Burden in My Hand
Encyclopedia
"Burden in My Hand" is a song by the American rock
band Soundgarden
. Written by frontman Chris Cornell
, "Burden in My Hand" was released on September 18, 1996 as the second single from the band's fifth studio album, Down on the Upside
(1996). The song topped the Billboard
Mainstream Rock Tracks chart, where it spent a total of five weeks at number one. The song was included on Soundgarden's 1997 greatest hits album, A-Sides
.
. It was written in C-G-C-G-G-E tuning.
called the song "the "Hey Joe
" of the '90s."
s "Karaoke" and "Bleed Together
", the latter of which can also be found on the band's greatest hits compilation, A-Sides
(1997). "Burden in My Hand" appeared on Billboard magazine's Hot 100 Airplay chart, reaching the top 40. "Burden in My Hand" became the most successful song from Down on the Upside on the American rock charts. The song peaked at number one on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks chart and number two on the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart. The song spent a total of five weeks at number one on the Mainstream Rock chart.
Outside the United States, the single was released in Australia
and the United Kingdom
. In Canada
, the song reached the top ten on the Canadian Singles Chart
, and later it charted on the Alternative Top 30 chart where it reached number one and became Soundgarden's second single to top that chart. "Burden in My Hand" also reached number one on the Canadian Year End Alternative Top 50.
for "Burden in My Hand" was directed by Jake Scott
, who had previously directed the "Fell on Black Days" music video for the band. The video features the band members walking through what appears to be the Kelso Dunes
of the eastern Mojave Desert
. The fighter aircraft
seen in the video can be identified as a J 35 Draken, apparently operated out of the Mojave Air & Space Port. The video was released in June 1996.
in May 1996 in support of Down on the Upside.
, except where noted:
CD (Europe) and 7" Vinyl (Europe)
CD (Europe)
CD (Australia)
Promotional CD (UK)
Promotional CD (US)
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
band Soundgarden
Soundgarden
Soundgarden is an American rock band formed in Seattle, Washington in 1984 by singer Chris Cornell, lead guitarist Kim Thayil, and bassist Hiro Yamamoto...
. Written by frontman Chris Cornell
Chris Cornell
Chris Cornell is an American rock musician best known as the lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist for Soundgarden and as the former lead vocalist for Audioslave. He is also known for his numerous solo works and soundtrack contributions since 1998...
, "Burden in My Hand" was released on September 18, 1996 as the second single from the band's fifth studio album, Down on the Upside
Down on the Upside
Down on the Upside is the fifth studio album by the American grunge band Soundgarden, released on May 21, 1996 through A&M Records. Following a worldwide tour in support of its previous album, Superunknown , Soundgarden commenced work on a new album...
(1996). The song topped the Billboard
Billboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
Mainstream Rock Tracks chart, where it spent a total of five weeks at number one. The song was included on Soundgarden's 1997 greatest hits album, A-Sides
A-Sides
A-Sides is a compilation album by the American rock band Soundgarden with songs spanning the band's thirteen year career. It was released on November 4, 1997 through A&M Records.-Overview:...
.
Origin and recording
"Burden in My Hand" was written by frontman Chris CornellChris Cornell
Chris Cornell is an American rock musician best known as the lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist for Soundgarden and as the former lead vocalist for Audioslave. He is also known for his numerous solo works and soundtrack contributions since 1998...
. It was written in C-G-C-G-G-E tuning.
Lyrics
The lyrics of 'Burden in My Hand' suggest the song is about a man who murders a woman he is in a relationship with and leaves her in the desert, not without regret. Some fans believe the lyrics are 'deeper' than the surface and indicative of something such as drug abuse or an abusive relationship; however, guitarist Kim ThayilKim Thayil
Kim Thayil is an American guitarist best known as the lead guitarist of the Seattle-based grunge band Soundgarden, which he cofounded with singer Chris Cornell and bassist Hiro Yamamoto in 1984...
called the song "the "Hey Joe
Hey Joe
"Hey Joe" is an American popular song from the 1960s that has become a rock standard and as such, has been performed in a multitude of musical styles by hundreds of different artists since it was first written. "Hey Joe" tells the story of a man who is on the run and planning to head to Mexico...
" of the '90s."
Release and reception
"Burden in My Hand" was released as a single in 1996 in various versions with the previously unreleased B-sideA-side and B-side
A-side and B-side originally referred to the two sides of gramophone records on which singles were released beginning in the 1950s. The terms have come to refer to the types of song conventionally placed on each side of the record, with the A-side being the featured song , while the B-side, or...
s "Karaoke" and "Bleed Together
Bleed Together
"Bleed Together" is a song by the American rock band Soundgarden. Written by frontman Chris Cornell, "Bleed Together" was first released in the United States on Soundgarden's post-breakup greatest hits album, A-Sides . It had previously appeared as a B-side on some foreign copies of the band's 1996...
", the latter of which can also be found on the band's greatest hits compilation, A-Sides
A-Sides
A-Sides is a compilation album by the American rock band Soundgarden with songs spanning the band's thirteen year career. It was released on November 4, 1997 through A&M Records.-Overview:...
(1997). "Burden in My Hand" appeared on Billboard magazine's Hot 100 Airplay chart, reaching the top 40. "Burden in My Hand" became the most successful song from Down on the Upside on the American rock charts. The song peaked at number one on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks chart and number two on the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart. The song spent a total of five weeks at number one on the Mainstream Rock chart.
Outside the United States, the single was released in Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
and the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. In Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, the song reached the top ten on the Canadian Singles Chart
RPM (magazine)
RPM was a Canadian music industry publication that featured song and album charts for Canada. The publication was founded by Walt Grealis in February 1964, supported through its existence by record label owner Stan Klees. RPM ceased publication in November 2000.RPM stood for "Records, Promotion,...
, and later it charted on the Alternative Top 30 chart where it reached number one and became Soundgarden's second single to top that chart. "Burden in My Hand" also reached number one on the Canadian Year End Alternative Top 50.
Music video
The music videoMusic video
A music video or song video is a short film integrating a song and imagery, produced for promotional or artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a marketing device intended to promote the sale of music recordings...
for "Burden in My Hand" was directed by Jake Scott
Jake Scott (director)
Jake Scott is a British film director who works primarily in the field of music videos. Most of his works were produced under the Ridley Scott Associates banner or RSA's music video subdivision Black Dog Films...
, who had previously directed the "Fell on Black Days" music video for the band. The video features the band members walking through what appears to be the Kelso Dunes
Kelso Dunes
Kelso Dunes, also known as the Kelso Dune Field, is the largest field of eolian sand deposits in the Mojave Desert. The region is protected by the Mojave National Preserve and is located near the town of Baker, San Bernardino County, California and the Preserve Visitor Center...
of the eastern Mojave Desert
Mojave Desert
The Mojave Desert occupies a significant portion of southeastern California and smaller parts of central California, southern Nevada, southwestern Utah and northwestern Arizona, in the United States...
. The fighter aircraft
Fighter aircraft
A fighter aircraft is a military aircraft designed primarily for air-to-air combat with other aircraft, as opposed to a bomber, which is designed primarily to attack ground targets...
seen in the video can be identified as a J 35 Draken, apparently operated out of the Mojave Air & Space Port. The video was released in June 1996.
Live performances
"Burden in My Hand" was performed on Saturday Night LiveSaturday Night Live
Saturday Night Live is a live American late-night television sketch comedy and variety show developed by Lorne Michaels and Dick Ebersol. The show premiered on NBC on October 11, 1975, under the original title of NBC's Saturday Night.The show's sketches often parody contemporary American culture...
in May 1996 in support of Down on the Upside.
Track listing
All songs written by Chris CornellChris Cornell
Chris Cornell is an American rock musician best known as the lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist for Soundgarden and as the former lead vocalist for Audioslave. He is also known for his numerous solo works and soundtrack contributions since 1998...
, except where noted:
CD (Europe) and 7" Vinyl (Europe)
- "Burden in My Hand" – 4:50
- "Karaoke" – 6:01
CD (Europe)
- "Burden in My Hand" – 4:50
- "Bleed TogetherBleed Together"Bleed Together" is a song by the American rock band Soundgarden. Written by frontman Chris Cornell, "Bleed Together" was first released in the United States on Soundgarden's post-breakup greatest hits album, A-Sides . It had previously appeared as a B-side on some foreign copies of the band's 1996...
" – 3:54 - "She's a Politician" – 1:48
- Chris Cornell Interview – 7:42
- The interview segment with Chris Cornell is conducted by Tom Russell and was recorded in April 1996. Cornell talks about the cancelled Superunknown tour dates in the UK ("My voice just crapped out"), the pressure to release a record that will sell well ("The pressure comes from us"), publishing companies ("We didn't need that"), and the band's sense of humor ("We don't take ourselves seriously").
CD (Australia)
- "Burden in My Hand" – 4:50
- "Karaoke" – 6:01
- "Bleed Together" – 3:54
- "Birth Ritual" (demo) (Cornell, Matt CameronMatt CameronMatthew David "Matt" Cameron is an American musician who serves as the drummer for the American rock bands Pearl Jam and Soundgarden...
, Kim ThayilKim ThayilKim Thayil is an American guitarist best known as the lead guitarist of the Seattle-based grunge band Soundgarden, which he cofounded with singer Chris Cornell and bassist Hiro Yamamoto in 1984...
) – 5:50
Promotional CD (UK)
- "Burden in My Hand" – 4:50
- The club promo CD is a limited edition of 300 in a clear plastic sleeve, sealed with a blue sticker that doubles as the liner notes.
Promotional CD (US)
- "Burden in My Hand" – 4:50
- "Burden in My Hand" (edit)
Peak chart positions
| Chart (1996) | Position |
|---|---|
| Canadian RPM RPM (magazine) RPM was a Canadian music industry publication that featured song and album charts for Canada. The publication was founded by Walt Grealis in February 1964, supported through its existence by record label owner Stan Klees. RPM ceased publication in November 2000.RPM stood for "Records, Promotion,... Singles Chart Canadian Singles Chart The Canadian Singles Chart is currently compiled by the U.S.-based music sales tracking company, Nielsen SoundScan . The chart is compiled every Wednesday, and is published by Jam! Canoe on Thursdays.... |
9 |
| Canadian RPM Alternative 30 Canadian rock/alternative chart The Canadian rock/alternative chart was first published on June 11, 1995 by RPM magazine under the name Alternative 30. The song which held the number-one spot on this first chart was "More Human than Human" by White Zombie... |
1 |
| UK Singles Chart UK Singles Chart The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ... |
33 |
| US Billboard Hot 100 Airplay | 40 |
| US Mainstream Rock Tracks | 1 |
| US Modern Rock Tracks | 2 |
End of year charts
| End of year chart (1996) | Position |
|---|---|
| Canadian RPM Singles Chart | 75 |
| Canadian RPM Alternative 30 | 1 |