When the Sun Rose Again

I think there are two things going on in this song. I think Jerry is trying to show how both he and Layne sold out for "score". Layne ended up choosing heroin (ie 'scoring' heroin) over the band which ultimately broke up the band and caused his death. Jerry chose music and although they said they would never get back together sold out for the "score" as well (as in musical score).

I think ultimately Jerry is trying to get across the point that it is unfair for fans or even Layne(RIP) to be angry with AiC getting back together since both Jerry and Layne made their own choices, trading in what could have been for the "score."

"It seems you prophesized All of this would end Were you burned away When the sun rose again?"

What I like most about this is that he poses the second line as a question. I think Jerry is posing kind of a rhetorical question about how Layne will always be part of AiC and not just burned away and forgotten just because they reformed with a new singer.

Lets not forget that the most common AiC logo is a picture of a sun.

..whew..ok that's all I've got.

"Prey, sqeal when you're caught"

Is probably:

"PRAY, squeal when you're caught"

Personally, I am surprised Layne and Jerry even managed to keep AIC together as a band as long as they did. The state of Layne had always been dismal, this much is clear even from their earliest material. It just took Layne a long time to realize that in the end that the ability to write "dark lyrics" wasn't worth holding on to all the pain... But it was too late, he was already half dead at this point. What he didn't know was that if he let go of the pain, he WOULD NOT lose that part of himself which made him "him".... It was exactly that part of himself which he was killing. This is why he couldn't change, this is why most do not change... And thus, tragic heroes, most remain.

In my opinion, AIC's best song was "I Stay Away", which was written by Stayle (by some accounts) during a brief period when he was sober. If he had persevered and evolved, what we are left with of AIC, would have paled in comparison with what could have been...

I can't help but comparing AIC to TOOL. Because just as TOOL symbolizes the mind, AIC is the heart. And just as the mind prevailed, the heart, by itself could not. Layne was pure emotion, unable to filter his own reality and analyze it as much as someone like Maynard can. Layne couldnt keep the most private parts for himself hidden away from his audience, he allowed himself to be vulnerable. Maynard, on the other hand is (in some ways) his exact opposite. Never giving away any direct part of himself to his audience. Its because he knows that "the crowd is fickle"... But this is the same reason why Maynard's voice can never have the emotional power that Layne had...

AIC & TOOL are the best rock has to offer our generation. Everyone else pales in comparison.

RIP Layne... he gave all he had... but his best was yet to come....

p.s. unquestionably the best song of the album, hats off to Jerry

It's about inevitableness in a "everyday the sun will rise again and see into your soul" kinda way

Were you burned away when the sun rose again? What a beautiful song... I'll just listen for a while, and allow the meaning to grow over time. As for musical composition, it is a gem.

Like many of these songs, it "could" be about layne, but I'm going to try to avoid those interpretations...

I think this could be about a friend who went to jail, who was leading a riskier lifestyle, maybe a drug dealer of sorts, or just a person who trys to find the quick fix/solution for everything.

"Selling out for the score" just trying to get ahead financially by selling drugs and whatnot "Cry it's not my fault" basically you can't blame anyone but yourself when you are arrested "it seems you prophesized..." basically it's a risky venture and usually ends up in failure

and perhaps when the sun rose up again is when he got out of jail, and after being so tainted by incarceration, normal life is forever tainted or "burning" him.

Just my take, but it's definitely my favorite track on the album. I loved it instantly.

I would agree with Plphoto ont this one. It seems to basically to be a song about the rebirth of AIC and a "fuck you" to the nay sayers of the album. Beautiful song that is definately a high point of the album.

I know I the beginning guitar riff of this song (the part without lyrics) in/on a TV show or movie but i cant remember what. I want to say True Blood ending credits but im not sure. Anybody else see/hear it or know what im babbling on about?

I know this could only be me, but I was thinking it was kinda like Grind. Grind is about people saying that AIC had broken up. Couldn't this be another song like that.

An example of this interpretation:

It seems you prophesized All of this would end Were you burned away When the sun rose again?

In Grind it was talking about how everyone was saying that AIC broke up... The first two lines of this could show that, everyone saying that it would end and what not. And the second two lines would be about them getting back together.

it's about eventually always having your demons uncovered unless you do something about them and that whenever you see a light, to always run to it instead of hiding in the dark.

I think that when he says "were you burned away when the sun rose again" refers to layne saying its over there is no getting out alive with his addiction but when he actually died did he just burn away? no he was found by his friends identified by his mother a week later and caused so much pain for all his friends and family and fans who loved him hence when you choose to take your own life you dont just burn away and disappear into dust you take everyone with you and cause great suffering for everyone........anyone who thinks they cant make it get help, I was addicted for 30 years and cleaned myself up and feel like Im 20 again ...never give up