People who were at Chris Cornell's last show at the Fox Theater are haunted by some of the words he said.
In hindsight some of Cornell's words foreshadowed his death only about an hour after his performance. The Wayne County Medical Examiner has found his cause of death to be suicide.
- Family of rockstar Chris Cornell disputes suicide ruling
- Medical Examiner rules Chris Cornell's death in Detroit a suicide
- Photo gallery: Remembering Chris Cornell
- Musicians react to the death of Chris Cornell
- Celebrity deaths of 2017: Look back at those we lost
- Watch Chris Cornell's last performance with Soundgarden in Detroit
The man who is one of the architects of grunge rock gave a chilling encore performance in which he sang "Slaves and Bulldozers," but transitioned into a Led Zeppelin song called "In My Time of Dying." The lyrics he sang are:
Meet me, Jesus, meet me
Meet me in the middle of the air
If my wings should fail me, Lord
Please meet me with another pair
Well, well, well, so I can die easy [x2]
Jesus, going to make up
In my time of dying, I want nobody to mourn
All I want for you to do is take my body home
Well, well, well, so I can die easy [x2]
Jesus, going to make up
Watch the full encore with the transition to "In My Time of Dying" occurring about 6:10.
Xavier Montague of Detroit is one fan who has been at many of Cornell's shows. He became a loyal follower of his work after meeting him when he performed at a small bar in Arizona in the early nineties.
"I never missed a show, if I ever had a chance to see him. I was always there. I have been to Coachella. I traveled across the country to see him," said Montague.
He noticed a unique intensity to the show Wednesday night at the Fox Theater in Detroit.
"He pointed to the people in the back of the crowd. He talked the people in the front. He made the show feel intimate. The crowd responded. They loved him," said Montague.
“I feel bad for the next city,” Cornell said at one point during the show.
He told the crowd the fans who bought tickets to his next show would wish they were at this show. He complimented Detroit, saying there is no place better to perform than Detroit Rock City.
"Saying with no measure, there is no other crowd better than Detroit," Montague said. He just seemed to be soaking it all in, and the fans were just loving him right back."
As a fan, Montague empathizes with the musician he has respected for so long.
"I have struggled with depression," said Montague.
He hopes this raises awareness that there is help out there. The National Suicide Hotline is 1-800-273-8255.
"I am heartbroken," said Montague. "It is really sad to see a talent like that go."
