Warren wanted a Beach Boys thing for this one, and Carl Wilson and Billy Hinsche came in, with Carl arranging the vocal parts. The other harmony vocalists (credited as the "Gentlemen Boys") were Jackson Browne, J.D. Souther, Zevon's longtime backers Waddy Wachtel and Jorge Calderon, and Linda Rondstadt/Stone Poneys guitarist Kenny Edwards.
Cannot recognize the face before me
It's unfamiliar
Time has left me broken down and homely
Can you still see me undisguised?
Outside the window of your eyes
Clinging to the memory of your prime
After many years the road you wandered
Left you here alone, deprived of others
On your toes or on your heels
There's a line drawn on the floor
Where the blood has dried, there is no shine
Have another go my friend
You see I can't feel anymore
While you question, just who the hell am I?
Is this all I am?
Given all I can?
Is this all I am?
'Til the end of time
Never knowing why
Ghosts and damage, no advantage for me
I'm past believing
Understand the price you pay disarming
When you can leave it all behind
Outside of the window of your eyes
Clinging to the memory of your prime
After many years the road you wandered
Left you here alone, deprived of others
On your toes or on your heels
There's a hole worn in the floor
Where the blood has dried, there is no shine
Have another go my friend
You see I can't feel anymore
While you question, just who the hell am I?
Is this all I am?
Given all I can?
Is this all I am?
'Til the end of time
Never knowing why
Cannot recognize the face before me
It's unfamiliar
It's unfamiliar
Time has left me broken down and homely
Can you still see me undisguised?
Outside the window of your eyes
Clinging to the memory of your prime
After many years the road you wandered
Left you here alone, deprived of others
On your toes or on your heels
There's a line drawn on the floor
Where the blood has dried, there is no shine
Have another go my friend
You see I can't feel anymore
While you question, just who the hell am I?
Is this all I am?
Given all I can?
Is this all I am?
'Til the end of time
Never knowing why
Ghosts and damage, no advantage for me
I'm past believing
Understand the price you pay disarming
When you can leave it all behind
Outside of the window of your eyes
Clinging to the memory of your prime
After many years the road you wandered
Left you here alone, deprived of others
On your toes or on your heels
There's a hole worn in the floor
Where the blood has dried, there is no shine
Have another go my friend
You see I can't feel anymore
While you question, just who the hell am I?
Is this all I am?
Given all I can?
Is this all I am?
'Til the end of time
Never knowing why
Cannot recognize the face before me
It's unfamiliar
Lyrics submitted by evanriley4410, edited by EternalTearsOfSorrow
All I Am Lyrics as written by Jerry Fulton Cantrell
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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My guess is that the life Jerry originally chose to live - being in AIC - has now caught up to him. 20 years on, he's reaping the results of a hard life of smoking, drinking, drugging, nameless women, little sleep, bad food, major life losses, the works. All the things that once seemed exciting in the beginning, tend to take a major toll on one's body and life after many years. So he doesn't really recognize himself anymore. Whereas he used to be "beautiful", as he ages, he's surprised by how he now looks (TBT, he certainly does sport a different "look" than what he used to). I think it's just basically a man who's aging, looking back on life his in his prime, and wondering "how the hell did I get here, and is this all there is?" CLASSIC Solomon questioning.