Overfloater Lyrics
Been stuck inside and up all night at Dave's
Now trouble's far away, and mother in her cage
And nothings gonna pinch this nerve of mine
And climb the walls
Feel medicine heal the lines of age
I'm here and now I'm gone
I'm there and far beyond
And nothing's gonna pinch this nerve of mine
Nothing's gonna pinch this nerve of mine
Over the pretense over the (spire) why
On and connected I'm over floating now
I'm over floating alone
Drink it down and swallow hard again
Hold the potion up
Stare your shadow down
Remember to forget and then rename your shame
Over the pretense over the (spire) why
On and connected I'm over floating now
I'm over floating alone

I can't confirm this, but it sounds a lot like "Breathe it in and gently take it, blowing out Suck it down and swallow hard again."
I think this is just a getting high song. This is a great song, lyrics notwithstanding, because it has great momentum and release points at the transitional points of verse-to-bridge, bridge-to-chorus, and chorus-to-verse. And even though I'm disinterested in the subject of getting high in songs generally, the lyrics to this song are superb. Just the way they sound put together, and then packaged with the music, is very satisfying.
The chorus to me is proof of this song being about intoxication.
The first verse tells he's just gotten to Dave's (his dealer?). "Been stuck inside" literally means he hasn't been able to leave the place, but a possible interpretation is being "stuck" inside his body (under his skin) by a needle. "Trouble's far away, mother's in her cage" refer to no chance of being caught. "Nothing's gonna pinch this nerve of mine" means he has succeeded in his goal of intoxication and there's no turning back. "I wanna make it right" refers to the false positive feelings when high.
"Close the door," "pull the shade" refer to hiding the activity. "Climb the walls" is a hallucination induced by the drugs. "Feel medicine heal the lines of age" the drugs are erasing his burdens. "I'm here and now I'm gone, I'm there and far beyond" speak of the altered state just achieved. "Hold the potion up" an obvious drug reference. "Stare your shadow down." Face your fears. "Remember to forget and then rename your shame." This alludes to the idea that drugs impair memory.
"I'm on the wire," he's about to take flight "Over and higher," he's just gotten high "Over the pretense," he's there to do drugs "Over the spire," higher still "On and connected," he's achieving false spirituality through drugs. "I'm overfloating now," He's gotten very high.
And that's what I think.

Anyone who has ever had a methamphetamine habit knows what this song is about.

this song is about alcohol, which was chris cornell's drug of choice. its about being a depressive alcoholic, sitting in a dark room, and just drinking yourself to sleep. its having "liquid courage" replace what depression and insecurity destroys; confidence... but only in the comfort of lonliness. "Pour the potion up, stare your shadow down."

Sounds like it's about drugs, frankly. I don't like to jump to that conclusion very often, but it seems pretty clear. Perhaps it's about a more controlled drugging, maybe at a mental institution? And does anyone know if anything, what he says before "hold the potion up?"

I've got no idea on the lyrics, but a favour to ask of Vozzy. Where are you from? I'm currently doing some research on comparative linguistics, and I found an interesting item that might give me a crucial clue in your last posting. In case you don't want to answer, that's fine by me, but if you do: Please be honest!

Lepra Messias - Aposto que es portugues, nao? Vivo em California, originalemente de Massachusetts, de familia acoreana. Desculpe de nao meter os acentos mas eu nao tenho pacienca para isto num teclave americano. Tambem desculpe pela resposta tarde, mas e raro eu visitar as paginas de letras que eu ja fiz comentario. Ora bem, se ha outras perguntas, fa-lo-as! Mais, queria saber que tipo de pesquisa que esta a fazer?
Obrigado, v

E bom encontrar portugueses fãs de soundgarden espalhados aí plos States!!!Portugal shall rule the world!!!
I think this song is about the stark raving sick sad little world we live in, and the all the problems we have to deal with it...Sometimes it works better when you just "Hold the potion up and Remember to forget and then rename your shame"
Ok just forget about it, i'm overfloating now =P

I've done some serious research on this song and the correct lyrics are
"Breathe and take it in and gently blow it out"
"Drink it down and swallow hard and gaze"

after closing my doors, pulling the shades, climbing the walls, and listening to this great song i started to think that it could be about chris's battles with depression and drug abuse during his younger teenage years. the drug use allows him to temporarily forget his problems and shame. the 'over' in overfloater implies excess. it's not excess in the sense of an overdose on drugs, but rather, in the sense that the drug use is overwhelming to his young mind. he is also overfloating 'alone.' alone, depressed, and abusing drugs to escape problems can really take its toll on a young teenager.

This song is mind baffling. Well not to to all though. That I can see after reading Vozzy's post. I haven't heard this song in 7, 8 years or so. But WOW! I got goosebumps just reading those lyrics. This song erupts like a volcano and is amazing.