Listen to Chris Cornell's Posthumously Released Recording of the Johnny Cash-Written 'You Never Knew My Mind'

Last year, the death of rock great Chris Cornell came as a sudden surprise for many. The Soundgarden and Audioslave frontman’s unparalleled vocal talent and powerful songwriting led him to become one of rock’s most iconic singers of the '90s and '00s.

Earlier this month, Billboard reported that Cornell contributed to Johnny Cash: Forever Words, a tribute album with a collection of unused lyrics, letters and poetry written by the country legend himself. The collection, co-produced by his son, John Carter Cash, was initially published in the book Forever Words: The Unknown Poems.

Cornell had recorded vocals for the Cash-written “You Never Knew My Mind,” just before dying by suicide on May 18, 2017. The haunting recording was made available on Monday (Feb. 26). Listen to it below. 

"I met the man once or twice in my life, and he was so gracious and he was such an influence on me as a musician," Cornell said of Cash at the time of recording. "I’ve felt like he’s maybe one of the bigger presences in my life, in terms of artists that I’m a fan of.” Cash also covered the Soundgarden hit “Rusty Cage" on his 1996 album Unchained. 

Other remarkable contributors to Johnny Cash: Forever Words include Kacey Musgraves, Elvis Costello, Willie Nelson, the Jayhawks, Rosanne Cash, Kris Kristofferson, Jamey Johnson and more. The album will be available on April 6.