Album: Nothing Safe: Best Of The Box (1999)

License This Song 

• Sat suffering, I knew him when
  Fair-weather friends of mine
  Try not to think, I merely blink
  Hope you wish away the lies
  
  Can you protect
  Me when I'm wrecked?
  I pretend you're still alive-ive
  Yeah
  
  Who will deny
  All in time
  All the lies
  Who will deny
  All in time
  All the lies
  
  I choose the day, one damp and gray
  Thick fog that hide our smiles
  
  Clear all your sins
  Get born again
  Just repeat a couple lines-ines
  Lines
  Yeah, yeah
  
  Who will deny
  All in time
  All the lies
  
  Can you protect
  Me when I'm wrecked
  I pretend you're still alive
  
  I choose the day, one damp and gray
  Thick fog that hide our smiles
  
  Sat suffering (who will deny, all in time, all the lies)
  Get born again (who will deny, all in time, all the lies)
  Sat suffering (who will deny, all in time, all the lies)
  Get born again (who will deny, all in time, all the lies)
  Sat suffering (who will deny, all in time, all the lies)
  Get born again (who will deny, all in time, all the lies)
  Sat suffering (who will deny, all in time, all the lies)
  Get born again (who will deny, all in time, all the lies)
  Sat suffering (who will deny, all in time, all the lies)
  Get born again (who will deny, all in time, all the lies)
  Sat suffering (who will deny, all in time, all the lies) Writer/s: Jerry Cantrell, Layne Staley
  Publisher: CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Universal Music Publishing Group
  Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Comments: 12

• Aic from British ColumbiaI’m sure Layne would have wanted each and every one of you on here to reflect these lyrics to your own life instead of trying to dissect his. Have some respect.
• Graham C. from Ft Lauderdale, FloridaAlice In Chains, sorrow was felt when lyricist Layne Staley overdosed on a cold day in 2002. That day, took one of the most talented singers (and drummer) away from an epic following of their Grunge/metal rock. If you haven’t listened to Mad Season, (side project of two AIC members) listen to the full set recorded at the Moore, Layne Staley, and Mark Lanegan (Vocals, Screaming Trees) Martin Barrett (Screaming Trees) [A fabulous drummer and percussionist, I learned a lot from his beats in my early twenties], John Baker Saunders (bass), Mike McCready (Guitar).
  Thought I would write this, I listen to AIC and Mad Season often, and I also know what addiction can do in life, hurting not only the user but their closest loved ones even more. I always try to say a prayer, for Layne, John Backer Saunders, and most recently Mark Lanegam in 2022.
  
  Show their families some love and buy the album Mad Season, very artistically mature.
  Cheers. My two cents worth. Majority of AIC songs are about heroin and addiction, rooster tail defined the blood pulled back in a syringe, down in a hole, being trapped by addiction. When his father entered his life again and then Demi passed, he wrote it about the both of them. Mostly Demi was the cause of his fall into deep dark addiction as he had no one to share life with anymore and his father Phil Staley put the nails in the proverbial “Coffin” as Layne was cremated. I don’t hold anything against his father, he is human and everyone in this page sins likely daily, including myself. Enough blame, reach out and try to help an addict. You never know what saving one life does for the universe.
  
  Peace—
  GC
• Na from SeattleLayne has said this song is about religious hypocracy when what you believed has been proven to be a lie when the one person you love most in this world dies. This is about Demri, not Phil. Layne wrote the song, stop putting words and opinions in his mouth. If you didn't write it, you do not know what it is about unless the author themselves tell you. Layne said it's about Religious Hypocracy, the rest is personal. Leave it there and leave it alone. You have no right to put words in his mouth and interpret his meaning, only he has a say,as he is the author, and he is no longer here to tell you.
• Jay from Outaouais, QcLayne Staley said it's about Religious Hypocrisy
• Mac from San Jose, CaThe music video looks like something out of Clive Barker's Hellraiser. The characters in the video look like Cenobites.
• Justin from A Place, CtThere are a lot of good different takes on the song but I would still have to say judging by its contents and the situation around the song that is about Demri Parrot (his deceased girlfriend) and suffering with only memories left.
• Kevin from Chicago, OrRockline Interview, 1999: Layne says the song is about "Religious Hypocrocy". When asked who specififically? He said "doesn't need to be said. It's personal". It's got to be about his Dad. Layne's dad left the family to do drugs when Layne was a young boy. The family told Layne he was dead. It had a profound impact on Layne. He ended up finding out his dad was alive and choosing a lifestyle of drugs as a teenager. Layne would say that he wanted to become a rock star celebrity so that his dad would come back. Well, he did. Layne's dad (Phil Staley) saw Layne on the front of a magazine and contacted him. Layne was estatic to hear from him. He told Layne he'd been clean for (aprox.) 6 years. However, they quickly started using heroin together. His dad was all of the sudden around 24/7 wanting to get high with Layne - this was in the early 90's. Well, Phil ends up getting clean again and apparently found God. Layne could not get clean, or at least stay clean. The lyrics in this song "Fair weather friend" hardly require an explanation. His dad was out of his life for 15 years and then shows up when he discovers Layne is rich/famous. "I pretend you're still alive" is probably the feeling he held on to as a boy when his family told Layne he was dead. You're father should be a person who can "protect me when I'm wrecked". So, you can imagine how Layne feels when his dad gets clean and starts spewing passages from the Bible. H-Y-P-O-C-R-I-T-E
• Matt from North Kingstown, RiI agree that it is about religion. I think Andrew hit it dead on with that quote. "Can you protect, me when I'm wrecked" also could be about god not helping him with his pain
• Andrew from Lanoka Harbor, Nji believe it is mostly about religion and it ties in with "god am". in god am layne says "invite you in my home then, when done my sins forgiven?" basically making a mockery of the concept of how people belive that by saying a few prayers you are exempt from judgement. and he reiterates this concept in this song. " get born again, just repeat a couple lines."
• Machel from Melbourne, FlThis song was written for Demri.
• Layne from Herkimer, NyI believe that this song is about Layne's addiction. Tooth decay and getting born again. Also, it talks about lies.
• Peter from Homer Glen, IlActually, in a radio interview, Layne gave a few vague clues about it being about religion, namely the church. Layne did believe in a GOD, but i think he didn't like how the church did a lot of things.

More Songfacts:

BlackstarDavid Bowie

At 9:57, David Bowie's "Blackstar" was the longest song to reach the Hot 100 until 2019, when Tool bested the record with the 10:21 "Fear Inoculum."

At This MomentBilly Vera & the Beaters

"At This Moment" was first released by Billy Vera & the Beaters in 1981, and hit #79. After it was used in two episodes of Family Ties in 1985-1986, it went to #1.

Eleanor RigbyThe Beatles

Paul McCartney based the "Eleanor Rigby" story on old ladies he met at his housing estate. He saw how sometimes when they died, nobody really noticed.

In The Air TonightPhil Collins

"In The Air Tonight" by Phil Collins was revived when it was used in the first episode of Miami Vice, three years after it was released.

Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This)Eurythmics

The Eurythmics' "Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This)" came top of a 2013 Spotify poll to find out which songs music fans most commonly hear people singing incorrectly. Many believe Annie Lennox is singing: "Sweet dreams are made of cheese, who am I to disagree?"

Beck's BoleroJeff Beck

Jimmy Page, Jeff Beck, Keith Moon and John Paul Jones recorded "Beck's Bolero" and almost formed a band. They couldn't find a lead singer, so Page and Jones formed Led Zeppelin.

Editor's Picks

Johnette Napolitano of Concrete BlondeSongwriter Interviews

The singer/bassist for Concrete Blonde talks about how her songs come from clairvoyance, and takes us through the making of their hit "Joey."

Boz ScaggsSongwriter Interviews

The "Lowdown" and "Lido Shuffle" singer makes a habit of playing with the best in the business.

Band NamesFact or Fiction

Was "Pearl" Eddie Vedder's grandmother, and did she really make a hallucinogenic jam? Did Journey have a contest to name the group? And what does KISS stand for anyway?

U2 LyricsMusic Quiz

How well do you know the lyrics of U2?

Tom Bailey of Thompson TwinsSongwriter Interviews

Tom stopped performing Thompson Twins songs in 1987, in part because of their personal nature: "Hold Me Now" came after an argument with his bandmate/girlfriend Alannah Currie.

Little RichardFact or Fiction

Was Long Tall Sally a cross-dresser? Did he really set his piano on fire? See if you know the real stories about one of rock's greatest innovators.