Ok, I've read a lot of these and I'm about ready to scream. Ok, this song is a stab in the face of AA/NA rhetoric. "Pink Cloud" is referring to how a newly recovered addict feels about sobriety. In AA/NA there's a lot of spirituality and a lot of the people start their day by getting on their knees to pray. Also when you're detoxing, a lot of people pray not to die, which you think you're gonna, especially from heroin. In AA/NA they say that you lose your mind and addiction is insanity. Someone was talking about this song being about being on the toilet? Well, when you're a junkie, you don't crap for days or weeks even. When you're kicking, it's the worst pain to have a gigantic shit coming down the pike. But if you're about to shoot up you think you can hold it for a little while longer. Then it goes away. It's awful. Also think of the flicker of a lighter under a spoon in the bathroom with dim lighting in the mirror. You'll hopefully get it to a point.
I like Alice In Chains because of my addiction, personal hell and it's nice to know I'm not the only one.
Glad you posted this- because you are correct. The "pink cloud"/praying/serenity references in this song are explicitly AA/NA references. This song is so dark and haunting because it captures the mindset of somebody who has been in rehab, shown the tools to kick addiction, and is about to get high anyway. Before going to rehab you can lie to yourself about your addiction much more easily than afterward. I don't think he is bashing AA/NA, I think he is saying, "I gave rehab a shot, but it didn't work, and now I know I can't stop from killing myself on...
Glad you posted this- because you are correct. The "pink cloud"/praying/serenity references in this song are explicitly AA/NA references. This song is so dark and haunting because it captures the mindset of somebody who has been in rehab, shown the tools to kick addiction, and is about to get high anyway. Before going to rehab you can lie to yourself about your addiction much more easily than afterward. I don't think he is bashing AA/NA, I think he is saying, "I gave rehab a shot, but it didn't work, and now I know I can't stop from killing myself on purpose with herion."
By the way, I think:
"Corporate prison, we stay, hey
I'm a dull boy, work all day, oh
So I'm strung out anyway, hey"
Could be a report of something somebody else said in one of his meetings in rehab. Layne wasn't exactly a dull boy working all day in a corporate world. But in AA/NA meetings, it is pretty common to hear a business guy say something like this.
Ok, I've read a lot of these and I'm about ready to scream. Ok, this song is a stab in the face of AA/NA rhetoric. "Pink Cloud" is referring to how a newly recovered addict feels about sobriety. In AA/NA there's a lot of spirituality and a lot of the people start their day by getting on their knees to pray. Also when you're detoxing, a lot of people pray not to die, which you think you're gonna, especially from heroin. In AA/NA they say that you lose your mind and addiction is insanity. Someone was talking about this song being about being on the toilet? Well, when you're a junkie, you don't crap for days or weeks even. When you're kicking, it's the worst pain to have a gigantic shit coming down the pike. But if you're about to shoot up you think you can hold it for a little while longer. Then it goes away. It's awful. Also think of the flicker of a lighter under a spoon in the bathroom with dim lighting in the mirror. You'll hopefully get it to a point. I like Alice In Chains because of my addiction, personal hell and it's nice to know I'm not the only one.
Outstanding insight.
Outstanding insight.
Glad you posted this- because you are correct. The "pink cloud"/praying/serenity references in this song are explicitly AA/NA references. This song is so dark and haunting because it captures the mindset of somebody who has been in rehab, shown the tools to kick addiction, and is about to get high anyway. Before going to rehab you can lie to yourself about your addiction much more easily than afterward. I don't think he is bashing AA/NA, I think he is saying, "I gave rehab a shot, but it didn't work, and now I know I can't stop from killing myself on...
Glad you posted this- because you are correct. The "pink cloud"/praying/serenity references in this song are explicitly AA/NA references. This song is so dark and haunting because it captures the mindset of somebody who has been in rehab, shown the tools to kick addiction, and is about to get high anyway. Before going to rehab you can lie to yourself about your addiction much more easily than afterward. I don't think he is bashing AA/NA, I think he is saying, "I gave rehab a shot, but it didn't work, and now I know I can't stop from killing myself on purpose with herion."
By the way, I think:
"Corporate prison, we stay, hey I'm a dull boy, work all day, oh So I'm strung out anyway, hey"
Could be a report of something somebody else said in one of his meetings in rehab. Layne wasn't exactly a dull boy working all day in a corporate world. But in AA/NA meetings, it is pretty common to hear a business guy say something like this.