Care not for the men who wonder
Straw that broke your back, you're under
Cast all them aside who care
Empty eyes and dead end stare

Don't you know that none are blind
To the lie, and you think I don't find what you hide?

What in God's name have you done?
Stick your arm for some real fun

For the horse you've grown much fonder
Than for me, that I don't ponder
As the hair of one who bit you
Smiling bite your own self, too

And I think that you're not blind
To the ones you left behind
I'll be here

What in God's name have you done?
Stick your arm for some real fun

So be yearning all your life
Twisting, turning like a knife

Now you know the reasons why
Can't get high, or you will die
Or you'll die

What in God's name have you done?
Stick your arm for some real fun
So your sickness weighs a ton
And God's name is smack for some



Lyrics submitted by Ice

Track duration: 03:51


God Smack song meanings
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60 Comments

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  • 0
    General Comment:One of the saddest songs ever.

    I believe he is singing to himself, his lover Demri and his father (who was also a heroin addict.

    To his father and himself:

    'Straw that broke your back, you're under'

    'As the hair of one who bit you
    Smiling bite your own self, too.'

    'And I think that you're not blind
    To the ones you left behind'

    The very thing that meant his father was absent in his childhood now has Layne caught in the trap. Apparently his Dad turned up when he was famous and happily shared heroin with him, then he got clean and left Layne with the addiction.

    To Demri:

    'you think I don't find what you hide?'

    'For the horse you've grown much fonder
    Than for me, that I don't ponder.'

    He adored Demri, that much is clear from the photos and lyrics. Having a relationship with heroin involved must have been terrible; both trying to give up when the other is still addicted and trying to hide their gear and the realization that heroin is number one, not love, or sex...but heroin. Heartbreaking for them both. Tragic, beautiful kids.

    To himself:

    What in God's name have you done?
    Stick your arm for some real fun
    So your sickness weighs a ton
    And God's name is smack for some.


    So sad. Amazing song.
    Flag netsukeon February 23, 2013   Link
  • 0
    My Interpretation:i think this song is about a heroin addict who goes on a killing spree "Now you know the reasons why
    Can't get high, or you will die
    Or you'll die" "What in God's name have you done?"
    Flagged godddamon September 27, 2012   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:"listen 2 the words! (stick your arm for some real fun) or u could just do it the easy way and snort the heroin!"



    I was just gonna sniff a bag but one guy says if you're gonna sniff you might as well pop it and another guys says if you gonna pop it you might as well mainline.

    -Jim Carroll
    Flag elwoood13on June 03, 2012   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I've heard this song is dedicated to Layne's girlfriend Demri Parrot who was addicted to heroin too. Is it true? And I cannot understand what "As the hair of one who bit you Smiling bite your own self, too" means. Can anyone give any interpretations?
    Flag antitezaon June 21, 2011   Link
  • +1
    General Comment:points to ponder.

    how many people have died, 'in the name of god'?

    did god ever say, don't do drugs?
    maybe. He said drunkenness brings poverty, but didn't he say, Judge NOT, lest Ye be JUDGED?

    what is the difference between a wise warning and a law, or commandment?

    what is a sin?

    what is heavier, foolishness or lawlessness?

    if you puke every where, how bad does it hurt?

    if twenty people humiliate you in public exposing your darkest secret for pure entertainment value, a good laugh, how bad would it hurt?

    can you get high from pride?

    can a person love God more than you? What would be the point? Didn't god say that even if ye have done it unto the least of my bretheren, ye have done it unto me?
    when did god ever say that it's ok to hate someone else for any reason? Is your position in society a good place to throw stones in?
    is your glass house bulletproof?

    can a person love horse more than you? What if god was your horse? Would you love him more than me? After all, he is god better love.

    if you hate me, do you love god? If you love me, do you hate god? When you do what to who, who did you do it to?

    do yu know what a contradiction is? What it means, I mean.

    who is more contradictory, the bible, christians, or junkies? Which of these three is most honest??

    is lying a sin?

    who lies more, junkies or christians?


    Flag special3ddon March 15, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:look, when he talks about none being blind to the lie there is a hidden meaning beneath the obviou stick your arm drug fix damn can anybody see past their own ass and look up metaphor in the dictionary, then study a little bit of poetry, pick any great poet. Come back to Alice, with dictionary still open. Read, and understand the depths of the soul when it expresses enexplainable frustrations and bitterness. Religious folks take the high road, leaving you on the HIGH road don't they? Clever, but it goes further into the truth that hurts which is that they are right to avoid a junky for risk of becoming one through association, yea, run away but a true christian wouldn't shit on a man knee deep in his own grave, they would love you despite your problems right? Instead they help you dig and tell you that you deserve you problems. You created them. Layne sees the truth and the lie, knows, understands and sings about it, but is still powerless to change for better.
    but the real genius here, the deepest depth of truth realized is that christians and junkies both get high. He uses heroin to a fault, but christians use god like a drug. They get so HIGH and mighty (passionate resistance and upholding the "truth")actually getting high off of chemicals released in the brain from feeling justified in every way. it's so nice to be right praise jesus and destROoAy the sinning junky. truth is god loves everyone the same, help don't kill.
    the lie, the truth what is the difference we're all fucked up whether we go to church, the bar or a crackhouse. at least layne didn't bullshit anyine and pretend to be better. so what he's saying is that while it is true that he sucks at life, are christians doing any better? hypocrites. thal shalt not judge sayeth the lord.
    Flag special3ddon March 15, 2011   Link
  • -1
    General Comment:i think the lyrics are about being addicted to heroin, but the verses confuse me a bit
    Flag jerrylovesrock666on August 08, 2010   Link
  • -1
    General Comment:stick your arm for some real fun - wtf that line probaly made alot of their fans wanna try heroin
    Flag mexiamerica9888on June 21, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:yes, about heroin addiction, Layne Staleys and his fathers. the lyrics about not being blind to the ones left behind, that is about laynes father. He left when Layne was young, they said he was dead,but layne said in an interview, "but everyone knew he was just somewhere doing drugs." And as layne grew in his addiction, he was following his fathers path, check out HATE TO FEEL, talks about facing the fact that he is like his dad. also in the same inteview, he talks about his dad returning and coming around him just to get high or score some dope.
    Flag dwideon May 30, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Go to Youtube. Look up God Smack live 1993. Shut up and watch. Gorgeous-I swear Layne ran over a cat or something, his voice is just that sick. (Then again, he had a cold, so...) But anyway...sounds like someone who found out a friend is hooked on smack and is like, 'wtf man?'
    Flag Grungegirl7on May 14, 2010   Link

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