Alice in Chains – Dam That River

"Dam That River" as written by and Jerry Cantrell....
I broke you in the canyon
I drowned you in the lake
You a snake that I would trample
Only thing I'd not embrace

Oh, you couldn't dam that river
And maybe I don't give a damn anyway
So you couldn't dam that river
And it washed me so far away

I pushed and then you stumbled
I kicked you in the face
You stare at me so hollow
Got to keep that killin' pace
Oh, you couldn't dam that river
And maybe I don't give a damn anyway
So you couldn't dam that river
And it washed me so far away

I burned the place around you
I hit you with a rake
You piss upon my candle
So proving you're a fake

Oh, you couldn't dam that river
And maybe I don't give a damn anyway
So you couldn't dam that river
And it washed me so far away


Lyrics submitted by Ice

"Dam That River" as written by Jerry Cantrell

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management

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Dam That River song meanings
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27 Comments

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  • +3
    My InterpretationI don't doubt Jerry when he says it was about a fight he had with Sean. The verses are obviously angry/violent.

    It's the meaning of "So you couldn't dam that river" in the chorus that's open-ended.

    Given the verses and what Jerry says it's about......I'm tempted to say it's metaphor about the inability to stop the bleeding. And Jerry doesn't give a damn.
    hoppingbunnyon December 23, 2010   Link
  • +2
    General Commentjerry and sean got into a big fight,and jerry said sean broke a table over his head,jerry wrote this song as a payback,it was in the Music Bank boolet
    aicguy22on June 10, 2002   Link
    • 2 Replies
  • +1
    General CommentActually, aicguy22 is right. The exact quote from Jerry is, "It's about that fight I had with Sean. I wrote it about him. '...I kicked you in the face' which, of course, I didn't because I couldn't. I was being an immature prick and I basically deserved wat I got. It was over a ride, I kept on bugging for a ride until he got so mad he picked up a coffee table and broke it over my head! My retaliation was writing this song.
    AICRULESon May 12, 2003   Link
  • +1
    General CommentYou all could be right but my take on it is the act of him killing some at a canyon i could be wrong but i really dont see wut a coffee table has to do with a canyon. good song
    87liveson April 11, 2005   Link
  • +1
    General CommentI guess you can't argue with Cantrell about what the song means but I always felt as though this song had something to with the Green River Killer. The fact that someone was trying to fill a river up with the bodies of 16 year old girls in Cantrell's back yard in roughly the time period this song was written is just to much for me to ignore.
    cromagson April 28, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Commenti dont see how this is payback
    danisgod25on July 21, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General CommentAnd Sean still played on the song?
    I always thought it was a bout self-harm.
    Songmeaningsuseron July 29, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General Commentjust saying what jerry siad in Music Bank,that's all
    aicguy22on July 29, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General Commentmy favorite aic song
    the King of shiton December 18, 2004   Link
  • 0
    General CommentWhen I first listened to Dirt I though this, Them Bones, Rain When I Die and Dirt would have been the singles. This song really doesn't get enough credit. Best AIC song EVER!
    grungraton July 23, 2005   Link

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