No Excuses

I don't think this song is directly about drug use. Maybe the situation he's talking about are what lead some people down that path.. but I really don't think that's what this is about. For me at least, I relate it to going further into adulthood and your relationship with good friends which you've had throughout earlier years. It sounds like Jerry might have hinted at that when saying it was about his relationship with Layne. My interpretation also mimics kc0tma's post a bit.

"It's alright There comes a time Got no patience to search for peace of mind"

When I was younger it was easier to fit everything I knew into a puzzle on how the world works and where I fit in. It's easier to have "piece of mind" when you aren't as worried about your life and it just seems there's a whole world ahead of you without limits. You never lose the desire to have this feeling but once you get into the grind, no matter what you're doing, you're so wrapped up in a whole new set of problems that it's very easy to slip away from that feeling... but you never forget about it.

"Layin' low Want to take it slow No more hiding or disguising truths I've sold"

Slipping into this time period of my life, I want to keep trying to recreate the good times and go out and have fun. Problem is, as you keep trying you realize each time it's barely ever that way. Friends who are going through the same thing are still trying to live that way and you get to a point where you're tired of trying to force it. It hurts your relationships but it hurts more to be let down by it, so you get blunt and just tell the truth that you're going to do nothing.

"Everyday it's something hits me all so cold Find me sittin' by myself, no excuses, then I know"

As the theme of the song, no matter what path you take you're being let down nearly every time. You're avoiding the things you once loved realizing it's just not there, which is a cold feeling. It's not that there's something else going on that's better but it's better to expect nothing than to be let down again.

"It's okay Had a bad day Hands are bruised from breaking rocks all day"

To me it just enforces the fact that this song is about going into a later period of your life. You're now working your ass off, it's not glorious but you know you have to go through it.

"Drained and blue I bleed for you"

If Jerry wrote this about Layne, maybe it's direct in the fact that he was working hard to keep the band going. For me at this point, right now I'm working just to keep afloat and to be able to see my friends when there actually is a good opportunity.

"You think it's funny, well you're drowning in it too"

My friends and I always joke and say "living the dream". We joke about it with a large sense of seriousness. I don't take this as a jab at anyone or people in general, just a sad way of everyone of realizing what's coming to be. Of course, it could also be directed at someone who isn't really realizing it.

"Yeah, it's fine We'll walk down the line Leave our rain, a cold trade for warm sunshine"

I take this as the reason you're putting up with this all to begin with. You're walking down the line, in the hopes of one day getting to the point that was once there, and being able to eventually enjoy that again someday.

"You my friend I will defend And if we change, well I love you anyway"

Hands down, in my opinion this is one of the most powerful lyrics ever written. I think it says a lot about Jerry's character. You realize that these kind of times change people drastically and with your good friends you see it happen right in front of you. Only a true friend would still love you and have your back no matter how things end up.

Again, I just don't see any possible way there is a drug reference in this song directly. If Jerry wrote this about Layne, maybe it's because he saw what he was slipping into but not necessarily blaming him for his choices. For some people these times are good, for others it's rough and everyone handles it in their own way.