Well, in my opinion this song is about being a young & maybe a little naive &/or introverted girl and finding yourself loving a man who is at first very charming, carefree & outgoing, and seems at first to be without limits, as in
"There was a time
you opened up every doorway
you didn't mind if everything
wasn't your way"
then that man starts to gradually become more introverted & shows their more possessive/obsessive side to you as the relationship progresses, even while they keep up the appearance of being carefree & outgoing to everyone else,
"Don't pull away
that goes against what you told me
I look in your eyes
I realize what you've sold me
is love in a vacuum"
so you confront them about the way they're acting and of course they deny it,
"I think you've changed
but you insist that
that's not true"
quite possibly they are an addict of some sort, my guess would be cocaine, &/or showing very obsessive behavior towards you (early on in the video for this song we see the man hanging a picture up, it is a very large portrait of Aimee & it is prominently displayed in his/their apartment for the duration of the song), thus their "love in a vacuum",
"You look so strange, so distant
that you're hardly you
Now I can see
how you have been acting different
You say it's me
but I know
that it isn't
it's love in a vacuum"
but still you are in love with them and don't want to leave them and you know that they are truly in love with you and they don't want you to leave them either, maybe they are convinced you can save them from themself, maybe they are so broken that the possibility of an overdose &/or suicide attempt is very real and you want to get through to them that their behavior not only dangerous but it is also just pissing you off and if they don't wise up they run the risk of loosing you, as in the lines
"You will be lonely
if you leave me alone", so you want to save them but can't get through to them due to the addiction &/or emotional problems they have,
"Love in a vacuum
and that's not enough
love in a vacuum
You will be lonely
you'll be the only one who feels this way
You will be lonely
if you leave me alone
You will be lonely
you'll be the only one who feels this way
it's just not enough"
you want them to understand that the love they are giving you is not enough when it is filtered through the vacuum of their drug addiction &/or emotional impairment,
"You will be lonely
you'll be the only one who feels this way
it's just not enough
and just wait
you will be lonely
Love in a vacuum
Love in a vacuum
and that's not enough
Love in a vacuum".
'Love In A Vacuum' for me is a hauntingly truthful acute argument on the loneliness of obsession and almost inevitable loss of love that follows people who are broken in some way or another; the obsessives, the coke heads, the drunks, addicts or the just-plain-old emotionally broken; a razor sharp, lyrically driven, deceptively poppy, yet ultimately-depressing-in-the-best-way song.
Quintessential Aimee Mann.
Is she ready to know my frustration?
What she slippin' inside, slow castration
I'm a riddle so strong, you can't break me
Did she come here to try, try to take me
Did she call my name?
I think it's gonna rain
When I die
Was it something I said, held against me?
Ain't no life on the run, slowly climbing
Caught in ice so she stares, stares at nothing
I can help her but won't, now she hates me
She won't let me hide
She don't want me to cry
Will she keep on the ground, trying to ground me
Slowly forgive my lie, lying to save me
Could she love me again, or will she hate me
Prob'ly not, I know why, can't explain me
Did she call my name?
I think it's gonna rain
When I die
What she slippin' inside, slow castration
I'm a riddle so strong, you can't break me
Did she come here to try, try to take me
Did she call my name?
I think it's gonna rain
When I die
Was it something I said, held against me?
Ain't no life on the run, slowly climbing
Caught in ice so she stares, stares at nothing
I can help her but won't, now she hates me
She won't let me hide
She don't want me to cry
Will she keep on the ground, trying to ground me
Slowly forgive my lie, lying to save me
Could she love me again, or will she hate me
Prob'ly not, I know why, can't explain me
Did she call my name?
I think it's gonna rain
When I die
Lyrics submitted by Ice
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In regards to the meaning of this song:
Before a live performance on the EP Five Stories Falling, Geoff states “It’s about the last time I went to visit my grandmother in Columbus, and I saw that she was dying and it was the last time I was going to see her. It is about realizing how young you are, but how quickly you can go.”
That’s the thing about Geoff and his sublime poetry, you think it’s about one thing, but really it’s about something entirely different. But the lyrics are still universal and omnipresent, ubiquitous, even. So relatable. That’s one thing I love about this band. I also love their live performances, raw energy and Geoff’s beautiful, imperfectly perfect vocals. His voice soothes my aching soul.
Dreamwalker
Silent Planet
Silent Planet
I think much like another song “Anti-Matter” (that's also on the same album as this song), this one is also is inspired by a horrifying van crash the band experienced on Nov 3, 2022. This, much like the other track, sounds like it's an extension what they shared while huddled in the wreckage, as they helped frontman Garrett Russell stem the bleeding from his head wound while he was under the temporary effects of a concussion. The track speaks of where the mind goes at the most desperate & desolate of times, when it just about slips away to all but disconnect itself, and the aftermath.
I think the actual title of the song (I think it's gonna rain when I die) is a metaphor for a flower. The idea is that flowers tend to die when they don't get watered well enough, and Layne Staley is "the flower". He predicts that when he's wilted it will rain right afterwards as a way of saying his death will happen too soon and what could've saved him would already be too late.
why is it all the great singers die...brad nowell,kurt cobain,and now layne staley,all of you made great music and you will be missed
Don't forget Jeff Buckley.
I think it's about someone who let a girl take the fall for something he did. "Did she call my name?" when she was arrested and taken away "Ain't no life on the run" Life on the run kinda suggests criminality "Caught in ice so she stares, stares at nothing I can help her but won't, now she hates me " She stares at him coldly when she's taken away, and he could say something, say that it was him, but he doesn't. "now she hates me" he wants her to forgive him. "Slowly forgive my lie, lying to save me " he lied and said that it was her to save himself. Of course, it's just an opinion. And I'm probably wrong because i'm always wrong .. bad person that I am.
@drinkthepoison BOTH Cantrell and Staley wrote the lyrics, although ALL of the band members were credited for writing the song. <br /> <br /> en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dirt_(Alice_in_Chains_album)#Track_listing
Rain When I Die is not about Demri. This song is on Dirt, released in 1992. Demri died in 1996.
Another AIC song that can be interpreted in many different ways depending on the circumstance or situation of the person.
Back when I was doing as much research as I can on AIC and Layne Staley, I actually tried finding if it actually rained when Layne Staley died (RIP sweet Layne). I found this site that showed the weather records for the Seattle area in April 2002. Out of all the days, on the 5th, 6th, and the 20th, there was no data.
Whether it rained or not on his death, it rained in our lives as well as the music industry.
I know Im a big loser. Who cares.
@drainingblue I may be 10 years late with the answer, but it actually did NOT rain in Seattle on the day of Layne's death. I specifically remember many radio stations commenting on this almost ironic fact when the unfortunate news broke.
This song is most likely about Layne doing something to hurt Demri because they broke up in 93/94 which wasn't that long after Dirt was released, and she passed in 96 from Bacterial Endocartis. I love Rain when i die because it's how I feel sometimes. RIP Layne & Demri. Layne I hope you're making beautiful music up there with all the other musical legends! All of us AiC fans miss you!
This song is about a way of life and other peoples views upon it. " Im a riddle so strong..." is like living a certain way. " You cant break me " is saying that someone actually cared and tried to help. The person in question obviously didnt want help and possibly made an empty prediction that it would rain when he died maybe out of anger or possibly saying that he would die in Seattle WA. (constant rain) The words rain when I die also has another meaning in the song. Not only all of what I jus said, but it also says that there will be tears becuase of his death.
It did rain the day he died
Read A Farewell To Arms by Hemingway. This will all make sense.
Layne, why did you have to die? Please rest in peace. It surely was raining to me when you died. AIC will live on forever, along with the lasting memory of Layne Staley.
Everyone seems to be ignoring evil killer phones comment and i reckon hes spot on! I think people can interpret the song as a breakup with a girl, but I think the idea of the the girl covering for him is totally right. "She wont let me hide, She Dont want me to cry" seems to be saying that shes willing to cover for him. I also think he has doubts about whether she will keep quiet about him, and whatever hes done wrong
Everytime i listen to this song, i almost cry because it reminds me of my grandmother. It started to rain when she was buried. As soon as it ended, it stoped.
Love how he screams: "i think it's gonna rain, WHEN I DIE!"