Wide Awake

Album: Revelations (2006)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This song is about the reaction to the Hurricane Katrina disaster in 2005. The band criticizes the government for a slow reaction and avoiding the problem (hence the line, "Pull the sheet over my eyes, so I can sleep tonight"). In the bonus DVD that came with the Revelations CD, guitarist Tom Morello describes this as "A song of fingerpointing," while bassist Tim Commerford overtly says, "It's a song about President Bush, and what an a--hole he is."
  • This was the first politically themed Audioslave song. When the supergroup first formed, Chris Cornell said he did not want it to be a political band like the rest of the band's old group, Rage Against the Machine.
  • This song was featured in the 2007 film remake of Miami Vice. Cornell often introduces this song at his solo concerts with: "I don't know how, but this song somehow ended up in Miami Vice, a movie that nobody saw. But if you watch the movie, it plays at the scene where the guy is f--king the girl." >>>
    Suggestion credit:
    Bert - Pueblo, NM, for above 3

Comments: 3

  • Shanan from Huron, SdThis is probably my favorite song. I feel i relate to it personally and i get goosebumps whenever i listen to it. If you have not heard it then you are missing out.
  • Ef from Newaygo, MiOne of my favorite Audioslave songs. I've bled Audioslave since their first album came out, and this ranks in my top 5. Gives me the chills whenever I listen to it. Lyrics are just so great, as with most every song Chris Cornell has written.
  • Adrian from Brookings, SdIt's a shame the band had to break up just when they started to make really meaningful and large scale statements to a mass audience. I think that was one of the great things about Rage Against the Machine.
see more comments

Editor's Picks

James Bond Theme Songs

James Bond Theme SongsMusic Quiz

How well do you know the 007 theme songs?

Dexys (Kevin Rowland and Jim Paterson)

Dexys (Kevin Rowland and Jim Paterson)Songwriter Interviews

"Come On Eileen" was a colossal '80s hit, but the band - far more appreciated in their native UK than stateside - released just three albums before their split. Now, Dexys is back.

Director Wes Edwards ("Drunk on a Plane")

Director Wes Edwards ("Drunk on a Plane")Song Writing

Wes Edwards takes us behind the scenes of videos he shot for Jason Aldean, Dierks Bentley and Chase Bryant. The train was real - the airplane was not.

Metallica

MetallicaFact or Fiction

Beef with Bon Jovi? An unfortunate Spandex period? See if you can spot the true stories in this Metallica version of Fact or Fiction.

Director Paul Rachman on "Hunger Strike," "Man in the Box," Kiss

Director Paul Rachman on "Hunger Strike," "Man in the Box," KissSong Writing

After cutting his teeth on hardcore punk videos, Paul defined the grunge look with his work on "Hunger Strike" and "Man in the Box."

Spooner Oldham

Spooner OldhamSongwriter Interviews

His keyboard work helped define the Muscle Shoals sound and make him an integral part of many Neil Young recordings. Spooner is also an accomplished songwriter, whose hits include "I'm Your Puppet" and "Cry Like A Baby."