Album: Temple of the Dog (1991)

Charted: 51

License This Song 

• 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 they're farmin' babies, while slaves are 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 huh
  But it's on the table, the fire's cookin'
  And they're farmin' babies, while the 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) uh, I don't mind
  (No, I don't mind stealin' bread)
  I'm goin' hungry (goin' hungry)
  I'm goin' hungry (goin' hungry) Writer/s: Christopher J Cornell
  Publisher: Hipgnosis Songs Group, Universal Music Publishing Group
  Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Comments: 44

• Reg from World TravelerThe first 4 short lines explain the entire song. From there, you can extrapolate further. It's essentially the idea Robin Hood. He doesn't mind taking from those who have an abundance but he refuses to take from those who have less than him. Obviously there's more, but this is a main subject of the song. In past interviews, similar views were shared.
  
  More interesting is that this song was only meant to be a filler, yet it became quite popular.
• Byrdtexa$ from AtxRIP Cornell
• Sue from UsaI always told its about child trafficking's by rich people as both Chester and Chris were trying to expose it before they died. They were sacrificed.
• Beth from SeattleOpinions aren't facts!
  It took less than a minute to discover the following:
  1. Representatives of The Silent Children have said Cornell and Bennington didn't participate in making the documentary. By insinuating Cornell and Bennington didn't commit suicide, you must overlook their history of depression, anxiety, abuse, suicidal ideation, and attempts, which have been spoken of widely by their families, friends, and musicians themselves. You have to dismiss that Cornell was a huge lifeline and mentor to Bennington and the grief Bennington felt with Cornell's death.
  2. Published autopsies, prosecutor reports, and family letters prove they took their own lives.
  3. The Temple of the Dog album was released six months BEFORE Soundgarden achieved commercial success with their album BadMotorFinger. The album itself was written as a tribute to his best friend, Andrew Wood, who was originally from West Virginia, which at one point was a slave state. Wood's father was a career military man, and when Wood rejected his All-American school sports star upbringing for music, it caused a major riff between father and son. The song is about Wood rejecting his family's traditions and ideals. He'd rather starve than continue contributing to what he didn't believe in.
• Udflyerfan from Ohio, United StatesCornell, who served as the lead singer and songwriter for Temple of the Dog, described "Hunger Strike" as “a statement that I'm staying true to what I'm doing regardless of what comes of it, but I will never change what I'm doing for the purposes of success or money"
• Berry Grapeful from Your MotherI think the lyrics are not about a cabal of baby eating pedophiles because that's alex jones s--t. Like no human being would be able to keep that under wraps for 20 years. I saw another person claim it was about feeding on animals which makes sense. But either way it seems like it's about people exploiting others and consuming just for the sake of hedonism.
• Darryll from AnaheimI think Tommy from Queens is spot on with that analysis. With all the things he was working on and the scandal that is coming to light I could not get the, “farming babies,” lyric out of my head and now I know it is what is going on here.
• Tommy From Queens from Queens & LiThe video is nondescript but the lyrics undoubtedly speak of "blood on the table, fires burning, slaves working," and the singer (writer Chris Cornell's) inability to partake in EATING THE INNOCENT & POWERLESS. This is not about the seattle grunge scene. In the 90s there was nothing close to pizzagate or any relevant equivalent, nobody was listening, nobody was looking.... he put it out there pretty clearly. FARMING BABIES, BLOOD ON THE TABLE, BUT HE CANT DO IT, SO HE GOES HUNGRY. Everyone around him was involved in pedophilia. He himself was abused. Look at who surrounded him. In laws, etc. He tried to warn us. He was sacrificed.
• Trudy from YeppoonMike Nitti - I think you are spot on with your analysis. This is all coming to light more and more now. There's a great doco by Janet Ossebaard called "Fall of the Cabal" on youtube. She exposes all of what you mention regarding the elite and how they "suicide" anyone who threatens to expose them. It's so sad - Chris was an absolute hero.
• Mike Nitti from MichiganI believe this song is a protest to the elite, their use of adrenochrome, human trafficking and the enslavement of the masses. He speaks of babies being farmed, blood on the table, and no longer wanting to feed on the powerless. Also, Chris Cornell later “Committed Suicide” while working on a documentary about child sex trafficking called THE SILENT CHILDREN. He just happened to be working on that documentary with Chester Bennington of Lincoln Park who also happened to “commit Suicide”. Quite the coincidence if you ask me.
• Keiv from UsaFact: Chris Cornell sings the first verse and Eddie Vedder sings the second verse. Anyone who says otherwise is lying, stupid, or deaf.
  
  Fact: Eddie Vedder also sang backing vocals on Pushin' Forward Back, Your Saviour, and Four Walled World. During live performances he has also sung backing vocals on Say Hello 2 Heaven and Reach Down.
• Kev from Sf,caChris tells you what the song means in quote above. It's about the Seattle music scene at the time. They want to be successful w/o taking more than their fair share from other bands in Seattle at that time. Fairly simple.
• Damon Mcneal from OhioFirst off Chris Cornell is singing the first part then goes Eddie Vedder, and they kinda sounds similar but you can definitely tell who is who! The song was a political statement towards the rich , but also dedicated to the late Andrew wood who stood for the child starvation an world hunger!!!
• Cam from Halcottsville, Nyinterpret the music in anyway you want thats the greatness about music it can mean whatever you want it to as long as you enjoy it...personally i think its about the loss of andrew wood or just the loss of a freind in general.. either way its a great song and no one can deny that
• Claude from Kingston, MaEddie 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.
• Brigette from Melbourne, Australiacornell 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
• Becky from Box Springs, Gafor those of you who are argue who sings what...watch the video....
  
  
  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XjNjJR9jUGo
• Jacob from Rocky Mount, Nceddie 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
• Nick from Westwood, NjHa. 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.
• Andy from Nottingham, United KingdomScott 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?
• Jason from Hartville, OhHere 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)
• Leigh from St . John's, CanadaScott- 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
• Joycemorrison from Phboy, tis only Eddie's voice i recognized here. the delivery of the strong vocals -- making the song more affecting... to me.
• Talha from Lahore, Pakistanthis 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............
• Dom from Revere, Machris sings on the first verse of the song and eddie sings the second in hungerstrike right?
• Richard from Norman Park, , GaI 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
• Ringgo from Montclair, CaPossibly 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.
• Jonathon from Clermont, FlHow 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...
• Brandon from Saskatoon, Canadaya 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
• Jonathon from Clermont, FlI always get the best comments in on songs I care about.
• Z from Seattle, WaActually, 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
• Ed from Melbourne, AustraliaEddie 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
• Kammie from London, Englandif 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.
• E from Vancouver, CanadaI love this song, but the vocals on 'Say Hello 2 Heaven' may be the best vocals in any rock song ever.
• Stephen from Jonesboro, Arthe 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.
• Dan from Special TowneChris 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.
• Nick from Arlington Heights, IlJorge-
  Andrew Wood died 3/19/90 of a drug overdose.
• Joe from Stoughton, MaI 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.
• Scott from Vancouver, CanadaI 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.
• Chris from Wellington, New ZealandMike 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.
• The Jorge from Hell, Otherdoes anyone know when andrew wood died?
• The Jorge from Hell, OtherHow bout the meaning of the song?
• Kurt from Downers Grove, IlActually, this is the only TOTD song Eddie is on.
• Brian from Paoli, InThis 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.

More Songfacts:

Lips Are MovinMeghan Trainor

Meghan Trainor wrote "Lips Are Movin" in just eight minutes with her writing partner Kevin Kadish.

Black WidowIggy Azalea

Katy Perry co-wrote Iggy Azalea's hit single "Black Widow." Perry was originally going to sing on the track, but she couldn't fit it into her schedule, so Rita Ora provided the sung vocals instead.

She's A RainbowThe Rolling Stones

It was never a big hit, but "She's A Rainbow" became one of the most popular Rolling Stones songs in the digital age when it started showing up in commercials (iMac, Photoshop), and TV shows (American Horror Story: Coven, Ted Lasso).

BlackstarDavid Bowie

At 9:57, David Bowie's "Blackstar" was the longest song to reach the Hot 100 until 2019, when Tool bested the record with the 10:21 "Fear Inoculum."

Carrie AnneThe Hollies

The Hollies' 1967 hit "Carrie Anne" featured the first use of a steel drum in a commercial pop record.

HeroinThe Velvet Underground

When the Velvet Underground song "Heroin" got screechy, Maureen Tucker stopped drumming, figuring it would bust the take, but her bandmates kept going. You can hear it at the 5:20 mark.

Editor's Picks

Judas PriestSongwriter Interviews

Rob Halford, Richie Faulkner and Glenn Tipton talk twin guitar harmonies and explain how they create songs in Judas Priest.

Classic MetalFact or Fiction

Ozzy, Guns N' Roses, Judas Priest and even Michael Bolton show up in this Classic Metal quiz.

SugarlandSongwriter Interviews

Meet the "sassy basket" with the biggest voice in country music.

Marvin GayeFact or Fiction

Did Marvin try out with the Detroit Lions? Did he fake crazy to get out of military service? And what about the cross-dressing?

Strange MagneticsSong Writing

How Bing Crosby, Les Paul, a US Army Signal Corps Officer, and the Nazis helped shape rock and Roll.

Grateful Dead CharactersMusic Quiz

Many unusual folks appear in Grateful Dead songs. Can you identify them?