its amazing how far music can come.. 24 years after it released and its one of the most heartfelt songs ive heard
Road narrows, pouring down
I'm breaking without a sound
Bits and pieces of trying
Get what you pay for, nothing
Frozen dreaming of yesterday
Potent, creeping I'm far away
From my hometown I lit out
To save my skin and shed some doubt
I know how false the floor
How high the sky
Been down that road before
It's a lie, you hide in someone else
Like a shining scalpel, cut yourself
Hard as truth is, been my friend
Don't need to be invited in
I'll go round 'til bested
Pick up myself and try again
I know how false the floor
How high the sky
Been down that road before
It's a lie, you hide in someone else
Like a shining scalpel, cut yourself
All comes in time
Don't fight it, don't mind it
Whatever may come
I know how false the floor
How high the sky
Been down both roads before
It's a lie, you hide in someone else
Like a shining scalpel, cut yourself
I'm breaking without a sound
Bits and pieces of trying
Get what you pay for, nothing
Frozen dreaming of yesterday
Potent, creeping I'm far away
From my hometown I lit out
To save my skin and shed some doubt
I know how false the floor
How high the sky
Been down that road before
It's a lie, you hide in someone else
Like a shining scalpel, cut yourself
Hard as truth is, been my friend
Don't need to be invited in
I'll go round 'til bested
Pick up myself and try again
I know how false the floor
How high the sky
Been down that road before
It's a lie, you hide in someone else
Like a shining scalpel, cut yourself
All comes in time
Don't fight it, don't mind it
Whatever may come
I know how false the floor
How high the sky
Been down both roads before
It's a lie, you hide in someone else
Like a shining scalpel, cut yourself
Lyrics submitted by SongMeanings, edited by James IV
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Like a lot of the other comments are saying, I think this mainly about voyeurism. If the song was about his girlfriend, then why would he use the word spy. If you are a spy it means you shouldn't be caught, that is kind of the whole point, and if you are a voyeur, the whole point of the pleasure you get from it, is the fact that the other people don't know you are watching them. See a bit of a connection there?
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And, of course, the fact that she sees in him a fellow "idealist" and "dreamer" (terms commonly given to people with the INFP personality on the Myers–Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI)) portends that she'll always be left wondering if they would've been perfect together.
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The song lyrics were written by the band Van Halen, as they were asked to write a song for the 1979 movie "Over the Edge" starring Matt Dillon. The movie (and the lyrics, although more obliquely) are about bored, rebellious youth with nothing better to do than get into trouble. If you see the movie, these lyrics will make more sense. It's a great movie if you grew up in the 70s/80s you'll definitely remember some of these characters from your own life. Fun fact, after writing the song, Van Halen decided not to let the movie use it.
I think it's about cutting ties with the past and being real with yourself by taking off a facade you put on, hence the "like a scalpel, cut yourself" part.
My thoughts are the same. I think its kinda about Jerry's struggle with alcoholism, cocaine use, and broken relationships.<br /> <br /> "From my home town, I lit out. To save my skin, and shed some doubt." Referencing how he moved from Seattle, to California to start over, and "Check his brain".<br /> <br /> "I'm breaking without a sound", possibly referencing him attempting to hide it, and put up a facade of nothing's wrong/I don't have a problem.<br /> <br /> "Hard as truth is, been my friend. Saying he realized the truth was that he did indeed have a problem. <br /> <br /> Don't need to be invited in." Thanking Sean, and friends for pretty much forcing him into rehab, and saying how he views him as family.<br /> <br /> It's a beautiful song, and one of my favorites!<br />
And like you also said, using the "scalpel cut yourself." Using the scalpel as a tool to "cut into him", and pull out his demons
I think it is about the struggle to give up taking drugs. Been down both roads before...there is pleasure and pain in taking and staying off drugs. The hope is false as there is an inevitable fear of not staying off and taking them again. It is a pain suffered alone and which is hidden from the world. Just my thoughts :-)
Since Black Gives i dont listen Alice in Chains. Then i give a second chance to The Devil Put Dinosaurs Here and i get hooked again with AICH. <br /> I find this album truly superior than BGWTB.<br /> The power of Scalpel is evident. Is a great song! The voices make an excelent journey and emotive as i never heard before. Te message in this song is the vision of someone who is evaluating things in the past and now have more persepctive of things.
A masterfully both gentle and powerful of reminding us of:
"I don't believe in Satan But he believes in me"
"I know how false the floor"
"How high the sky"
"Been down those roads before, it's a lie.. you hide in someone else"
"Like a shining scalpel, cut yourself"
Gosh, the harmonies of this band have to be the best, current and with Layne.
This song is so beautiful. It really struck a chord when I sat with the lyrics. This is how I personally resonate with the song anyway:
I see it as being about hardship, keeping going. Being alone (breaking without a sound - no one to hear you). Dreams that haven’t gone anywhere, needing a change of scenery. “I know how false the floor, how high the sky” - I see this as stability in life being an illusion (anything can happen or rip the rug from under our feet) and how our dreams can feel out of reach, hopelessness. There are no guarantees in life - you have to fight to make things happen. And you can only rely on yourself. The chorus illustrates that we should not place our hopes in others, it’s a form of self-harm because we are the only ones we can count on. Stop counting on illusions that incorporate other people. Truth might hurt, but it’s best in the long run, and it’s better than fantasy. Keep trying. Roll with the punches. Take things in stride. Fight.
I think the song is about the hardships of life and about picking yourself up and continuing.
He sings the roads and world are falling apart, but he's not making a sound. He's not complaining, he's enduring.
Dreams are frozen and gone and he left amlong time ago to save his skin. But sheds some doubt, did he really make it?
He hides in someone else and pretends. And cuts himself with a scalpel. He operates on himself to fix himself, quietly and subtle.
He goes on until he is bested and defeated, but he picks himself up and tries again.
I think it's one of the best Alice in Chains songs out there and one of the better or best grunge songs.