I’m jealous of anyone hearing this for the first time. His voice and this chorus is one of the best ever written. When I first heard this it was in the 90’s.
Couldn't agree more, Alice in chains were the goat of grunge, don't get me wrong, there were other great bands and of course I love Nirvana but Alice in chains were just on another level for me.
I remember when that explicit lyric box started appearing on some albums! 😂. I wasn’t 18, but I was still sold the music! I listened to a lot of Alice In Chains back in the day.
The funny thing is how that box on album covers actually sold more albums than if they didn’t have them on them so they were actually doing the bands favors in disguise
If I had to guess, Brad liking this "grunge" more than alot of other music is that Alice In Chains relies a lot on melodies and harmonies to lift their music choruses. It's easier on the ears - and sounds really good cuz their chemistry is so great. Regardless, they are one of my all time fav bands, they became the first band since Metallica and Iron Maiden to top my list of best music. I loved every song Chains made. They still released an album after Staley died with a new lead singer which was very good. Jerry Cantrell continues to add such depth and talent to that band.
You should check out Jerry's solo stuff if you haven't. Boggy Depot is a little more stripped down, from AiC. But, Degredation Trip might as well be another AiC record.
Layne Staley had one of the Best Voices in Rock History. His charisma, watching him go from being so vibrant to a shell of a man was So Hard. He died alone, only found two weeks later. He locked your heart to his soul for us empath type people and not to sound melodramatic, but when you lock yourself to another person it's called a soul tie. It's rare. I can't watch the mtv unplugged session. Expressionless, barely moved, frail..💜 RIP Layne Staley, hope you found that Neverending Love 💘
This song was about the singer Layne Stanley's addiction to drugs in real life. The verse Save Me Jesus Christ was the good side of himself and the verse Deny Your Maker (meaning don't believe in God) was the destructive side of himself pulling him deeper and deeper into drugs. The line feed my eyes, sew them shut means reading the bible (which represents feed my eyes) and then sew them shut is the drugs killing him. Its the dichotomy he is living of the two extremes. Now do you all get it ?? That's why he wrote the lyrics that way because he was struggling with both sides of himself and he ended up losing. But, the band was tight and always put out good music. For those wondering what bands were part of the core five in Grunge music they were the following. 1st, Nirvana made that syle popular in the early nineties. Then, came other bands from mainly Washington State where Nirvana was from and also California bands. The core five big Grunge bands were Nirvana, Sound Garden, Pearl Jam, Alice In Chains and Stone Temple Pilots. These bands had the majority of the hits in the 90s that were considered massive Grunge Rock hits.
@@fredtello LOL stop it. Yes, Facelift is a great record. I enjoy every song on it with Sunshine and Confusion being two of my favorite songs ever. That said, I still find the Dirt record to be superior. And yes, I'm a "real fan".
Agreed. Think if Layne had his shit together. Well fuck the rhythm section were alcoholics n Layne was banging dope from Dirt till the end of his life. Major props to Jerry Cantrell for holding that shit together...he definitely made chicken salad out of what cudda easily been chicken shit
I remember seeing this video when it debuted on Headbanger's Ball. Man, it kicked my ass. I had to call a buddy of mine to see what he thought. We both agreed that these dudes we going to be good. They ended up being one of my favorite bands of all time!
He was cremated when he passed and his ashes are in a box. Surreal.....Seen his mom bring it on celebrity rehab when the lead bassist was in with Dr. DREW. Unforturnity he also unfortunately relapsed & passed. They were a great band....I was in HS & COLLEGE IN THE 90S WHEN THIS CAME OUT. HAD IT ON MY "CD PLAYLIST".
Check out Laynes softer side, “Nutshell”, very emotional song. Also Layne had a side project band called Mad Season, a super group comprised of members of Pearl Jam, Alice In Chains, Screaming Trees. A couple great songs from them are “Wake Up”, a open letter to Layne himself and his drug addiction, and “River of Deceit”.
If I were to weigh the Mad Season cd against any of the AIC albums individually, (whole cd vs whole cd, not entire catalog), the Mad Season album is easily sitting at the top of the list for me.
@@FrancoUnAmericano I think Layne Staley believed in God (according to his mom he did) but he didn't like religion and I don't think he believed in the bible I couldn't find anything on it
Yup and to me deliberately and masterfully vocalized as a push and pull... the angel or devil sitting on your shoulder or fighting your subconscious type of shit. Literally nobody could stretch words out in such a meaningful manner and still sound good in my opinion... how many do we know that can stretch a few short incomplete sentences into a complete song as bad ass as they could.. The lyrics to this song would take literally seconds to write and turned out one of the best songs ever written. hahaha
This is the singers Staleys cry for help. He calls for Jeus to help, but doesnt take it, he denys it. Then he sees what he is, addicted, but its easier to close your eyes and continue the addiction. Feed me eyes, , sew them shut. i see, but dot wanna see. He who tries? will be wasted.. He tries, but ends up back on the dope. When you understand the power of addiction, the words are his cry for help. Addiction ends 2 ways, sober, or death. May he RIP
"Man In The Box" deals with censorship, with animal cruelty used as a metaphor. The "man in the box" is like a veal calf trapped in confinement. The song was inspired by lead singer Layne Staley's impressions of both censorship and meat consumption, but saying the song is "about" either of those things would be stretching the facts. Staley didn't like it when musicians got political because he didn't feel they (including himself) should be preaching about things they weren't qualified to elaborate on. The final lyrics for "Man In The Box" are rather opaque, but Staley did explain the meaning. The song started out being about censorship alone, but then Staley and AIC went to dinner with some Columbia Records executives. Some of the executives were vegetarians, and the conversation turned to the way calves were raised in tiny boxes to be slaughtered for veal. As explained in Alice In Chains: The Untold Story by David De Sola, Staley incorporated thoughts inspired by that conversation into the song he was working on. In its final version, "Man In The Box" is written from the perspective of a calf in a box waiting to be slaughtered. The censorship aspect of the song is basically indecipherable and would probably be lost entirely if not for the fact that Staley mentioned it in some interviews. Lyrics below: I'm the man in the box Buried in my shit Won't you come and save me? Save me Feed my eyes (Can you sew them shut?) Jesus Christ (Deny your maker) He who tries (Will be wasted) Oh, feed my eyes (Now you've sewn them) shut I'm the dog who gets beat Shove my nose in shit Won't you come and save me? Save me Feed my eyes (Can you sew them shut?) Jesus Christ (Deny your maker) He who tries (Will be wasted) Oh, feed my eyes (Now you've sewn them) shut Feed my eyes (Can you sew them shut?) Jesus Christ (Deny your maker) He who tries (Will be wasted) Oh, feed my eyes (Now you've sewn them) shut
More Grunge please.... Pearl Jam "Black" Live MTV Unplugged, best Unplugged performance ever (IMO) and Lex, you seem to like Live stuff.... consider PJ's Live performance of their huge hit "Alive" at Immagine in Cornice 2010. (20 yrs after it's release).... it's a song that was written with a dark thoughts in mind yet it turned into a positive.... Eddie Vedder frequently thanks the audiences/fans for turning it into the positive anthem it is today.... you'll see it in this performance. Plus you'll see how "real" the guys of Grunge are... Eddie takes a "spill" during the performance and he told them to leave it in the video!! :)
Alice In Chains Unplugged is also amazing. And their Live at the Moore Love Hate Love version is my (and a lot of other peoples) opinion one of the greatest live versions ever performed. Layne’s passion and pain, the entire bands performance is perfection. Think you guys would love it. Keep up the great reactions. I really love watching you guys!
Love it....Angry Chair is the only song written by Layne Staley. The riff, lyrics, everything. If you've ever been on dope, or seen ppl in that scene...it describes it to a T. The Angry Chair is the toilet. Candles to cook the dope. It's all in there. Layne describing his personal Hell
Yes, ma'am! Keep getting pulled in! AIC is in a lane all their own. They are different, even from other grunge. Layne has a way of reaching your soul, even from beyond the grave. Chris Cornell also has that ability, both from that same scene... there was something in the water in Seattle back in the day, man. These guys and all their bands, the best from this time. There are so many people influenced by them, really. Nutshell and Down in a Hole should absolutely be the next for AIC though
I love the mtv unplugged version of down in a hole wayyyy more than the studio version!! It really shows off Layne and Jerry’s live vocal ability and I think it sounds amazing so you should definitely check it out!
He says "feed my eyes" then the backup singer says "can you sew them shut?" Then he says "Jesus Christ" then the backup singer says "deny your maker" then he says "he who tries" and the backup singer says "will be wasted" then he says "feed my eyes" again and then the backup singer says "now you've sewn them shut".
Great reaction! I remember seeing this song debut on MTV in 1990, and it totally blew me away, and AIC quickly became my favorite band soon after hearing the rest of "Facelift" (the album this song is on). I think it's important to note the cultural context of the time this song was release in 1990... up until that point mainstream rock music was dominated by "glam rock/metal" bands, with a typically party vibe, more up beat etc. Metal music did explore darker subjects, but they were for the most part more niche. When AIC dropped, it felt like being hit with reality like a ton of bricks... no super fancy guitar solos, no pretense etc. If they were singing about drugs, which they did a lot, with would not be from the position of partying, but from the reality of an abuser. They really tapped into the human condition, and put their hearts on their sleeves, regardless of how dark their music got, but it's also what makes their music so relatable. When I first heard their music, it reminded me of heavy, brown sludge, in the best way possible (that description is more about the feeling the sound produces than any particular lyrical content). I'm not the biggest fan of the label "Grunge" for Alice in Chains, because while they do fit into the Seattle scene where "grunge" bands were at the time, I feel they're more a combination of a twisted version of blues influence heavy rock/metal band... the "grunge" label was created by some journalist to describe the Seattle music scene in the early to mid 90s, and them music labels used it as a convenient way to market the bands, because "grunge" was all the rage from around 1990 to 1996, but the reality is that the Seattle scene was made up of a lot of bands that sounded quite different from each other, and Alice in Chains definitely had more of a metal/heavy rock influence to them than some of the others. Jerry Cantrell, the guitarist has cited Black Sabbath as a big influence, so you have feel some of that slower heavy guitar riffing in their music, even if they don't sound like Sabbath. Song wise, I'd really recommend diving more into the "Dirt" and "Facelift" albums. Their first album "Facelift" was more raw feeling, and you can tell that they're really exploring different sounds as they incorporate elements of metal, rock, blues, funk... but it's a truly amazing album. "Dirt", their follow up album really cements their musical. identity and really gets super dark, but is so beautiful. I can't choose which I like better, they're just different. Me, and many others I'm sure, will recommend reacting to the some "Would" as it was a significant hit for them. From "Dirt" I'd also recommend "Them Bones, Down in a Hole, Rain When I die, and Junkhead". From "Facelift" I'd recommend "Bleed the freak, Sunshine and I can't remember". For me, those are musts. I would listen to these first before going to the MTV unplugged, because I feel it's better when people listen to the first 2 albums, to really get a sense of how dark things got for the band to help contextualize that MTV unplugged performance, which is really beautiful, but also heartbreaking... I feel some of the gravity of that performance gets lost if you aren't too familiar with their music.
ALICE NEVER DISAPPOINTS. BEST THING TO COME OUT OF SEATLE. SO VERSATILE AND THE REASON YOU FEEL THAT WAY LEX IS LAYNE MAKES U FEEL EVERYTHING HE SINGS. THEY ARE THEIR MUSIC.
I got to hang out with Layne and the Guys backstage when they toured with Van Hagar at Desert Sky Pavilion when I brought them Pizza from Domino's and they were the Nicest guys, very down to earth. What an Honor it was to meet them.
These guys were dope live back in the day. Seen em multiple times in the 90's. Almost all of Nirvana, Soundgarden, Pearl Jam, and Alice in Chains songs in the 90's were fire. And still are.
When you guys do videos, especially from the 90's, try to find either a lyric video or an audio only video as most videos from the 90's were censored and cut
*brad* wonder what he means by "crist, deny your maker" *lex* "oh man i wish i could go to a concert of them" *still rocking out. love it!!!! love your channel guys keep it up
I've always interpreted it as the TV "box" and media feed our eyes with their stories/narrative, but can they keep us from seeing through them, sew our eyes? And we want to be saved, but we are told to follow the gods we're given, the political/media/entertainment/corporate leaders. Of course, I may have completely misinterpreted it...
I lived just outside Seattle back when Grunge was first hitting the scene, good times! Actually saw Alice in Chains LIVE in Louisville, Ky. He had a broken leg in a cast and performed from a wheel chair while complimenting us on the quality of our acid. Lol!
Aic is one of the greatest bands ever. One of my personal favorites. Glad you enjoy them aswell. Adding a subscribe I've been watching a few of your reactions and have been enjoying. Have a great day.
Well I did suggest a month or so back that you'd be going to a metal concert in the Fall. Brad, ya ready yet? Cause your going 100...no doubts. Oh, your gonna love it too. **edit** Take earplugs!
This song made me fall in love with them when it was first on MTV (MTV used to play good music once upon a time) and I was instantly mesmerized by his voice
RIP Layne Staley and Mike Star. I had the pleasure of seeing them a couple times and it was in a couple small clubs in Detroit and out of the hundreds of the bands I have seen they were unequivocally the best.
This song, which is about censorship and government controlled narratives, was massive when it came out, helped define their sound, and launched their career. It was unlike anything else at the time.
“Jesus Christ. Deny your maker…” The next line is “He who tries, will be wasted.” So, it’s saying IF you deny your maker (Jesus Christ), THEN you will be wasted. It’s not recommending one deny Jesus Christ necessarily. It’s just saying that anyone who chooses to do that will be wasted. His/her soul will be wasted.
Alice In Chains MTV UNPLUGGED is a must watch . You will be amazed how good they are . 👍👍 Hello from Scotland 🏴🏴🏴🏴 then pearl Jam UNPLUGGED of MTV aswell.
The entire 90s Grunge era is great. They made live Unplugged really popular too. Check out Nirvana, Alice in Chains, Pearl Jam, and Stone temple pilots "Live MTV Unplugged" albums. You won't be disappointed.
I’m jealous of anyone hearing this for the first time. His voice and this chorus is one of the best ever written. When I first heard this it was in the 90’s.
Just heard it for the first time on the radio today 👏
A stripper I was dating turned me onto this in about 90-91 and I was immediately hooked 🤘🎤🎸💯
Me2. This was the intro to grunge, the killer of bubblegum pop metal. And it was sleek, to the point and righteous.
Definitely alice in chains were my favorite of the grunge bands and layne was one of my all time favorite singers RIP layne
Couldn't agree more, Alice in chains were the goat of grunge, don't get me wrong, there were other great bands and of course I love Nirvana but Alice in chains were just on another level for me.
That last chorus STILL gives me goosebumps. Layne could sing his ass off.
Keep the alice in chains coming! :) i highly recommend "Would?"
Would? Was at least a bit about Andrew Wood, the lead singer of Mother Love Bone, the predecessor of grunge. Perfect song.
Would us a epic song..and why don't grind get a mention too..
Grind also yup, highly recommended! :)
Yes! That is one of the best songs of all time. That and angry chair
Down in a Hole
All I know is that Lex is a rocker in her soul. She’s awesome
She has a magic personality.
she has that nose for rhythm
The original lyrics are "buried in my shit". The vocals were censored.
Also I'm the dog who gets beat, shove my nose in spit is really shove my nose in shit.
I hate it when lyrics are censored!
I laughed out loud when I heard “pit”!
Given the meaning of the song, this is very ironic.
they read the original lyrics
A song about censorship, that's censored to remove "explicit" lyrics.
I remember when that explicit lyric box started appearing on some albums! 😂. I wasn’t 18, but I was still sold the music! I listened to a lot of Alice In Chains back in the day.
@@solavie8269 Yeah, same here. I never remember anybody at a record store being terribly worried about it, either.
@@solavie8269 same here the Tower Records let me buy them at 13 yrs old.
The funny thing is how that box on album covers actually sold more albums than if they didn’t have them on them so they were actually doing the bands favors in disguise
Ironic 😂
You have to listen “would” and “them bones” from the album dirt
My absolute favorite song
Would
Agreed! My two favorite AIC songs!
Angry Chair is a great one as they all are.
Bleed the freak to
Brad finally found his rock lane.
Ha layne, lane I see what you did lol
Lmao. He did!!! 🤘🏼🤘🏼🤘🏼🤘🏼
His lane is Layne! Love it!
If I had to guess, Brad liking this "grunge" more than alot of other music is that Alice In Chains relies a lot on melodies and harmonies to lift their music choruses. It's easier on the ears - and sounds really good cuz their chemistry is so great.
Regardless, they are one of my all time fav bands, they became the first band since Metallica and Iron Maiden to top my list of best music. I loved every song Chains made. They still released an album after Staley died with a new lead singer which was very good. Jerry Cantrell continues to add such depth and talent to that band.
You should check out Jerry's solo stuff if you haven't.
Boggy Depot is a little more stripped down, from AiC. But, Degredation Trip might as well be another AiC record.
Their harmonies were haunting and that guitar was special. They stood out with their unique styling of Grunge Metal.
Layne Staley had one of the Best Voices in Rock History. His charisma, watching him go from being so vibrant to a shell of a man was So Hard. He died alone, only found two weeks later. He locked your heart to his soul for us empath type people and not to sound melodramatic, but when you lock yourself to another person it's called a soul tie. It's rare. I can't watch the mtv unplugged session. Expressionless, barely moved, frail..💜 RIP Layne Staley, hope you found that Neverending Love 💘
Did you really make Layne's death about YOU?
This song was about the singer Layne Stanley's addiction to drugs in real life. The verse Save Me Jesus Christ was the good side of himself and the verse Deny Your Maker (meaning don't believe in God) was the destructive side of himself pulling him deeper and deeper into drugs. The line feed my eyes, sew them shut means reading the bible (which represents feed my eyes) and then sew them shut is the drugs killing him. Its the dichotomy he is living of the two extremes. Now do you all get it ?? That's why he wrote the lyrics that way because he was struggling with both sides of himself and he ended up losing. But, the band was tight and always put out good music. For those wondering what bands were part of the core five in Grunge music they were the following. 1st, Nirvana made that syle popular in the early nineties. Then, came other bands from mainly Washington State where Nirvana was from and also California bands. The core five big Grunge bands were Nirvana, Sound Garden, Pearl Jam, Alice In Chains and Stone Temple Pilots. These bands had the majority of the hits in the 90s that were considered massive Grunge Rock hits.
Brad, you will definitely love Pearl Jam as well. “Black” Mtv unplugged. And try some Stone Temple Pilots.
I second this motion
Third.
Black is one of my favourite ones of theirs.
Third, fourth and fifthed
Yeah, but TEN was the only thing worthwhile from PJ, and STP had Core and Purple ... anything after was miss, miss, miss, HIT, miss, miss, miss, HIT.
@@asraiSOA I enjoyed Vs, and vitalogy had some great moments..
The rest was uninteresting for me.
R.I.P. Layne Staley and Mike Starr.
IMO, the best guitar solo of the grunge era…Jerry just KILLS it!
this is one of the best solos ever, imo. up there with time, comfortably numb, and sweet child
Jerry is the greatest grunge guitarist of all time and its not even close.
5:46 “I wish I could go to a concert........🥺”
My heart! Too wholesome 😭
Really should do “Down in a hole” unplugged wow so good!!!
My favorite, bruh!!
I second this, Down in a hole is amazing, but not unplugged,
That's such a sad performance... like watching the death of the band happen in real time.
Down makes me cry the line”I would like to fly but my wings have been so denied” break’s my heart
For some reason, you guys are just more interesting than most reactors. Really enjoy your channel.
They're genuine.
For me, Alice in Chains always felt to be a fusion of classic rock, blues and metal.
Definitely a Rabbit Hole band! Down In A Hole is a must; Brad will love the lyrical content 🤘🤘
Yep, Down in a Hole, Them Bones, Dam that River.... basically anything on the Dirt album.
@@almartire8381 Full album reaction would be very acceptable 🤘🤘
UNPLUGGED
The Dirt Album, that's all I'm gonna say
Yeah! No sh!t!
Everything they did with Layne is beyond reproach "real " fans know that...js
There ain't a bad song on Dirt album, 100% FIRE from start to finish!
@@fredtello 'real fans'?!? WTF are you going on about?
@@fredtello LOL stop it. Yes, Facelift is a great record. I enjoy every song on it with Sunshine and Confusion being two of my favorite songs ever. That said, I still find the Dirt record to be superior. And yes, I'm a "real fan".
The whole album Dirt is incredible also their EP Jar of flies, everything by this band is awesome
Dirt is an album I like every song on
Agreed. Think if Layne had his shit together. Well fuck the rhythm section were alcoholics n Layne was banging dope from Dirt till the end of his life. Major props to Jerry Cantrell for holding that shit together...he definitely made chicken salad out of what cudda easily been chicken shit
"Nutshell" most hauntingly beautiful song ever written
Pearl Jam - Black (MTV unplugged), Jeremy, Garden, Go, Immortality...
Seconded for Garden. Such an underappreciated Pearl Jam song.
Yess black live mtv unplugged is the best
👍
Now you're talking my man
I remember seeing this video when it debuted on Headbanger's Ball. Man, it kicked my ass. I had to call a buddy of mine to see what he thought. We both agreed that these dudes we going to be good. They ended up being one of my favorite bands of all time!
He was cremated when he passed and his ashes are in a box. Surreal.....Seen his mom bring it on celebrity rehab when the lead bassist was in with Dr. DREW. Unforturnity he also unfortunately relapsed & passed. They were a great band....I was in HS & COLLEGE IN THE 90S WHEN THIS CAME OUT. HAD IT ON MY "CD PLAYLIST".
Bassist there’s no lead bassist
Alice definitely has that ability to put you in a trance state. "Dirt" "Frogs" "Brush Away".
Check out Laynes softer side, “Nutshell”, very emotional song. Also Layne had a side project band called Mad Season, a super group comprised of members of Pearl Jam, Alice In Chains, Screaming Trees. A couple great songs from them are “Wake Up”, a open letter to Layne himself and his drug addiction, and “River of Deceit”.
If I were to weigh the Mad Season cd against any of the AIC albums individually, (whole cd vs whole cd, not entire catalog), the Mad Season album is easily sitting at the top of the list for me.
Agree, I loved Mad Season
The line, "Jesus Christ, deny your maker", is talking about people leaving their religion behind to follow the leader of the times
@@fredtello ?
'Jesus christ' is him asking jesus for help and "deny your maker" is the addiction talking back.
And it's not literal, i don't think he was religious.
@@FrancoUnAmericano I think Layne Staley believed in God (according to his mom he did) but he didn't like religion and I don't think he believed in the bible I couldn't find anything on it
FWIW, the next line is "He who even tries will be wasted"
@@FrancoUnAmericano "Jesus Christ.. Deny your maker.
He who tries...will be wasted."
It's pretty self explanatory.
Next one do, “Nutshell”
Y’all gotta check out Stone Temple Pilots too!!
STP gets way more air time on my local rock station than they should
He says Jesus Christ deny your maker, he who tries will be wasted.
Jesus Christ, deny your maker, he who tries will be wasted.
Everyone mis-interprets this lyric….
Essentially saying if you try to deny your maker you will, or you're life will, or your life's energy will be wasted
Yup and to me deliberately and masterfully vocalized as a push and pull... the angel or devil sitting on your shoulder or fighting your subconscious type of shit.
Literally nobody could stretch words out in such a meaningful manner and still sound good in my opinion... how many do we know that can stretch a few short incomplete sentences into a complete song as bad ass as they could.. The lyrics to this song would take literally seconds to write and turned out one of the best songs ever written. hahaha
"Down in a hole" by Alice in chains is Great! 🔥🔥🔥🔥
"Would" and "Down in a Hole" are probably my favorite songs of theirs, and I think you would like them too!
Alice is the best band to come out of Seattle. Soundgarden a close second.
I'd say Nevermore but I'm thinking you're speaking in the "Grunge" movement...to which I would agree with you!
I'd switch them but both some of the best🤘🤙🔥
Well if were being honest I think the Jimmy Hendrix experience is a lil better than Alice in Chains as much as I love them.
@@michaelwright116 that's a hard sell for me.
@@chrisbloomfield3350 It was hard for me too honestly lol.
Jerry Cantrell was named the Riff Master for a reason.. Alice in Chains marked the music world deeply...
This is the singers Staleys cry for help. He calls for Jeus to help, but doesnt take it, he denys it. Then he sees what he is, addicted, but its easier to close your eyes and continue the addiction. Feed me eyes, , sew them shut. i see, but dot wanna see. He who tries? will be wasted.. He tries, but ends up back on the dope. When you understand the power of addiction, the words are his cry for help. Addiction ends 2 ways, sober, or death. May he RIP
Call it what you wan't. Just damn good rock and roll. Don't look too deep.
"Man In The Box" deals with censorship, with animal cruelty used as a metaphor. The "man in the box" is like a veal calf trapped in confinement. The song was inspired by lead singer Layne Staley's impressions of both censorship and meat consumption, but saying the song is "about" either of those things would be stretching the facts. Staley didn't like it when musicians got political because he didn't feel they (including himself) should be preaching about things they weren't qualified to elaborate on. The final lyrics for "Man In The Box" are rather opaque, but Staley did explain the meaning. The song started out being about censorship alone, but then Staley and AIC went to dinner with some Columbia Records executives. Some of the executives were vegetarians, and the conversation turned to the way calves were raised in tiny boxes to be slaughtered for veal.
As explained in Alice In Chains: The Untold Story by David De Sola, Staley incorporated thoughts inspired by that conversation into the song he was working on. In its final version, "Man In The Box" is written from the perspective of a calf in a box waiting to be slaughtered. The censorship aspect of the song is basically indecipherable and would probably be lost entirely if not for the fact that Staley mentioned it in some interviews. Lyrics below:
I'm the man in the box
Buried in my shit
Won't you come and save me?
Save me
Feed my eyes
(Can you sew them shut?)
Jesus Christ
(Deny your maker)
He who tries
(Will be wasted)
Oh, feed my eyes
(Now you've sewn them) shut
I'm the dog who gets beat
Shove my nose in shit
Won't you come and save me?
Save me
Feed my eyes
(Can you sew them shut?)
Jesus Christ
(Deny your maker)
He who tries
(Will be wasted)
Oh, feed my eyes
(Now you've sewn them) shut
Feed my eyes
(Can you sew them shut?)
Jesus Christ
(Deny your maker)
He who tries
(Will be wasted)
Oh, feed my eyes
(Now you've sewn them) shut
More Grunge please.... Pearl Jam "Black" Live MTV Unplugged, best Unplugged performance ever (IMO) and Lex, you seem to like Live stuff.... consider PJ's Live performance of their huge hit "Alive" at Immagine in Cornice 2010. (20 yrs after it's release).... it's a song that was written with a dark thoughts in mind yet it turned into a positive.... Eddie Vedder frequently thanks the audiences/fans for turning it into the positive anthem it is today.... you'll see it in this performance. Plus you'll see how "real" the guys of Grunge are... Eddie takes a "spill" during the performance and he told them to leave it in the video!! :)
Alice In Chains Unplugged is also amazing. And their Live at the Moore Love Hate Love version is my (and a lot of other peoples) opinion one of the greatest live versions ever performed. Layne’s passion and pain, the entire bands performance is perfection. Think you guys would love it. Keep up the great reactions. I really love watching you guys!
Angry Chair needs your ears. Edit* Seriously, react to “Angry Chair”. One of their best in my humble opinion
Would is also insanely good!
Love it....Angry Chair is the only song written by Layne Staley. The riff, lyrics, everything. If you've ever been on dope, or seen ppl in that scene...it describes it to a T. The Angry Chair is the toilet. Candles to cook the dope. It's all in there. Layne describing his personal Hell
So many great songs from Alice In Chains - I Stay Away, Would, Down In A Hole, Dirt, Brother, Rain When I Die, and more
One of the greatest voices of any genre from any generation. 🤘
Yes, ma'am! Keep getting pulled in! AIC is in a lane all their own. They are different, even from other grunge. Layne has a way of reaching your soul, even from beyond the grave. Chris Cornell also has that ability, both from that same scene... there was something in the water in Seattle back in the day, man. These guys and all their bands, the best from this time. There are so many people influenced by them, really. Nutshell and Down in a Hole should absolutely be the next for AIC though
Layne and Jerry's vocals were such fantastic complements to each other, and it didn't hurt that the entire band is awesome!
I love the mtv unplugged version of down in a hole wayyyy more than the studio version!! It really shows off Layne and Jerry’s live vocal ability and I think it sounds amazing so you should definitely check it out!
I love both versions for very different reasons
Bleed The Freak is the best song on this album
AIC and Faith No More are my standout favorites of the alt/grunge era.
They're both definitely the kings of alt
He says "feed my eyes" then the backup singer says "can you sew them shut?" Then he says "Jesus Christ" then the backup singer says "deny your maker" then he says "he who tries" and the backup singer says "will be wasted" then he says "feed my eyes" again and then the backup singer says "now you've sewn them shut".
Soundgarden and Pearl Jam are also grunge!
Pearl Jam is lame compared to the rest of grunge.
Great reaction! I remember seeing this song debut on MTV in 1990, and it totally blew me away, and AIC quickly became my favorite band soon after hearing the rest of "Facelift" (the album this song is on). I think it's important to note the cultural context of the time this song was release in 1990... up until that point mainstream rock music was dominated by "glam rock/metal" bands, with a typically party vibe, more up beat etc. Metal music did explore darker subjects, but they were for the most part more niche. When AIC dropped, it felt like being hit with reality like a ton of bricks... no super fancy guitar solos, no pretense etc. If they were singing about drugs, which they did a lot, with would not be from the position of partying, but from the reality of an abuser. They really tapped into the human condition, and put their hearts on their sleeves, regardless of how dark their music got, but it's also what makes their music so relatable. When I first heard their music, it reminded me of heavy, brown sludge, in the best way possible (that description is more about the feeling the sound produces than any particular lyrical content). I'm not the biggest fan of the label "Grunge" for Alice in Chains, because while they do fit into the Seattle scene where "grunge" bands were at the time, I feel they're more a combination of a twisted version of blues influence heavy rock/metal band... the "grunge" label was created by some journalist to describe the Seattle music scene in the early to mid 90s, and them music labels used it as a convenient way to market the bands, because "grunge" was all the rage from around 1990 to 1996, but the reality is that the Seattle scene was made up of a lot of bands that sounded quite different from each other, and Alice in Chains definitely had more of a metal/heavy rock influence to them than some of the others. Jerry Cantrell, the guitarist has cited Black Sabbath as a big influence, so you have feel some of that slower heavy guitar riffing in their music, even if they don't sound like Sabbath.
Song wise, I'd really recommend diving more into the "Dirt" and "Facelift" albums. Their first album "Facelift" was more raw feeling, and you can tell that they're really exploring different sounds as they incorporate elements of metal, rock, blues, funk... but it's a truly amazing album. "Dirt", their follow up album really cements their musical. identity and really gets super dark, but is so beautiful. I can't choose which I like better, they're just different. Me, and many others I'm sure, will recommend reacting to the some "Would" as it was a significant hit for them. From "Dirt" I'd also recommend "Them Bones, Down in a Hole, Rain When I die, and Junkhead". From "Facelift" I'd recommend "Bleed the freak, Sunshine and I can't remember". For me, those are musts. I would listen to these first before going to the MTV unplugged, because I feel it's better when people listen to the first 2 albums, to really get a sense of how dark things got for the band to help contextualize that MTV unplugged performance, which is really beautiful, but also heartbreaking... I feel some of the gravity of that performance gets lost if you aren't too familiar with their music.
Try "down in a hole" from their unplugged concert. The harmonies are amazing
Love, love, love this song. I fell in love with AIC the 1st time I heard this song... still one of my favorite bands. Every album has greatness in it.
ALICE NEVER DISAPPOINTS. BEST THING TO COME OUT OF SEATLE. SO VERSATILE AND THE REASON YOU FEEL THAT WAY LEX IS LAYNE MAKES U FEEL EVERYTHING HE SINGS. THEY ARE THEIR MUSIC.
Such a deep lyrical and terrific music piece by Alice in Chains 🔥🔥🤘
Grundge is loving Brad right now lol.🤣 Definitely check out 'Would'! Down In Hole & Nutshell is THE one to hear from MTV Unplugged❤
"The blindness of humanity", I am in love with Lex
TOOL - Aenema PLEASE!! you will love it i promise :) Yall rock!
I got to hang out with Layne and the Guys backstage when they toured with Van Hagar at Desert Sky Pavilion when I brought them Pizza from Domino's and they were the Nicest guys, very down to earth. What an Honor it was to meet them.
You should do the Alice in Chains songs "Would?" and "Rain When I Die". Also, "Them Bones"!
These guys were dope live back in the day. Seen em multiple times in the 90's. Almost all of Nirvana, Soundgarden, Pearl Jam, and Alice in Chains songs in the 90's were fire. And still are.
When you guys do videos, especially from the 90's, try to find either a lyric video or an audio only video as most videos from the 90's were censored and cut
Or otherwise feel free to look up the lyrics an have them there to read while listening
*brad* wonder what he means by "crist, deny your maker" *lex* "oh man i wish i could go to a concert of them" *still rocking out. love it!!!!
love your channel guys keep it up
Next, Alice in Chains - Would? Or Nutshell (not the mtv unplugged version)
@@terrybryant4124 i completely agree. If you want to listen to the live version, cool but listen to the album version first then make your comparisons
That big 'ol grin from Lex every time a guitar solo kicks in......priceless!
I am obsessed with AIC. I got to see them in 2019, and it was amazing, even without Layne. You can still feel the music❤
I am soooo glad you are on the Alice In Chains train. They are amazing and to this day in my top 5 favorite bands. More please!!!!!
If you do more Alice in Chains, listen to "Angry Chair." It's a very dark song with serious atmosphere, and not many people are reacting to it.
Love how you guys deep dive into music’s meaning and keeping your language clean and strong.
The song is about how they felt like they sold their souls to the record company
You guys gotta hit the MTV unplugged show if you wanna see just how incredible these guys can be. The harmonies are out of this world.
I've always interpreted it as the TV "box" and media feed our eyes with their stories/narrative, but can they keep us from seeing through them, sew our eyes?
And we want to be saved, but we are told to follow the gods we're given, the political/media/entertainment/corporate leaders.
Of course, I may have completely misinterpreted it...
I lived just outside Seattle back when Grunge was first hitting the scene, good times! Actually saw Alice in Chains LIVE in Louisville, Ky. He had a broken leg in a cast and performed from a wheel chair while complimenting us on the quality of our acid. Lol!
Down In A Hole from them is such a great song
Screaming Trees for that lesser known grunge era band... "Butterfly" & "Sworn and Broken" are both great songs
Sworn and broken is my favorite song by them
OMG.... you did this one quick for us!! Freaking love this song!! Can't wait to hear your breakdown.... you guys ROCK!! ;)
Aic is one of the greatest bands ever. One of my personal favorites. Glad you enjoy them aswell. Adding a subscribe I've been watching a few of your reactions and have been enjoying. Have a great day.
I'm digging Lexs interpretation. I get what you're trying to say. ❤
This song was on repeat in MTV all the time! 🔥
Well I did suggest a month or so back that you'd be going to a metal concert in the Fall. Brad, ya ready yet? Cause your going 100...no doubts. Oh, your gonna love it too.
**edit** Take earplugs!
This song made me fall in love with them when it was first on MTV (MTV used to play good music once upon a time) and I was instantly mesmerized by his voice
You'll still need to get to Living Colour "Cult Of Personality"
They haven’t done that yet?! You’re right, they’d dig it. 🤘
@@simpleiowan3123 right? Lyrics to dissect and that guitar playing... ? They'll be all about it
That's if they know cm punk 😂
Man in the Box is one of my favorite Alice in Chains songs. Awesome video. I love Alice in Chains. Alice in Chains is my favorite grunge band.
Awww, edited version. Tool-Schism... do it!
I love so much the facials Lex makes during shit like this - you can just tell she is feeling the music. Love it!
You guys have a great dynamic, Lex is just rocking off to the the sound, Brad is breaking shit down and analysing.
Definitely do junkhead and rain when I die by them and would. Also them bones
I love her reaction when Layne rips into that last chorus after the solo.
Can you react to Alice In Chains It Ain't Like That and Would Live singles
RIP Layne Staley and Mike Star. I had the pleasure of seeing them a couple times and it was in a couple small clubs in Detroit and out of the hundreds of the bands I have seen they were unequivocally the best.
This song, which is about censorship and government controlled narratives, was massive when it came out, helped define their sound, and launched their career.
It was unlike anything else at the time.
This was their first hit. Layne is the God of Grunge. All time great band.
“Jesus Christ.
Deny your maker…”
The next line is “He who tries, will be wasted.”
So, it’s saying IF you deny your maker (Jesus Christ), THEN you will be wasted.
It’s not recommending one deny Jesus Christ necessarily.
It’s just saying that anyone who chooses to do that will be wasted. His/her soul will be wasted.
I deny THAT maker.... So I don't believe I have any soul.... Am I still wasted? :P
@@JoeSnow84 yes
Yes
Everything missed and his son is golden. RIP. I posted in your last Alice video reaction, that I seen them in 1991 before they were big. I am so lucky
Alice In Chains MTV UNPLUGGED is a must watch . You will be amazed how good they are . 👍👍 Hello from Scotland 🏴🏴🏴🏴 then pearl Jam UNPLUGGED of MTV aswell.
Saw Alice in chains 4 years ago opening for guns n roses. Great stuff
You should start reacting to the most dangerous band in the world
Guns n roses
As much as you like this I really “Would” recommend “Would”. You “Would” really like it. It’s the next one I “Would” do if I were you.
He's analyzing lyrics and themes...she's just rockin' out...haha.
My favorite band. Nutshell is my favorite song. Very haunting, but this song and Would? , and Bleed the Freak live at the Moore theater, the best
I was lucky enough to see them live multiple times, in NOLA, 1st time they opened for Ozzy, THEY BECAME MY FAVORITE BAND OF ALL TIME!
The entire 90s Grunge era is great. They made live Unplugged really popular too. Check out Nirvana, Alice in Chains, Pearl Jam, and Stone temple pilots "Live MTV Unplugged" albums. You won't be disappointed.