Hung On A Hook – Alice In Chains

Hung on a hook I’m a mirror

Cracked down the center I split you

Counting the clouds in a storm behind your eyes

Show you the face of a man who

Not that he wants but he has to

Look at the thing he’s become, what I see

I’m caught in a still life with no frame

Sometimes people do, the world it don’t change

Give up awaiting someday

Future between a gun and your head

Pieces of me on a tile floor

Look up at you as you change more

Floating in fear I appear a hundred times

Hold a reflection inside me

I cannot feel you are empty

Throw me away

I am broken not your time

I’m caught in a still life with no frame

Sometimes people do, the world it don’t change

Give up awaiting someday

Future between a gun and your head

Not gonna save you

Perform euthanasia

Unraveling the Darkness: The Meaning Behind “Hung On A Hook”

“Hung On A Hook” by Alice In Chains is a haunting exploration of self-reflection and emotional turmoil. The narrator likens themselves to a shattered mirror, reflecting not only their own brokenness but also the pain and transformation of another. Vivid imagery, such as “pieces of me on a tile floor,” conjures a sense of being irreparably damaged and discarded. The lines oscillate between resignation and confrontation, as the protagonist faces harsh realities without hope for external salvation. Ultimately, the song delves into themes of identity, helplessness, and the struggle to accept uncomfortable truths about oneself and others.

Song Credits

  • Artist: Alice In Chains
  • Songwriters: Jerry Cantrell, William DuVall
  • Release Year: 2013
  • Label: Capitol Records