Bleed The Freak

Just to start I have to say I think its pointless to argue songwriting credits regarding any Alice in Chains song of the Layne era. Layne and Jerry were both quick to recognize each others gifts and respective talents when it came down to total song production which goes far beyond just the lyrics. Jerry's strength was lyricism. Layne had a gift for creating the slighty dissonant harmonies that gave Alice their distinctive sound. It's a bit ridiculous to argue who was more important to the band. That aside, it's nice to see that so many people are still passionate about AIC. Bleed the Freak is a song that's lyrics have fascinated me from the first time I discovered it. At face value it may seem like another angry hard rock song with a sinister title. Because of this it seems it's lyrics aren't given the attention they truly warrant. The more I listen, the more I believe this to be one of the great songwriting achievements of any generation. The message is as profound and relevant as any song I've ever heard. I believe it is written from the perspective of someone that has been berated constantly by all different kinds of people, all of whom see themselves worthy of making such judgement and justify doing so by referencing a particular set of beliefs. I think the writer is using religion as a device to highlight the righteousness and hypocrisy that plagues modern society. Rather than living by the principals of their religion, they preach it's doctrines and degrade those with opposing beliefs, all the while apathetic to the cause of doing good as it is more convenient to point fingers. I don't think the song is a knock on religion in itself but rather the way in which it has been manipulated to be self-serving and hollow by people that are far from holy. The lines "These stand for me/Name your God and bleed the freak" seems to first make light of how people use a religion's values as a front or representation of themselves and then of how some will judge and ridicule in the "name" of their particular God, choosing to ridicule others with contrary beliefs and point out their wrongs as "infidels" rather than focusing on doing good themselves. In other words they choose the easiest target, which is perhaps the basis for the lines, "When the pig runs slower/Let the arrow fly". In its entirety the song seems to be highlighting the way in which the world seems to point fingers and create scapegoats for the problems that face us rather than taking initiative and responsibility. The way in which religion has been transformed and used to do this is a perfect illustration of that problem. It is easier for man to blame Satan for the evils of the world then it is to admit our responsibility in creating those evils. This is just a great all-around piece of music from it's lyrics to it's production and evocative tone. That era of rock seems so recent, and yet, long-lost and so far from what we've been fed through the post-grunge to the present.

From the Music Bank Liner Notes:

The song is us against the world, those people who a put you down: “I put up with many years of you putting us down and watching us bleed, now I'd like to see you bleed some back.”

I think it's about how conformists/religious priests/social drones try to bring down those who are different from them. They use some excuse or the other (God) and ostracize these "freaks" (Bleed the Freak). And of course, the "freaks" want to see them bleed someday.

Not sure on the meaning, but there seems to be religious references: "My cup runeth over", a quotaion from the pslams of the bible. "When the sin lies bolder, I'll pluck out thine eye", Jesus once said "If your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it away" "Satan got your thigh", the satanic reference "Name your god", Decide your belifes "And bleed the freak", shun and harm what is not associated w/ those belifes

I think that this song uses the topic of religious intolerance as a metaphor for society failing to understand the human bond. That if someone isnt the same as you they are wrong. i do not think that this song is about drugs, however layne's drug addiction my be one of the contributing factors to him feeling disconnected to society. That is what this song means to me.

A lot of the worst atrocities in the history of the world have been fought in the name of religion. The political/religious leaders preyed on the faith of the followers(freaks)to fight the wars for them. There are a lot of freaks today that fight wars for unknown Gods...

I prefer the Live album version of this song rather than Facelift. Check it out, if you haven't already.

best AIC song on the best AIC album. The album cover for facelift is hilarious, but it freaks me out At the same time.

LONG LIVE LAYNE!

Yes because Jerry Cantrell is an idol that should be worshipped to the end of days.

Great F-ing song. One of my faves. To me, no matter what the exact meaning is, it just says "go fuck yourself" to all the people who gave them shit.

According to Jerry Cantrell it means this, "The song is us against the world, those people who put you down: I put up with many years of you putting us down and watching us bleed, now I'd like to see you bleed some back".. that was taken from Music Banks Liner Notes