Temple Of The Dog - Hunger Strike

Temple of the Dog's iconic song "Hunger Strike" emerged from a deeply personal and collaborative project in the early 1990s. The band itself was formed as a tribute to Andrew Wood, the charismatic frontman of Mother Love Bone, who tragically passed away in 1990. Chris Cornell of Soundgarden, a close friend and former roommate of Wood, initiated the project by writing several songs in his memory. These songs eventually formed the basis of the "Temple of the Dog" album.

"Hunger Strike" stands out as a powerful duet between Chris Cornell and Eddie Vedder, who at the time was a relatively unknown singer auditioning for what would become Pearl Jam (initially Mookie Blaylock). Cornell had written the song and was struggling with some of the vocal parts when Vedder, who was present during the recording sessions, offered to sing the lower harmonies. The contrasting vocal styles of Cornell's soaring tenor and Vedder's resonant baritone created a dynamic and memorable interplay that became a hallmark of the track.

The lyrics of "Hunger Strike" are often interpreted as a commentary on social inequality and the struggle for basic necessities, using the metaphor of a hunger strike to highlight themes of protest and deprivation. Released as the first single from the album in 1992, "Hunger Strike" gained significant airplay and helped propel both Temple of the Dog and the nascent grunge movement into the mainstream. Its success was a testament to the raw emotion and musical talent of the artists involved, and it remains a beloved anthem of the era, celebrated for its powerful message and the unique vocal collaboration it showcased within the collaboration between two grunge legends.

Temple Of The Dog Hunger Strike Lyrics

Well, I don't mind stealin' bread from the mouths of decadents
But I can't feed on the powerless when my cup's already overfilled
Yeah

But it's on the table, the fire's cookin'
And the former babies of slaves are all workin'
The blood is on the table and the mouths are chokin'

But I'm goin' hungry, yeah

I don't mind stealin' bread from the mouths of decadents
But I can't feed on the powerless when my cup's already overfilled, uh-uh, uh

But it's on the table, the fire's cookin'
And the former babies of slaves are all workin'
And it's on the table, their mouths are chokin'

But I'm goin' hungry (goin' hungry)
I'm goin' hungry (goin' hungry)
I'm goin' hungry (goin' hungry)
I'm goin' hungry (goin' hungry)

I'm goin' hungry (goin' hungry)
I'm goin' hungry (goin' hungry)

Yeah, I don't mind stealin' bread (ooh, I don't mind)
No, I don't mind stealin' bread
I'm goin' hungry (goin' hungry)
I'm goin' hungry (goin' hungry, yeah)