Know me broken by my master
Teach thee on child love hereafter

Into the flood again
Same old trip it was back then
So I made a big mistake
Try to see it once my way

Drifting body it's sole desertion
Flying not yet quite the notion

Into the flood again
Same old trip it was back then
So I made a big mistake
Try to see it once my way

Into the flood again
Same old trip it was back then
So I made a big mistake
Try to see it once my way

Am I wrong
Have I run too far to get home
Have I gone
Left you here alone

Am I wrong
Have I run too far to get home yeah
Have I gone
Left you here alone
If I would, could you

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Lyrics submitted by Ice, edited by staycool72

Would? song meanings

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190 Comments

+17
General Comment
To me, this is definitely a song about regret and asking for forgiveness. I'm too tired to break it down line by line, but the main points are that the narrator (for lack of a better term) has been slipping into old habits and mistakes, slowly falling back into the 'flood' of regret/depression. However, they still believe that anyone could make the same mistakes if in their shoes, and ask for the listener to "try to see it once my way". Also, the whole "Am I wrong..." part is the narrator question whether or not they've made too many mistakes to ever live a happy or normal life. "Have I run too far to get home?" = "Have I done more damage than I can repair?". Just a quick interpretation, hopefully someone else here has a similar view.

To me, this is definitely a song about regret and asking for forgiveness. I'm too tired to break it down line by line, but the main points are that the narrator (for lack of a better term) has been slipping into old habits and mistakes, slowly falling back into the 'flood' of regret/depression. However, they still believe that anyone could make the same mistakes if in their shoes, and ask for the listener to "try to see it once my way". Also, the whole "Am I wrong..." part is the narrator question whether or not they've made too many mistakes to ever live a happy or normal life. "Have I run too far to get home?" = "Have I done more damage than I can repair?". Just a quick interpretation, hopefully someone else here has a similar view.

Reason:

thecallofktulu1993on January 15, 2011 Link
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@thecallofktulu1993

definitely exactly what i was thinking.

SEXYWHALE4LIFEon February 09, 2011

@thecallofktulu1993 Me too! Love this song because the singer is definitely seeking redemption.

altamber8on August 11, 2016

@thecallofktulu1993 For me the last verse reference to an overdose gone to far to get home have I gone and leave you here alone\r\nAnd if he did could you...? (forgive him) in an incomplete frase\r\nbecause the person dyes

orian11352on January 31, 2022

@thecallofktulu1993 Good observations, as well as the replies. The song was well-known to be written about Andy Wood (one of the few AIC songs with a truly well-documented source). Sadly, hearing Layne sing it on Unplugged, it could have been written about himself.

Dogzdazeon August 05, 2023
+11
General Comment
I think it's about someone knowingly making a bad decision that they're going to eventually regret but feel they must do. In turn, they're asking another to see their situation the same way they did in order understand why they keep coming back to the same problem. The end of the song has the person asking if they've gone too far to turn their back on the situation and if, in the long run, they have abandoned the recipient of the song. The recipient is then asked that if they were to be alone, could they see things from the same perspective as the Main person of the song.

I think it's about someone knowingly making a bad decision that they're going to eventually regret but feel they must do. In turn, they're asking another to see their situation the same way they did in order understand why they keep coming back to the same problem. The end of the song has the person asking if they've gone too far to turn their back on the situation and if, in the long run, they have abandoned the recipient of the song. The recipient is then asked that if they were to be alone, could they see things from the same perspective as the Main person of the song.

Reason:

JDF2376on July 18, 2009 Link
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@JDF2376

wow, u think to much about it.

Downface88on November 24, 2009
+8
General Comment
This song is very different in many levels, One is the fact that the singer is talking about going threw his addiction of heroin all over again. For me, I related to being traped in my ex girlfreinds love again. Also you can but it in any situation, one time or the other that a part of you're life has gone wrong. It's a great mind easer and good song to think about!!!!!!

This song is very different in many levels, One is the fact that the singer is talking about going threw his addiction of heroin all over again. For me, I related to being traped in my ex girlfreinds love again. Also you can but it in any situation, one time or the other that a part of you're life has gone wrong. It's a great mind easer and good song to think about!!!!!!

Reason:

Beauch Doggon May 15, 2002 Link
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@Beauch Dogg

lol. I'm pretty sure the song is about family trust issues. Which does increase the probablity of substance abuse for the child has guidance troubles when broken by thier master.

sirstriker886on December 27, 2009

@Beauch Dogg Wow you made the comment 10 years after the Would? was released and I am digging this comment from the grave 20 years after :) Internet is amazing, sometimes.

So, as I learned, Jerry wrote the song for the late Mother Love Bone Singer Andy Wood.

bane106782on September 16, 2022
+8
General Comment
"If i would could you." If i would love you could you love me. My favorite alice in chains song

"If i would could you." If i would love you could you love me. My favorite alice in chains song

Reason:

prehistoricfelixon August 04, 2009 Link
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@prehistoricfelix

@prehistoricfelix my favorite too!! I love I stay away and no excuses but would is my favorite.

doorssieon May 16, 2018

@prehistoricfelix me too!! i also love man in the box & no excuses but this is my number 1.

google1013on April 24, 2022

@prehistoricfelix me too!! i also love man in the box & no excuses but this is my number 1.

google1013on April 24, 2022

@prehistoricfelix me too!! i also love man in the box & no excuses but this is my number 1.

google1013on April 24, 2022

@prehistoricfelix Or "if I would use heroin one more time, end up dying & thus leaving you here alone after promising you all I'd get clean...could you?"
Not as romantic maybe, but makes a lot more sense to me. I feel they were warning those who might have judged Andy Wood for relapsing again after rehab & asking people to get honest with themselves--if he would do it...could you? And unfortunately, as someone in recovery, my answer is OF COURSE I could (and probably would have).

Dogzdazeon August 05, 2023
+7
General Comment
i relate the last line to mine and my boyfriend's relationship with heroin. quitting is hard enough when you're doing it alone, but it's even harder when you're so closely intertwined with someone who's also an addict. i want to quit, but he's not ready, and i'm not strong enough to stop using with him using around me, and i'm not strong enough to leave him for the sake of my own health. "if i would, could you?" apparently not.

i relate the last line to mine and my boyfriend's relationship with heroin. quitting is hard enough when you're doing it alone, but it's even harder when you're so closely intertwined with someone who's also an addict. i want to quit, but he's not ready, and i'm not strong enough to stop using with him using around me, and i'm not strong enough to leave him for the sake of my own health. "if i would, could you?" apparently not.

Reason:

thegasmanon March 04, 2010 Link
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@thegasman

@thegasman Reading this 13 years later, & hoping you and/or both of you ultimately got clean & neither lost their lives. I'm in recovery myself, 14 years, & know how hard it is. Wishing you all the best & hoping you're both okay. There's actually nothing better than having a boyfriend in recovery when you're in recovery yourself.

Dogzdazeon August 05, 2023
+5
General Comment
To me this song reminds me of love.... just making mistakes and just wishing you could change them and that the other person would see that you know you made the mistake...... love is my drug....

To me this song reminds me of love.... just making mistakes and just wishing you could change them and that the other person would see that you know you made the mistake...... love is my drug....

Reason:

Led Hendrixon February 14, 2006 Link
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@Led Hendrix

@Led Hendrix Is that a reference to "Reach Down" from Temple of the Dog?

TiredoftheShadowinon September 29, 2021
+5
General Comment
It's about making the same old mistakes again, and not being able to please the people around you. And you just want them to try and see it once your way.

It's about making the same old mistakes again, and not being able to please the people around you. And you just want them to try and see it once your way.

Reason:

Soundgarden1019on February 17, 2006 Link
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@Soundgarden1019
+5
General Comment
This song is very haunting I get a very dark feeling from it. I love it though i listen to this whenever I work out keeps me motivated especially towards the end when he asks those questions cuz anyone could relate to those questions.

This song is very haunting I get a very dark feeling from it. I love it though i listen to this whenever I work out keeps me motivated especially towards the end when he asks those questions cuz anyone could relate to those questions.

Reason:

armondo28on November 13, 2008 Link
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@armondo28
+5
My Opinion
This song sounds like it is about a person who accidently done someone wrong and that person will not let them forget about and keeps giving the person a guilt trip about or trying to ruin their reputation and the person is going through a rough time in his life and is trying to make it up or fix his mistakes but cant seem to get a break and have something good happen in his or life.

This song sounds like it is about a person who accidently done someone wrong and that person will not let them forget about and keeps giving the person a guilt trip about or trying to ruin their reputation and the person is going through a rough time in his life and is trying to make it up or fix his mistakes but cant seem to get a break and have something good happen in his or life.

Reason:

grungecountryon August 15, 2015 Link
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@grungecountry
+3
General Comment
I personally found this song to be about falling back into a bad habit, be it drugs as some claim it to be or a undesirable lifestyle. Becoming free of something that is holding you back, but when it seems that everything is finally going right for you again, that habit comes back and becomes a reality that one does not wish to resume but is for some reason pulled back to it.

I personally found this song to be about falling back into a bad habit, be it drugs as some claim it to be or a undesirable lifestyle. Becoming free of something that is holding you back, but when it seems that everything is finally going right for you again, that habit comes back and becomes a reality that one does not wish to resume but is for some reason pulled back to it.

Reason:

tsax421on January 14, 2007 Link
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@tsax421