Frozen in the place I hide
Not afraid to paint my sky with
Some who say I’ve lost my mind
Brother try and hope to find
You were always so far away
I know that pain so don’t you run away
Like you used to do
Roses in a vase of white
Bloodied by the thorns beside the leaves
That fall because my hand is
Pulling them hard as I can
You were always so far away
I know that pain and I won’t run away
Like I used to do
Pictures in a box at home
Yellowing and green with mold
So I can barely see your face
Wonder how that color taste
You were always so far away
I know the way so don’t you run away
Like you used to do
Like you used to do
Exploring the Emotional Distance in “Brother”
“Brother” by Alice In Chains is a haunting meditation on estrangement and longing. The lyrics paint a vivid picture of emotional distance between siblings, with lines that evoke both nostalgia and pain. The recurring imagery of faded memories, such as “pictures in a box” and “roses in a vase of white,” speaks to the passage of time and the difficulty of reconnecting. The narrator’s desire to bridge the gap is palpable, yet there’s an acceptance of the other person’s tendency to withdraw—”don’t you run away like you used to do.” The song’s melancholic tone underscores the complexity of familial relationships, where love and hurt often intertwine.
Song Credits
- Songwriters: Jerry Cantrell
- Release Year: 1992
- Label: Columbia Records