"Nearly Forgot My Broken Heart" is a song by Chris Cornell, released as the lead single from his 2015 album "Higher Truth." The song explores a theme where a person becomes so absorbed by a new relationship or thing in their life that they almost forget their previous broken heart. Chris Cornell described the inspiration for the song as the experience of being distracted by something new to the point of nearly forgetting that had given up on life before. The song blends melancholy lyrics with a mandolin-driven sound, reflecting on the themes of broken hearts and tumultuous relationships. The music video portrays Cornell as a prisoner narrowly escaping hanging and being forced into marriage with a woman who saves him. The song was a commercial success, reaching top positions on rock charts in the U.S. and Canada. The lyrics convey a mix of pain, betrayal, and a kind of bittersweet relief found in a consuming but painful new connection. Here are a few key lyrics from the song:
- "And I nearly forgot my broken heart, it's taking me miles away from the memory of how we broke apart."
- "Every little word upon your lips makes a little cut where blood pours out."
- "Every single feeling tells me this is leading to a heart in broken little pieces."
Chris Cornell's vocal delivery and the song’s instrumentation together create a poignant narrative about emotional struggle and distraction through new attachments that sometimes mask deeper wounds.
