Alice in Chains – Sickman

"Sickman" as written by and Jerry Cantrell Layne Staley....
What the hell am I?
Thousand eyes, a fly
Lucky then I'd be
In one day deceased

Sickman, sickman, sickman
I can feel the wheel, but I can't steer
When my thoughts become my biggest fear
Ah, what's the difference, I'll die

In this sick world of mine
What the hell am I?
Leper from inside
Inside wall of peace
Dirty and diseased
Sickman, sickman, sickman, sickman
I can see the end is getting near
I won't rest until my head is clear

Ah, what's the difference, I'll die
In this sick world of mine
Yeah, though I walk through the valley of rape and despair
Can you see the end?
Choke on me my friend

Must to drown these thoughts
Purity over rot
Ah, ah, ah

What the hell am I?
Worn eroded pride
Saddened ten miles wide
I'm gonna let it slide

Sickman, Sickman, sickman, sickman

I can feel the wheel but I can't steer
When my thoughts become my biggest fear
Ah, what's the difference I'll die
Oh, in this sick world of mine

Ah, ah, ah


Lyrics submitted by Ice

"Sickman" as written by Jerry Cantrell Layne Staley

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management

Lyrics powered by LyricFind

Sickman song meanings
Add your thoughts

23 Comments

sort form View by:
  • +3
    General CommentLayne obviously knew he was going to eventually die from his herroin addiction and he is saying he doesn't even care because of the horrible world he lives in.
    danisgod25on July 21, 2002   Link
  • +3
    General CommentI think that the song was trying to say that he wanted to be clean before he died "I won't rest until my head is clear" but then he seems to change his mind and describe how it doesn't matter because the worlds messed up, so it doesn't matter that he is.
    evil_killer_phoneon September 26, 2002   Link
  • +3
    General CommentTakes a couple listens to get used to, but a great song after that. The lyrics tell of how the world is a place you wouldn't want to live in, so it doesn't matter too much if you live or die ("what's the difference, I'll die/ In this sick world of mine"). It's obvious that drugs inspired this song.
    Tabuckton April 28, 2005   Link
  • +3
    General Comment:( It's about him wanting to get better then not after all seeing anything worth getting better for.
    starfireon August 25, 2005   Link
  • +3
    General Commenta very self-loathing song...the lyrics talk about not caring about dying soon because they hate the world anyways, while he deals with his heroin addiction, like he's in some kind of daze (i can feel the wheel but i can't steer), he doesn't have a strong hold on his life...how sad
    jerrylovesrock666on August 08, 2010   Link
  • +3
    General CommentLive version of this is insane. If someone dug through to hell, that's what it would sound like. In a good way. It's beyond creepy.
    Grungegirl7on December 27, 2010   Link
  • +2
    General CommentI think it might be an altered Bible quote or something. Never remembered all those Psalms, not like I care anyway.

    Yeah, this is pretty obvious yet so moving; he worries about his drug addiction, then realizes death will get him either way, so he doesn't care anymore.

    Fricking sad that it turned out that way...

    This has to be one of the best songs of all time: this is almost an opera of some sort.
    Melvanaon April 29, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Commentthe song is way cool, fell in love with it the moment i heard it, alot with the entire album this song is on.
    notthatguysomeoneelseon June 09, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Commentalong*

    as if it mattered.
    notthatguysomeoneelseon June 09, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General CommentI notice Quotation marks around that backround part. It also has that ..." thing, so they are not there just for the helll of it. So it must be a quote. Any ideas about what it is from?
    And while i'm here
    Ramthar is gay
    Ramtharlikesguyson April 09, 2006   Link

Add your thoughts

Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.

Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!

Back to top
explain