Released: 2011
‘Like A Stone’ by Chris Cornell is a soul-searching ballad, dealing with themes of mortality, regret, and longing. It’s a song that’s as deep as it is haunting, using vivid imagery to convey a sense of solitude and introspection.
The song kicks off with ‘On a cobweb afternoon, in a room full of emptiness.’ This paints a picture of a quiet, lonely setting, possibly hinting at the speaker’s state of mind. The phrase ‘cobweb afternoon’ suggests a sense of stagnation and decay, a time that’s been untouched or ignored for too long.
The speaker confesses to being ‘lost in the pages of a book full of death,’ suggesting a preoccupation with mortality and the inevitability of death. The line ‘And if we’re good, we’ll lay to rest anywhere we want to go’ could be interpreted as a reflection on the afterlife, implying that our actions in life may determine our final resting place.
The chorus, ‘In your house, I long to be. Room by room patiently. I’ll wait for you there like a stone. I’ll wait for you there alone,’ could be interpreted in several ways. It could be a metaphor for the speaker’s longing for a sense of belonging or a desire to reconnect with someone or something from their past. The phrase ‘like a stone’ suggests a sense of permanence and immovability, emphasizing the speaker’s commitment to wait.
The second verse continues the theme of mortality with the speaker on their deathbed, praying to be taken to heaven. The phrase ‘The sky was bruised, the wine was bled, and there, you led me on’ uses powerful imagery to evoke a sense of loss and longing.
The final verse sees the speaker reflecting on their actions, expressing regret for their wrongdoings. The line ‘In dreams until my death, I will wander on’ suggests a sense of aimlessness and remorse, implying that the speaker will continue to grapple with their actions until their death.
Overall, ‘Like A Stone’ is a deeply introspective song that explores themes of mortality, regret, and longing. It’s a powerful piece that uses vivid imagery and metaphor to convey a sense of solitude and introspection.
