I was only 15, standout on the Ave.
You’re chasing a bad dream, a luxury I never had
Living my life in the box, or sleepin in the trash
Taking girls for the things I need, like booze, drugs and ass
Get stoned, daily survival in the war zone
Yeah our teens meant everything, alright
Half rack, smoking out till it’s all black
Death trap, watch me going blind, oh
I don’t care what you say, I
Or what you do
Chemical addiction is
Getting rid of you
So high, colors turn to sound
Goodbye, let us in and we’ll lay you in the ground
Chosen on the floor, take another drag
Bought a bunch of valiums from skinny broadway bag
I don’t know much about heroin but I, I wanna try
Just about everything once before I die
Get stoned, daily survival in the war zone
Yeah our teens meant everything, alright
Half rack, smoking out till it’s all black
Death trap, watch me going blind, oh
I don’t care what you say, I
Or what you do
Chemical addiction is
Getting rid of you
So high, colors turn to sound
Goodbye, let us in and we’ll lay you in the ground
Now Jerry do me like this…
Get stoned, daily survival in the war zone
Yeah our teens meant everything, alright
Half rack, smoking out till it’s all black
Death trap, watch me going blind, oh
Exploring the Dark Realities of Youth
“Chemical Addiction” by Alice In Chains dives deep into the raw and unfiltered experiences of adolescence lived on the edge. The lyrics paint a vivid picture of reckless youth, marked by substance abuse, survival, and fleeting highs. The narrator recounts being only 15, caught in a cycle of danger and escapism where daily survival feels like a battle. The song highlights how addiction and the search for relief can become all-consuming, turning life into a “death trap” and blurring the lines between pleasure and destruction.
The Allure and Destruction of Escape
The chorus emphasizes the futile attempt to escape pain through chemicals, only to find that addiction is ultimately self-destructive. The vivid imagery of “colors turn to sound” and the somber farewell in “let us in and we’ll lay you in the ground” underline the tragic consequences of substance dependence. Alice In Chains delivers a poignant message about the dangers of chasing highs at the expense of life itself.
Song Credits
Artist: Alice In Chains
Songwriters: Information not provided
Release Year: Information not provided
Label: Information not provided