31/32

This song is obviously a quick summary of Jerry's life. It is Jerry sitting back and reflecting on his past, which hasn't been the greatest. It is very fitting to end the autobiographical epic album.

Jerry was talented early in his life; he was a good singer and led this school chorus. Thus the first line. Now with all his success that has turned on him, he is no longer most likely to do anything great, but to die an lonely forgotten death, much like Layne Staley, his good friend and band mate... this song was written a couple years before Layne's death so it's not about that.

The verses follow his life through childhood. The first verse talks of his bad childhood as his dad was a war veteran that was having a difficult time readjusting to the normal life, and had a drinking problem.

The first bridge is his reaction to the first voice from a narrative view. He wanted to get away from the violence of his father at home, but he didn't know how, as he was still young, and he still loved his dad, so he was not sure what to do. Looking back, Jerry realizes that he has many of the same troubles that scarred him as a child.

The second verse. Reflecting on the hardship his family faced. His dad had left him, his mother and his two siblings alone. They could barely survive, even with his mother doing all she could.

Second bridge, Jerry reemphasizing the hardship that was mostly caused by his father not supporting his family. This is where Jerry remembers how much he disliked his father at the time for putting him, his mother and his brother and sister in that situation.

The chorus speaks of Jerry's father. This reflects the problems his father was working out while Jerry and his family were struggling. Jerry Sr. had faced a lot during the war, and was battling within himself to move on, but as for many veterans of the war it was very difficult.

The following verse reviews Jerry's time working with Alice in Chains. He is grown up; he has lost his mother with all kinds of bad issues surrounding it from his extended family. His dad has finally got a hold on his life and has come back into his life. He had finally made it, his is a bonified rock star... but he did it by reliving and writing about the pain of his life.

The next bridge states his biggest regret, hesitation/procrastination.

The song ends with the chorus to show the healing of the relationship between his father and himself.

Then reaffirms the opening, after showing his life. He made it big, as everyone thought. Now, people think that he will not make it through to finish his life. But at the end of the song it's meaning has changed. No longer are you scared that Jerry is fading away. The song is hopeful, it is his rebirth. Thus the position at the end of the album. He is cleaning up his life and this song and album are about it.

I feel this entire album was written right after Jerry ended his long drug addiction. He has lived through all the hardship, and now is reached the top of the hill, and everything will be better from here on, just like his father.

It was his pant size at the time. Duh

Pant size thing is possible, in a funny way. But notice this: The title "is 31/32" on the album, not "31 32". Just geeking out a bit here, but perhaps the slash is significant and he means it as a fraction... like 1/2, 3/4ths, 7/8ths, 15/16ths ... So, 31/32nds. Almost to (the "whole" number) 1, but not quite. Carpenters & DIY folks, you follow me, right? Like being 96% there... I mean, Jerry is not a Neil Peart (Rush) kind of lyricist... he's not that over-the-top cerebral. But I'd wildly speculate maybe he was looking at a ruler or something w/ numbers and was thinking about expressing how something (relationship w/ his dad) wasn't "whole" in his life, but, "ok, it's close enough" or "It’s getting there/healing" somehow. Otherwise, maybe he was just looking for a good country-sounding rhyme. (???) Whatever the significance, still a great little diddy.

31/32 was Layne Staley's and Jerry Cantrell's ages at the time the song was written, leading me to think the song wasn't just about Jerry's past, becuase some of it doesn't seem to fit in with him, more with Layne.

maybe jerry was so messed up at the time he couldn't remember his age, figuring he was 31 or 32. ha!

I wish someone would ask him in an interview one day what it means.

I think when he says now he'll end up dad in room 31...32 is that he didn't know excalty what room number he was in so he just put both in the song but he knew he was in one of them.

I think when he says now he'll end up dad in room 31...32 is that he didn't know excalty what room number he was in so he just put both in the song but he knew he was in one of them.

As Murmandamus said, 31/32 could be their respective ages since Jerry was a year older than Layne and these songs were written around 1999-2000 when they would have been about 31/32......... Trouble is lots of people think most of Jerry's songs are about Layne even when they're not. This song may have nothing to do with Layne. Lots of people think most of DT 1 & 2 is about Layne but it's not. Layne was alive in 1999/2000.

Jerry was aged 31/32 during his 'Degradation Trip' so it could just be about him.

Large fancy hotels do have double suites where two rooms are joined together to make one large room. I have seen "31/32" on a hotel room door.

It's a beautiful song.

What is the significance of the 31/32 line? does anyone know?

"Now you're most likely to end up dead alone in a hotel room" That was exactly what happened to Layne.