What’s gone wrong, I can’t see straight
Been too long, so full of hate
What the fuck will it take
Drown myself in my wake
Another shaggy D.A.
Now a dog, shake my leg
Plastic man, paper face
Candy heart, what a waste
Gotta change, set a date
Eat my cake, lick my plate
Stare at me with empty eyes and
Point your words at me
Mirror on the wall will show you
What you’re scared to see
I can see, yeah – (wish I couldn’t see at all)
I can feel – (wish I couldn’t feel at all)
Hate to see – (wish I couldn’t see at all)
Hate to feel – (wish I couldn’t feel at all)
So climb walls,
Thin my blood now
And I crawl, back to bed now
What the hell, gotta rest
Aching pain in my chest
Lucky me, now I’m set
Little bug for a pet
New Orleans, gotta get
Pin cushion medicine
Used to be curious
Now the shit’s sustenance
All this time I swore I’d never
Be like my old man
What the hey it’s time to face
Exactly what I am
I can see, yeah – (wish I couldn’t see at all)
I can feel – (wish I couldn’t feel at all)
Hate to see – (wish I couldn’t see at all)
Hate to feel – (wish I couldn’t feel at all)
What the hell, gotta rest
Aching pain in my chest
Lucky me, now I’m set
Little bug for a pet
New Orleans, gotta get
Pin cushion medicine
Used to be curious
Now the shit’s sustenance
All this time I swore I’d never
Be like my old man
What the hey it’s time to face
Exactly who I am
I can see, yeah – (wish I couldn’t see at all)
I can feel – (wish I couldn’t feel at all)
Hate to see – (wish I couldn’t see at all) [2x]
Hate to feel – (wish I couldn’t feel at all)
The Struggle Beneath the Surface
“Hate To Feel” by Alice In Chains is a haunting exploration of addiction, inner turmoil, and self-reflection. The lyrics paint a vivid picture of someone battling their demons, caught in a cycle of self-destruction and regret. References to substance abuse, such as “pin cushion medicine” and “now the shit’s sustenance,” reveal a life overtaken by dependency. The repeated lines, “I can see, yeah – (wish I couldn’t see at all) / I can feel – (wish I couldn’t feel at all),” powerfully convey a desire to numb overwhelming pain and emotional distress.
Confronting the Past and Identity
The song also delves into the fear of becoming like one’s parents, with the narrator swearing never to “be like my old man” before ultimately conceding to fate. This theme of confronting painful truths and accepting one’s flaws is central, making “Hate To Feel” not only a personal confession but a universal anthem for those facing their own shadows.
Song Credits
Artist: Alice In Chains
Songwriter: Layne Staley
Release Year: 1992
Label: Columbia Records