Fell on Black Days

"Fell on Black Days" is a song by the American rock band Soundgarden, released in 1994 as the fifth single from the band's fourth studio album, Superunknown (1994). The song peaked at number four on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks chart. It would later appear on the band's greatest hits album A-Sides and the 2007 Chris Cornell compilation The Roads We Choose - A Retrospective.

Composition

The song was written by frontman Chris Cornell. The time signature of the song is in 6/4.

Lyrics

Cornell on the song:

"Fell on Black Days" was like this ongoing fear I've had for years...It's a feeling that everyone gets. You're happy with your life, everything's going well, things are exciting - when all of a sudden you realise you're unhappy in the extreme, to the point of being really, really scared. There's no particular event you can pin the feeling down to, it's just that you realise one day that everything in your life is FUCKED!

Release and reception

It was released as a single in a large number of different versions, each with different B-sides. Several of the singles featured an original demo version of the song. This demo is completely different from the more familiar version. It features different lyrics and music, with considerably heavier drop-D guitar. Only the chorus contains lyrical similarities to the final version. Soundgarden performed this version live on Pearl Jam's Self-Pollution radio broadcast in early 1995.

It appeared on Billboard magazine's Hot 100 Airplay chart, peaking at number 54 in its tenth week and remaining on the chart until its twentieth week. The song peaked at number four on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks chart and number 13 on the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart.

Outside of the United States, the single was released in Australia and the United Kingdom. In Canada, the song reached the top 70 on the Canadian Singles Chart and remained in the top 70 for two weeks. "Fell on Black Days" reached the top 50 in the Netherlands and in Ireland it was a moderate top 20 success.

After the September 11, 2001 attacks, Clear Channel included the song on its list of possibly inappropriate songs.

Music video

In the music video, the band was filmed performing the song in-studio, with Brendan O'Brien producing the recording. The video was directed by Jake Scott. The video was released in November 1994. It is available on the CD-ROM Alive in the Superunknown. The video version of the track can be found on the "Fell on Black Days" single and Songs from the Superunknown.

Live performances

A live version of the song appears on the "Black Hole Sun" and "Fell on Black Days" singles.

In 2005, when Audioslave toured with Seether, Cornell sang "Fell on Black Days" with Shaun Morgan, Seether's lead vocalist.

Cover versions

In 2006, Classic Case did a cover of "Fell on Black Days" on the band's Black Unicorn Split EP with "He is Legend".

Track listing

Radio Promo CD

1. "Fell on Black Days" (radio edit) (Chris Cornell)Alternate Mix Promo CD
2. "Fell on Black Days" (alternate mix) (Cornell)
3. "Fell on Black Days" (Cornell) – 4:42UK CD #1
4. "Fell on Black Days" (Cornell) – 4:42
5. "Kyle Petty, Son of Richard" (Cornell, Kim Thayil)
6. "Fell on Black Days" (video version) (Cornell) – 5:26UK CD #2
7. "Fell on Black Days" (Cornell) – 4:42
8. "Girl U Want" (Gerald Casale, Mark Mothersbaugh) – 3:29
9. "Fell on Black Days" (demo) (Cornell)European CD #1
10. "Fell on Black Days" (Cornell) – 4:42
11. "Motorcycle Loop" (short version) (Thayil)
12. "Girl U Want" (Casale, Mothersbaugh) – 3:29
13. "Fell on Black Days" (demo) (Cornell)European CD #2
14. "Fell on Black Days" (Cornell) – 4:42
15. "Kyle Petty, Son of Richard" (Cornell, Thayil)
16. "Birth Ritual" (Cornell, Matt Cameron, Thayil)
17. "Fell on Black Days" (live) (Cornell)

European CD #3

1. "Fell on Black Days" (Cornell) – 4:42
2. "My Wave" (live) (Cornell, Thayil)UK/European Picture 7"
3. "Fell on Black Days" (Cornell) – 4:42
4. "Motorcycle Loop" (Thayil)
5. "Kyle Petty, Son of Richard" (Cornell, Thayil)Australian CD #1
6. "Fell on Black Days" (Cornell) – 4:42
7. "Kyle Petty, Son of Richard" (Cornell, Thayil)
8. "Fell on Black Days" (demo) (Cornell)
9. "Motorcycle Loop" (short version) (Thayil)
10. "Fell on Black Days" (live) (Cornell)Australian CD #2
11. "Fell on Black Days" (Cornell) – 4:42
12. "Kyle Petty, Son of Richard" (Cornell, Thayil)Jukebox 7"
13. "Fell on Black Days" (Cornell) – 4:42
14. "My Wave" (Cornell, Thayil) – 5:12

Chart positions

Year	Chart	Position
1994	Dutch Singles Chart	45
	US Billboard Hot 100 Airplay	54
	US Mainstream Rock Tracks	4
	US Modern Rock Tracks	13
	Canadian Singles Chart	66
1995	Irish Singles Chart	14
	UK Singles Chart	24

Accolades

Publication	Country	Accolade	Year	Rank
The Movement	New Zealand	"The 77 Best Singles of the 90s	2004	52

References