly but surely flourishing,i think all the song says is: a person does what has 2 do in order 2 survive,and when they're gone......they ALWAYS in 1 way or another leave something behind...on a subliminal level it tells u 2 carry on............
- talha, lahore, Pakistan

chris sings on the first verse of the song and eddie sings the second in hungerstrike right?
- dom, revere, MA

I think the lyrics and the vocal power presented by Cornell is nothing short of amazing. Not to take anything from the incredible Eddie Vedder. If you think anything in this song or any other TOTD song, well, you must really be looking for another brand or style of music to please because these vocal acrobatics stand the fine hairs on the back of my neck to attention!!!!!!!1
- Richard, Norman Park, , GA

Possibly the best duet in alternative rock history..and also, Vedder did do backing vocals on "Pushing Forward Back" on the album. Their last performance together as this TOTD outfit was in 2003 in Santa Barbara, California when Pearl Jam was doing a benefit show there and Cornell showed up too. he did one solo song of his and one Audioslave song, both acoustic, before joining PJ and singing this song and "Reach Down" as the full fledged Temple of the Dog outfit. Awesome stuff.
- Ringgo, Montclair, CA

ya pretty sweet song. say hello to heaven is good too, but cornell's singing can get a little irritating in it but ya soundgarden is awesome
- Brandon, Saskatoon, Canada

How can you say Cornell's voice is irritating in "Say Hello 2 Heaven" and mean it? There's almost nobody in the world who could sing that song with the range and emotion he managed to pull off. The entire album is pretty much a showcase of his awesome vocal skills, with the exception of "Hunger Strike". This song was a platform for Eddie Vedder and his recently discovered talents...
- Jonathon, Clermont, FL

I always get the best comments in on songs I care about.
- Jonathon, Clermont, FL

Actually, Vedder sings the lyrics on most of the song, first and second verses and cornell just does the screaming in the background during the choruses and the breakdown at the end
- Z, Seattle, WA

Eddie Vedder and Chris Cornell are the two greatest rock singers of all time.In the Mother Love Bone song- Man of Gold words Andrew wood says Wanna show somehting like a joy inside my heart, seems ive been livin' in the temple of the dog. That's where they get they're name from
- Ed, Melbourne, Australia

if you've seen the video, it appears that eddie vedder sings the 2nd verse (a repeat of what chris sings in the beginning) and then the "i'm going hungry" lines. also, mike mccready is seen playing guitar on this song.
- Kammie, London, England

I love this song, but the vocals on 'Say Hello 2 Heaven' may be the best vocals in any rock song ever.
- e, vancouver, Canada

the song is premised on the whole grunge idea of not just trying to make money. the 80's rock scene was dominated by decadence and over indulgence. this song was showing a break from that tradition. i dont think it was speaking about one particular incedent, but more of a statement about society as a whole and how the rich are willing to take from the poor. they were saying that they were willing to take from the rich (mouths of decadence), but not from the poor (powerless) sence the were doing well enough. we have to remeber that at this time none of these guys were rich, but they were doing well enough that they didnt have to take from the powerless.
- stephen, Jonesboro, AR

Chris Cornell sings the first verse, then Vedder sings the same-ish thing over again.Then vedder sings "I'm going hungry" with cornell screaming it in the background.
- Dan, Special Towne

Jorge- Andrew Wood died 3/19/90 of a drug overdose.
- Nick, Arlington Heights, IL

I always thought it was about being a vegatarian from the line "I can't feed on the powerless when my cups already overfilled" I think the powerless is the animals, and Cornell is talking about how as an american he can afford to not eat meat. Oh well, more cow for me. R.I.P. Andrew Wood.
- Joe, Stoughton, MA

I think this song could represent one of several historical hunger strikes. For example, the 1981 Catholic Prisoners in Northern Ireland. Protestants had complete civil rights while free Cathoics had restricted privileges and were not allowed government jobs. Imprisoned Catholics could not wear civilian clothes, associate with other prisoners, and were forced into labour chain gangs. The prison hunger strike of 1981 sparked a tremendous rally around Irish Republicans, providing power to the IRA and the Sinn Fein party, both of whom stood for civil equity for the Catholics.
- Scott, Vancouver, Canada

Mike actually was in it. Much like Eddie being involved in temple, Mike was just someone that Chris knew. Eddie does backing vocals for 3 other temple songs. Theres no real meaning behind the song. Just empathy more than anything. Talking about poverty in the world yet they have plenty of money and being able to drink water and eat when ever they want so they go on a hunger strike.
- Chris, Wellington, New Zealand

does anyone know when andrew wood died?
- the jorge, Hell, Other

How bout the meaning of the song?
- the jorge, Hell, Other

Actually, this is the only TOTD song Eddie is on.
- Kurt, Downers Grove, IL

This song is awesome, Eddie Vedder and Chris Cornell in the same song together is just un-real. Basically TOTD is Pearl Jam minus Mike and plus Cornell.
- Brian, Paoli, IN

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