Alice in Chains

Released: August 21, 1990

Songwriter: Layne Staley

Producer: Dave Jerden

[Verse 1]
I messed around as a little boy
I grew up, made the blade my new toy
Friends said "boy, with what you screwing around?"
I said "don't concern yourselves and just give me another blast"
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah

[Chorus 1]
Under the hill, with just a few notches on my belt
Take it away, don't want no more
Even if you say just one more
I won't leave you alone, ooh

[Verse 2]
I grew up, went into rehab
You know the doctors never did me no good
They said, "Son, you're gonna be a new man"
I said, "Thank you very much and can I borrow fifty bucks?"
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah

[Chorus]
Under the hill, with just a few notches on my belt
Take it away, don't want no more
Even if you say just one more
I won't leave you alone, ooh

[Bridge]
Because I'm going down the steps on a white line
Going down the steps on a white line
Going down the steps on a white line straight to nowhere
Going down the steps on a white line
Going down the steps on a white line
Going down the steps on a white line straight to nowhere

[Verse 3]
I messed around as a little boy
I grew up, made the blade my new toy
Friends said, "Boy, with what you fuckin' around?"
I said, "Oh my God, and here we go again"
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah

[Chorus]
Under the hill, with just a few notches on my belt
Take it away, don't want no more, no more
Even if you say just one more
I won't leave you alone, ooh

[Bridge]
Because I'm going down the steps on a white line
Going down the steps on a white line
Going down the steps on a white line straight to nowhere
I'm going down the steps on a white line
Going down the steps on a white line
Going down the steps on a white line straight to nowhere

[Outro]
Follow me down
Sexual chocolate, baby

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.

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