Written by Soundgarden lead singer Chris Cornell, this is one of his more personal songs. It deals with the extremes of his personality: how he can feel like he's on top of the world one moment and in the gutter the next.
The line, "I am looking California but feeling Minnesota" became one of the most memorable Soundgarden lyrics. Chris Cornell came up with that line when he was in a dour mood and looked at himself in the mirror. He was wearing his typical outfit of baggy shorts and a T-shirt and realized that he looked like a carefree beachgoer, even though he didn't feel like one.
Cornell explained:
"I suppose there are moments on this LP where I'm being more biographical," he said. "I've never really been biographical in my lyrics, so when I wrote a line like 'I'm looking California and feeling Minnesota' from 'Outshined,' it just felt refreshing."
Lyrics
I got up feeling so down
I got off being sold out
I've kept the movie rolling
But the story's getting old now
I just looked in the mirror
Things aren't looking so good
I'm looking California
And feeling Minnesota
So now you know, who gets mystified
So now you know, who gets mystified
Show me the power child
I'd like to say
That I'm down on my knees today
It gives me the butterflies
Gives me away
Till I'm up on my feet again
I'm feeling out-shined ...
Someone let the dogs out
They'll show you where the truth is
The grass is always greener
Where the dogs are shitting
I'm feeling that I'm sober
Even though I'm drinking
I can't get any lower
Still I feel I'm sinking
So now you know, who gets mystified
So now you know, who gets mystified
Show me the power child
I'd like to say
That I'm down on my knees today
It gives me the butterflies
Gives me away
Till I'm up on my feet again
I'm feeling out-shined ...
So now you know, who gets mystified
Show me the power child
I'd like to say
That I'm down on my knees today
It gives me the butterflies
Gives me away
Till I'm up on my feet again
I'm feeling ...
Show me the power child
I'd like to say
That I'm down on my knees today
It gives me the butterflies
Gives me away
Till I'm up on my feet again
I'm feeling out-shined ...