Give away a love
And then remove another too
Painted words adorn the walls
Echoing untrue
(I feel cold)

Promises abound
You rarely find it to begin
Maybe I'm afraid
To let you all the way in
(I guess so)

I excuse myself
I'm used to my little cell
I amuse myself
In my very own private hell

Lately I'm beside myself
Pretending, unconcerned
Standing on a corner
Where I threw you on a turn
(I'll move on)

Flowers on a cross remain
Mark an ending scene
Damn it all if blood you spill
Turn the grass more green
(Life is short)

I excuse myself
I'm used to my little cell
I amuse myself
In my very own private hell


Lyrics submitted by christsizeshoes

Private Hell song meanings
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23 Comments

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  • +4
    General Comment

    wow this sounds like a old school AIC song has a down in the hole feel to it.

    Midnightbottleon September 25, 2009   Link
  • +2
    General Comment

    I personally hear a tale of a lost love in these lyrics & the refrain speaks to how he hides the pain inside & doesn't let on to anyone that he is hurting deep inside.

    Give away a love And then remove another too Painted words adorn the walls Echoing untrue (I feel cold)

    Sounds like the end of a relationship, he had someone - maybe ended over too big an ego & he let it walk away, the words spoken of love & forever have lost all meaning.

    Promises abound You rarely find it to begin Maybe I'm afraid To let you all the way in (I guess so)

    You rarely find it to begin - Love & how hard it is to find someone to love who feels the same way, he found another but he is still doubtful & unwillinging to let the new person in because he still mourns his other love.

    Lately I'm beside myself Pretending, unconcerned Standing on a corner Where I threw you on a turn (I'll move on)

    He is living a pretend existance, telling everyone he is happy but in reality has not moved on from the point of their demise. He threw what they had away & he feels regret but knows you can't turn back time.

    Flowers on a cross remain Mark an ending scene Damn it all if blood you spill Turn the grass more green (Life is short)

    That moment in time is like a roadside car accident. It is over, but he can't let it go. It is always in his head, regret & so he lives eternally with the pain inside... his personal hell

    MissKaton October 21, 2009   Link
  • +2
    General Comment

    After seeing a video interview, Jerry wrote this song about a breakup with a girlfriend that he really loved.

    MMQCon January 16, 2010   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    you guys, not every song on Black Gives Way to Blue is about Layne Staley!! geez. In my opinion, the song seems to be about someone who is guarded and wont let others in. Someone who likes be alone and takes "comfort" in it. Towards the end, however, it seems to be about how dying for a cause shouldnt have to happen, even if it is a good cause - "Damn it all if blood you spill turn the grass more green". because he says "the blood you spill" this gives me the impression of dying while fighting...not dying from drug overdose.

    Not every song on this album is about Layne. How would that be moving forward if every song was about him??

    DanTheMan86on October 19, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    This is Alice at their best. Beautiful song.

    Paddy89on September 23, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Uh huh

    RikerMontyon September 26, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    this song is about a family being harassed by termites and killer spiders.

    funeraldanceron September 30, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Hahahaha Funeraldancer... I love this song especially the "I feel cold (uh huh)" part.

    gemainchainson October 01, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    This is probably my favorite off the new album.

    ikickedagirlon October 03, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Like most Alice-this is powerful!

    MMQCon October 09, 2009   Link

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