Only These Words

Album: Higher Truth (2015)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This cutesy fairytale-gone-dark is a track from Chris Cornell's Higher Truth album. "It was almost a Zeppelin-y thing at first," he revealed to Digital Spy. "The idea is it's a child having a dream, and the dreamworld life is sort-of perfect. It's a baby born as a royal or princess into this amazing world, then immediately being jerked out of that when they wake up to a reality which isn't that, and then grasping onto what part of their life could be that."

Comments: 7

  • Blackgiveswaytoblue from EuropeOk so now the original version mentioning Toni and Christopher of this song is going to be released? I would think that he wrote songs for all of his children and the one on the HT album is for Lily..and I really hope that if the song was meant for her, he told her.
  • Nikki from CaliforniaWhy is Vicky trying to make it seem like the Higher Truth song Only These Words wasn’t written for his first daughter Lily? The lyrics are very clear and his interviews about it are written clearly as well. He wrote Dandelion for Toni, why is she upset that Only These Words was for Lily? They each got their own song, seems like teenage jealousy towards Lily from both Vicky and the middle daughter Toni. Sad for them that they’re so immature.
  • Katieb from NyAccording to Matt Robinson, Chris' first demo recorded was for Toni BUT!!! He told Matt Robinson, music journalist, the first bars and verses of the song was written in 2002 for his other daughter. When he recorded final version for 2015 album he decided instead to direct it to Lily, as a gift to her because they were growing closer. As poster says below probably guilt too xx
  • Stoplyingvicky from ChicagoThis song has been confirmed as being written for Cornell's first born daughter, Lily. He confirmed it to other musicians during the production process. It's told from a dream perspective of a girl who's life isn't the cosy fairytale it should be, and Cornell expresses his guilt both at the failure of his first marriage and the breaking of the 'fairytale' life Lily should have had. This song is not about Toni Cornell. And her family all know that too.
  • Zelda from UsaAnd if he did write this about toni, then hes a s--tty father who tried to pretend he didnt have a life before vicky cornell
  • Zelda from UsaThis song was not written about toni cornell. I hate how people try to deny the fact that he had a beautiful daughter from his first marriage named Lily Cornell Silver who looks just like him by the way. Her parents divorced, she was borin in the summer. Song is definitely referencing Liky. Every blasted song cant be about toni sheesh
  • Lue Ann from IlHe obviously wrote this song about his daughter Toni. She was his princess and him and his wife loved her and represent the king and queen. And the ending of the song is a promise that she will one day find a man who will love her just as much.
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."