Alice in Chains

Released: June 30, 2009

Songwriter: Sean Kinney Mike Inez William DuVall Jerry Cantrell

Producer: Nick Raskulinecz

[Verse 1]
Hear footsteps creak the floor
The shadows give away
Someone outside the door
Won't let 'em in
Life damaged gears to grind
A run down broke machine
That steals your peace of mind
Before you know it's gone
Lay down
Wait

[Chorus]
Silence burning, hold your tongue
Keep us separate, sullen, dumb
Hiding in the darkness under
Boiling to the surface
Stumble, fall
A looking in view too long on the outside
Desperate plans make sense in a low life
Lie
A looking in view too long on the outside
Desperate plans make sense in a low life
Lie

[Verse 2]
These things I hate in you
Also reflect it seems
Distortion laced with spite
Takes you out of me
Lay down
Lay awake

[Chorus]
Hiding in the darkness under
Boiling to the surface, somethin'
Crawling on your skin, discomfort
Makes you break and run
Stumble, fall
A looking in view too long on the outside
Desperate plans make sense in a low life
Lie
A looking in view too long on the outside
Desperate plans make sense in a low life
Lie

[Bridge]
It's why you never tell me heaven's on your mind
It's why you never tell me heaven's on your mind
It's why you never tell me heaven's on your mind
That's why you never tell me
Heaven's on your

[Outro]
A looking in view too long on the outside
Desperate plans make sense in a low life
Lie
A looking in view too long on the outside
Desperate plans make sense in a low life
Lie
It's why you never tell me
Heavens on your mind
A vengeful mind
Oh god, ooh
Selfish plans, a vengeful mind
It's all gone
Ooh
Except for the cross
A vengeful mind just reached inside

Alice in Chains are a Seattle-based rock band. They rose to international fame in the early 1990s as part of the ‘grunge’ movement. They are one of the most critically and commercially acclaimed acts of the 90s. Their first 3 studio albums all went multi-platinum and they have received 8 Grammy nominations for Best Hard Rock performance (sadly, never winning once).

Their unique sound comes from the harmonized vocals of co-founders Layne Staley and Jerry Cantrell, as showcased in some of their biggest songs like “No Excuses” from Jar of Flies, “Angry Chair” from Dirt and “Again” from the self-titled album. Cantrell also serves as the primary songwriter and guitarist of the band.

The band was never restricted to grunge. Cantrell believes it to be heavy metal; and indeed a lot of modern heavy metal bands cite Alice in Chains as an influence, including Metallica for Death Magnetic.

more tracks from the album

Black Gives Way to Blue

From the album

Black Gives Way to Blue (2009)

Alice in Chains popular songs

A Looking in ViewAlice in Chains

Alice in Chains

Black Gives Way to Blue