Lyric discussion by teratur 

Cover art for Would? lyrics by Alice in Chains

Know me broken by my master SEEN AS DAMAGED GOODS BY GOD/PARENTS/AUTHORITY-FIGURES

Teach thee on child of love hereafter THE EMPTY PROMISES NURTURING LOVE AFTER SCORN

Into the flood again THE FLOOD OF DOPAMINE

Same old trip it was back then DRUGS OR AN ANALOGY TO

So I made a big mistake MISTAKE OF DRUGS OR ANALOGY OF

Try to see it once my way THOSE WHO HAVEN'T GONE THROUGH IT, HAVE SYMPATHY

Drifting body it's sole desertion LIFELESS BODY AFTER DRUGS, THE SOUL IS NUMBED

Flying not yet quite the notion FEELING LIKE FLYING ETHEREALLY, BUT NOT CORPOREALLY

Into the flood again Same old trip it was back then So I made a big mistake Try to see it once my way

Into the flood again Same old trip it was back then So I made a big mistake Try to see it once my way

Am I wrong? DOUBTS

Have I run too far to get home? HAVE I BECOME SO PHYSIOLOGICALLY SICK THAT I CANNOT RETURN TO HEALTH?

Have I gone? MENTALLY AND PHYSICALLY

And left you here alone? I'VE DIED AND LEFT LOVER/FRIEND/FAMILY-MEMBER ALONE

Am I wrong? Have I run too far to get home? Have I gone?

And left you here alone? If I would, could you? A REFERENCE TO ANDREW WOOD; AND IF I WOULD COMMIT SUICIDE, COULD YOU - OR, COULD YOU SURVIVE WITHOUT ME?

My Interpretation

@teratur This is the best I have found so far.

@teratur For the most part, I disagree. The entire song is about Andrew Wood, written after his death by heroin overdose. Here's my take:

Know me broken by my master BROKEN/KILLED BY A HEROIN OVERDOSE. HEROIN BEING HIS MASTER.

Teach thee on child of love hereafter (ANDY WOOD CALLED HIMSELF LANDREW THE LOVE CHILD, WHICH FRIENDS FOUND HILARIOUS BUT ALSO LOVELY). TEACH THEE ON, CHILD OF LOVE, HEREAFTER. AFFECTIONATE TRIBUTE TO ANDY WOOD & ALL HE TAUGHT THOSE WHOSE LIVES HE TOUCHED. TEACH ON, MY FRIEND, WHEREVER YOU ARE.

Into the flood again GOT OUT OF REHAB, STAYED CLEAN...

@teratur bingo such imagination on so many others to not say the obvious would and wood are obviously play on words