"The Day I Tried to Live" is a song by the American rock band Soundgarden, released in 1994 as the second single from the band's fourth studio album, Superunknown (1994). The song peaked at number 13 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks chart. It appears 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 song has a dissonant atmosphere and is also notable for its use of time signatures. For much of the song, there is a cycle of one measure of 7/8, then one of 4/4. The tuning, as with many Soundgarden songs is unorthodox - E-E-B-B-B-E.

Lyrics

Cornell on the song:

It's about trying to step out of being patterned and closed off and reclusive, which I've always had a problem with. It's about attempting to be normal and just go out and be around other people and hang out. I have a tendency to sometimes be pretty closed off and not see people for long periods of time and not call anyone. It's actually, in a way, a hopeful song. Especially the lines "One more time around/Might get it," which is basically saying, 'I tried today to understand and belong and get along with other people, and I failed, but I'll probably try again tomorrow.' A lot of people misinterpreted that song as a suicide-note song. Taking the word live too literally. "The Day I Tried to Live" means more like the day I actually tried to open up myself and experience everything that's going on around me as opposed to blowing it all off and hiding in a cave.

Release and reception

It was released as a single in 1994, but was rather underpromoted when compared to "Spoonman" or "Black Hole Sun". The song peaked at number 13 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks chart and number 25 on the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart. Outside of the United States, the single was released in Spain and the United Kingdom. In Canada, "The Day I Tried to Live" charted on the Alternative Top 30 chart where it peaked at 27 and stayed there for two weeks.

Music video

The video for "The Day I Tried to Live" was directed by Matt Mahurin. It features a man apparently dressed as a hospital patient floating around a bedroom and appearing alone and dazed in various city scenes. It also features the band members performing in a boiler room with their instruments ablaze (which happens after the first chorus). The video was released in April 1994. The video is available on the CD-ROM Alive in the Superunknown.

Cover versions

The song was covered by Between the Buried and Me on its 2006 album The Anatomy Of.

Track listing

USA Promo CD5, UK CD5, and UK One-sided 12"

1. "The Day I Tried to Live" (Chris Cornell) – 5:20
2. "Like Suicide" (acoustic) (Cornell) – 6:12
3. "Kickstand" (live) (Cornell, Kim Thayil) – 1:58Spanish Promo CD5
4. "The Day I Tried to Live" (Cornell) – 5:20
5. "Limo Wreck" (Matt Cameron, Cornell, Thayil) – 5:47

UK Picture 7" and Cassette Single

1. "The Day I Tried to Live" (Cornell) – 5:20
2. "Like Suicide" (acoustic) (Cornell) – 6:12DJ Promo 12"
3. "The Day I Tried to Live" (Cornell) – 5:20

Chart positions

Year	Chart	Position
1994	UK Singles Chart	42
1995	US Mainstream Rock Tracks	13
	US Modern Rock Tracks	25
	Canadian Alternative Top 30	27

References