Alice in Chains

Released: August 21, 1990

Songwriter: Layne Staley

Producer: Dave Jerden

[Verse 1]
I tried to love you, I thought I could
I tried to own you, I thought I would
I want to peel the skin from your face
Before the real you lays to waste

[Verse 2]
You told me I'm the only one
Sweet little angel, you should have run
Lying, crying, dying to leave
Innocence creates my hell

[Verse 3]
Cheating myself, still, you know more
It would be so easy with a whore
Try to understand me, little girl
My twisted passion to be your world

[Verse 4]
Lost inside my sick head
I live for you but I'm not alive
Take my hands before I kill
I still love you, but I still burn

[Outro]
Yeah, love, hate, love
Yeah, love, hate, love
Yeah, love, hate, love
Ooh, love, hate, love
Yeah, love, hate, love

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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