Lyric discussion by extrauma 

Cover art for I Stay Away lyrics by Alice in Chains

Living life in the same manner over time will callous a heart. Going south this year, or trying to take a vacation from the lifestyle can be unbearable at times. Tears that validate my sorrow permeate the callous willpower i try to cling to, but in the end, we are baser creatures of habit-and my addiction ultimately wins. With eyes so promising true to alleviate my pain, i believe in them, only to see them change into ardent laughter at my plight. I want to remove myself, and act upstanding-but when i look deep inside to truly clean house, an act is as close as i'll get to coping with the reality of addiction's gravity.

My Interpretation