Alice in Chains – Rain When I Die

"Rain When I Die" as written by and Sean Kinney Layne Staley....
Is she ready to know my frustration?
What she slippin' inside, slow castration
I'm a riddle so strong, you can't break me
Did she come here to try, try to take me

Did she call my name?
I think it's gonna rain
Oh, when I die

Was it something I said, held against me?
Ain't no life on the run, slowly climbing
Caught in ice so she stares, stares at nothing
I can help her but won't, now she hates me

Did she call my name?
I think it's gonna rain
Oh, when I die

She won't let me hide
She don't want me to cry
Will she keep on the ground, trying to ground me
Slowly forgive my lie, lying to save me
Could she love me again, or will she hate me
Probably not, I know why, can't explain me
Did she call my name?
I think it's gonna rain
Oh, when I die


Lyrics submitted by Ice

"Rain When I Die" as written by Sean Kinney Layne Staley

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management

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Rain When I Die song meanings
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  • +7
    My InterpretationI think the actual title of the song (I think it's gonna rain when I die) is a metaphor for a flower. The idea is that flowers tend to die when they don't get watered well enough, and Layne Staley is "the flower". He predicts that when he's wilted it will rain right afterwards as a way of saying his death will happen too soon and what could've saved him would already be too late.
    Netheroon July 28, 2011   Link
  • +4
    General Commentwhy is it all the great singers die...brad nowell,kurt cobain,and now layne staley,all of you made great music and you will be missed
    jimbo13on July 25, 2002   Link
  • +3
    General CommentI think it's about someone who let a girl take the fall for something he did. "Did she call my name?" when she was arrested and taken away "Ain't no life on the run" Life on the run kinda suggests criminality "Caught in ice so she stares, stares at nothing
    I can help her but won't, now she hates me " She stares at him coldly when she's taken away, and he could say something, say that it was him, but he doesn't. "now she hates me" he wants her to forgive him. "Slowly forgive my lie, lying to save me " he lied and said that it was her to save himself. Of course, it's just an opinion. And I'm probably wrong because i'm always wrong .. bad person that I am.
    evil_killer_phoneon September 26, 2002   Link
  • +3
    General CommentRain When I Die is not about Demri. This song is on Dirt, released in 1992. Demri died in 1996.

    Another AIC song that can be interpreted in many different ways depending on the circumstance or situation of the person.

    Back when I was doing as much research as I can on AIC and Layne Staley, I actually tried finding if it actually rained when Layne Staley died (RIP sweet Layne). I found this site that showed the weather records for the Seattle area in April 2002. Out of all the days, on the 5th, 6th, and the 20th, there was no data.

    Whether it rained or not on his death, it rained in our lives as well as the music industry.

    I know Im a big loser. Who cares.
    drainingblueon May 26, 2006   Link
    • 1 Reply
  • +2
    General CommentLayne, why did you have to die? Please rest in peace. It surely was raining to me when you died. AIC will live on forever, along with the lasting memory of Layne Staley.
    dashboardgirlie83on May 09, 2002   Link
  • +2
    General Comment1. This song was written long before Demri died (it came out in 92, she died in 96).
    2. It's almost certain that Jerry wrote the lyrics, not Layne.
    Lots of AIC songs are songs that Jerry wrote about girls, but people misinterpret them and think Layne wrote them about heroin.
    drinkthepoisonon September 19, 2004   Link
  • +2
    General CommentThis song is most likely about Layne doing something to hurt Demri because they broke up in 93/94 which wasn't that long after Dirt was released, and she passed in 96 from Bacterial Endocartis. I love Rain when i die because it's how I feel sometimes. RIP Layne & Demri. Layne I hope you're making beautiful music up there with all the other musical legends! All of us AiC fans miss you!
    StarGazer7897on June 20, 2006   Link
  • +2
    General CommentThis song is about a way of life and other peoples views upon it. " Im a riddle so strong..." is like living a certain way. " You cant break me " is saying that someone actually cared and tried to help. The person in question obviously didnt want help and possibly made an empty prediction that it would rain when he died maybe out of anger or possibly saying that he would die in Seattle WA. (constant rain)
    The words rain when I die also has another meaning in the song. Not only all of what I jus said, but it also says that there will be tears becuase of his death.


    It did rain the day he died
    systemofadowninaholeon January 27, 2010   Link
    • 1 Reply
  • +1
    General CommentEveryone seems to be ignoring evil killer phones comment and i reckon hes spot on! I think people can interpret the song as a breakup with a girl, but I think the idea of the the girl covering for him is totally right.
    "She wont let me hide, She Dont want me to cry" seems to be saying that shes willing to cover for him. I also think he has doubts about whether she will keep quiet about him, and whatever hes done wrong
    ed_vedder100on September 08, 2005   Link
  • +1
    General CommentI just have to say, great song, one of my personal favs. And I believe it did rain on April 5th in Seattle, the day he's estimated to have died, which I'm not surprised about. Layne had a way of seeing what he was becoming, so I believe he had a way of knowing what would happen the day he died. Awesome artist, he is surely missed. No lyricist quite like him.
    TheScorpionon August 15, 2007   Link

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