This song seemingly tackles the methods of deception those who manipulate others use to get victims to follow their demands, as well as diverting attention away from important issues. They'll also use it as a means to convince people to hate or kill others by pretending acts of terrorism were committed by the enemy when the acts themselves were done by the masters of control to promote discrimination and hate. It also reinforces the idea that these manipulative forces operate in various locations, infiltrating everyday life without detection, and propagate any and everywhere.
In general, it highlights the danger of hidden agendas, manipulation, and distraction, serving as a critique of those who exploit chaos and confusion to control and gain power, depicting a cautionary tale against falling into their traps. It encourages us to question the narratives presented to us and remain vigilant against manipulation in various parts of society.
His hands are clenched
His knuckles white
He got a gun
And gave up the fight
When I found out
I couldn't even cry
Well I am now
And I'm tryin' to figure out why
I'll save it for you
You save me from me
And the hole in my head I can see
Tell her I love her
Tell the kids that I loved them
Oh, it's a bad dream
I've got only time
Yeah, it's a bad dream
I've got only time
You know it's a bad dream
I've got only time
I wish it was a bad dream
I wish it was a bad dream
'Cause it's gonna hurt a long time, yeah
He lies awake
With saddened eyes
Sleeping babies
Keeping him alive
I'll save it for you
You save me from me
And the hole in my head I can see
Tell her I love her
Tell the kids that I loved them
Oh, it's a bad dream
I've got only time
Yeah, it's a bad dream
I've got only time
You know it's just a bad dream
I've got only time
I wish it was a bad dream
I've got only time
I wish it was a bad dream
'Cause it's gonna hurt a long time, yeah
His knuckles white
He got a gun
And gave up the fight
When I found out
I couldn't even cry
Well I am now
And I'm tryin' to figure out why
I'll save it for you
You save me from me
And the hole in my head I can see
Tell her I love her
Tell the kids that I loved them
Oh, it's a bad dream
I've got only time
Yeah, it's a bad dream
I've got only time
You know it's a bad dream
I've got only time
I wish it was a bad dream
I wish it was a bad dream
'Cause it's gonna hurt a long time, yeah
He lies awake
With saddened eyes
Sleeping babies
Keeping him alive
I'll save it for you
You save me from me
And the hole in my head I can see
Tell her I love her
Tell the kids that I loved them
Oh, it's a bad dream
I've got only time
Yeah, it's a bad dream
I've got only time
You know it's just a bad dream
I've got only time
I wish it was a bad dream
I've got only time
I wish it was a bad dream
'Cause it's gonna hurt a long time, yeah
Lyrics submitted by black_cow_of_death
Hurt a Long Time Lyrics as written by Jerry Cantrell
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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I like your interpretation, but that's not how I see it. I've always seen this song as more personal for Jerry. I heard that his uncle committed suicide and that influenced this song. "His hands are clenched - his knuckles white - he got a gun, and gave up the fight." This is about someone about to kill himself. His hands are clenching a gun, and when you clench your hands tightly that naturally makes your knuckles white - the phrase "white knuckle ride" refers to a fast ride where you'll be holding on to something for dear life. "When I found out, I couldn't even cry. Well I am now, and I'm tryin' to figure out why." The speaker of the song heard about the person who'd killed himself and was so shocked that he couldn't show his emotions right away. Later, it hit him really hard, and he wasn't sure why, but he found it was that he could actually relate to the situation... "I'll save it for you; you save me from me... and the hole in my head - I can see." I see this as a statement to a significant other: he'll save his own life for her which means that she'll effectively save him from himself. However, it's only a temporary salvation, as he can still see the day come when he'll do it. "Tell her I love her, tell the kids that I loved them." Yeah, he's going to eventually do it, so this is his plea to whoever is listening to comfort the family he leaves behind. "Oh, it's a bad dream." He's trying to tell himself that it's just a bad dream; the fact that he's going to kill himself can't be real, can it? (This becomes more obvious when he finally says "I wish it was a bad dream.") Now, "I've got only time" can be confusing. I don't see it as saying that he's got "all the time in the world," but instead that it's only a matter of time until he does it. This fits with what I said earlier. "He lies awake with saddened eyes; sleeping babies keeping him alive." He saved it for her, and they had children, and those children are keeping him alive, but eventually they won't need him to be responsible for them and then he's going to "get on with dying." That's my take on it.