Room a Thousand Years Wide is a song by Soundgarden released on September 1, 1990. Written by guitarist Kim Thayil and music written by drummer Matt Cameron, the song was released as a single in 1990 through Sub Pop. A re-recorded version later appeared on the band’s third studio album, Badmotorfinger (1991).
Room a Thousand Years Wide is one of the few Soundgarden songs written without any input from frontman Chris Cornell. The song features lyrics written by guitarist Kim Thayil and music written by drummer Matt Cameron. It was also the first Soundgarden song to be recorded and released with bassist Ben Shepherd. Both the original and re-recorded version of the song that is featured on Badmotorfinger include the addition of a horn section featuring Scott Granlund (saxophone) and Ernst Long (trumpet).
Kim Thayil on Room a Thousand Years Wide:
I really liked the music to the song and it needed words, and since no one else pursued it, I decided to. It’s not really about things that have actually happened to me. It’s more about experience in general. I’ve heard a lot of good ideas from people telling me what it’s about. They said it’s about God, Satan, Jesus, Satan, both, it’s religious, it isn’t religious … The truth is, it’s just me.
The song was released as a single in 1990 with a previously unreleased B-side titled H.I.V. Baby. It was released as a 7″ through Sub Pop‘s Single of the Month club a full year before the release of Badmotorfinger. The original version recorded for Sub Pop appears on the Deluxe Edition of the band’s 2010 album Telephantasm.
Tracklist:
- Room a Thousand Years Wide
- H.I.V. Baby
Soundgarden
Chris Cornell: vocals, rhythm guitar
Kim Thayil: lead guitar
Ben Shepherd: bass
Matt Cameron: drums
Chris Cornell (July 20, 1964 – May 18, 2017).
