There I was, laid out on a table
Screamin' sweat and bare feet to the floor
In my life, I'd not soften
Things that cut, and burn so often
But I sit, think of somethin'
Scared to face, the dyin' nothin'

See the cycle I've waited for
It ain't like that anymore

Where I go is when I feel I'm able
How I fight is why I'm feelin' sore
In my mind, not forgotten
Feel as though, a tooth were rotten
Behind the smile, a tongue that's slippin'
Buzzards cry, when flesh is rippin'

See the cycle I've waited for
It ain't like that anymore

Here I sit writing on the paper
Trying to think of words you can't ignore
In my eyes, what I'm lacking
Score at face, a ten for slacking
Sign the deal, set in motion
Smaller fish, so huge the ocean

See the cycle I've waited for
It ain't like that anymore


Lyrics submitted by Ice, edited by dhalsim2

It Ain't Like That song meanings
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  • +3
    General Comment

    Not every Alice in Chains song is about drugs. I've always thought this song was about the band dealing with record company execs trying to sign them, or at least the band trying to pursue a deal with a major label. Given the context of the song's release, Alice had just hit it to the big leagues, releasing their major label debut on Columbia.

    If we think of the song under this context instead of drugs, the first verse "There I was laid out on the table/screaming sweat and bare feet to the floor" is an exaggerated description of how nervous Jerry and the band were in a meeting with their label, and how they were demanded success. This could explain the next lines, where Jerry says he's always been strong "I'd not soften/Things that cut and burn so often", but regardless of how strong he may be, he is scared of commercial failure "Scared to face, the dyin' nothin'"

    In the short documentary in the Music Bank videos, we see that the young Alice in Chains consisted of four starving guys who were eager to pursue success. Hence, the chorus "See the cycle I waited for/ It ain't like that anymore" conveys the notion that they were finally getting to the level of success that they wanted, but now it's a compeletely different world than what they expected.

    The second verse manifests the fear of not being a commercial success and getting consumed by the "buzzards". The last verse emphasizes the apprehension, and the pressure to succeed, as Jerry trys to write good songs and "words you can't ignore"

    Lastly, the lines "sign the deal, set in motion/smaller fish, so huge the ocean" reiterates the theme of that song, as the young Alice in Chains embraces the music industry and must deal with the new unfamiliar landscape.

    alicemudgarden19on August 09, 2006   Link

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