Your Decision

Album: Black Gives Way to Blue (2009)
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Songfacts®:

  • This acoustic driven track is the third single from Seattle rock band Alice In Chains' fourth studio album, Black Gives Way to Blue. The song contains lyrics about "surviving pain and choosing to live" and concerns the drug addiction troubles that eventually led to their previous vocalist Layne Staley's death.
  • A video was filmed for this song in late October at an ornate Malibu mansion. It was directed by Steven Schuster, who previously helmed the band's "A Looking In View" clip.

Comments: 13

  • Jess from SeattleDefinitely about Layne
  • Dawn from New Jersey I believe it’s about Layne also. I love the song. Jerry is such an amazing songwriter
  • Cammy from Toledo OhioI believe Jerry said it is not about Layne. It's about his ex gf and other stuff.
  • Steve Wilson from Yelm WashingtonI just got over a woman who turned out to be a call girl...an old flame. I always wanted back. The lyric, "yes it hurts to know your bought" just f--kin kills me. Shes 98 pounds...so small..cute as f--k...hooked on crack. The song also speaks of lies and the path that leads you lower. I mean it fits her situation perfectly. It's the last text I sent to her. This song....love aic....#1 in my book by far. Love you jerry.
  • Aaron from Outer SpaceTo all you who think this song is about politics, you are f--king dumb. It is about Layne's addiction to Heroine and him lying about getting clean to his bandmates.
  • Josh from Maryland Heights, MoSimply, this song is about waiting too long to choose your path to God, your path to heaven. The card dropped in the beginning is not just an address, crack the book of all answers and take a peak. You don't want to be a model example of the song, do you? Don't wait too long to change... It's never too late (your decision). The devil is beautiful, but he will devour your soul and separate you from God.
  • Jason from New York, NyThen again it depends what lenses you use when you listen to the song :)
  • Jason from New York, NySounds very political to me as well : "you feed the fire that burned us all when you lied" (refering to blowback) "Apthetic to the stunned" - despite being presented facts we continue to be passive as a society and show little intrest in what our government is doing all over the world
    "yes it hurts to know your bought"
  • Wess from Moorhead, Mnjust another great song by aic what it means is all up to u like all their songs ..............keep it going jerry, rest in peace layne
  • C from Titusville, Flits about layne, dont overthink it.
  • John from Ny, NyThis song can also be about a girl, like it's her decision not to be with him anymore.
  • Bryan from Tulsa, OkDoes anyone agree that if you listen to the lyrics closely that it sounds a little political??
    Kind of sounds like a song to a president.
  • Mel!ssa from Pittsburgh, Pa"No one plans to take the path that brings you lower" Isn't that the truth? This is an amazing and powerful song. It's haunting. I miss Layne. Eternally.
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