The face before me flies
Laughs at me inside
Masks are made to hide the glow
Shining eyes
Distance ‘tween us grows
Feeding lies
It’s hard to start things over
You can feel the fire around us
All the time
Yeah
Something I should say
It takes you every day
What you give is not alive
Today
Your soul served on a plate
Throw it away
It’s hard to start things over
You can feel the fire around us
All the time
Yeah
It’s hard to start things over
Oh yeah
You can feel the fire around us
All the time
Yeah
It’s hard to start things over
Oh yeah
You can feel the fire around us
All the time
Yeah
All the time
What the hell have I?
Little pride
Peering Behind the Mask: Analyzing “What The Hell Have I?”
“What The Hell Have I?” by Alice In Chains is a brooding exploration of self-reflection and emotional distance. The lyrics evoke a sense of alienation, with references to masks hiding true feelings and growing distance feeding into a web of lies. The repeated struggle to “start things over” hints at cycles of regret and the difficulty of moving past emotional pain. The chorus, with its imagery of fire surrounding the narrator, underscores the intensity of these internal battles. Ultimately, the question “What the hell have I?” is a raw admission of lost pride and uncertainty about one’s own value, reflecting the band’s signature blend of introspection and grunge grit.
Song Credits
- Artist: Alice In Chains
- Songwriters: Jerry Cantrell
- Release Year: 1993
- Label: Columbia Records