Lyric discussion by SwornToTheBlack 

Cover art for Hate To Feel lyrics by Alice in Chains

I'm sure this song is about regret and drugs and degredation trips, as are most alice songs. Layne at this point is describing his denial and confusion as he's slowly degrading himself with drugs and past suffering. he feels as if he doesn't deserve to live, because he is just another junkie...a machine with a constant ritual. "new orleans gotta get pincushion medicine(refers to heroin) used to be curious. now the shit's substanance". he explains how he got to be an addict in this line. he also hints that his father may have had a drug problem as well "all this time i swore i'd never be like my old man. what the hey, it's time to face exactly who i am".