We chase misprinted lies
We face the path of time
And yet I fight
And yet I fight
This battle all alone
No one to cry to
No place to call home
Ooh
Ooh
Ooh
Ooh
My gift of self is raped
My privacy is raked
And yet I find
And yet I find
Repeating in my head
If I can't be my own
I'd feel better dead
Ooh
Ooh
Ooh
Ooh
We face the path of time
And yet I fight
And yet I fight
This battle all alone
No one to cry to
No place to call home
Ooh
Ooh
Ooh
Ooh
My gift of self is raped
My privacy is raked
And yet I find
And yet I find
Repeating in my head
If I can't be my own
I'd feel better dead
Ooh
Ooh
Ooh
Ooh
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Let me begin by saying I was once a hardcore heroin/cocaine/benzo user. I have been a year clean and I use alice in chains as my higher power because I can relate to so much of what Layne is singing about in mostly all his songs. this particular song is about his life and his addiction in a "nutshell" "we chase misprinted lies" -he is talking about the money glamour and fame its not real. you don't need all that shit to be content in life "we face the path of time" -pretty fucking self explainatory "and yet I fight.. and yet I fight.. this battle all alone" -He is talking about fighting his addiction within himself because any addict or alcoholic out there knows you have to want it and do it on your own no one can help you "no one to cry too, no place to call home" -what he means by this is no one wants to hear his complaining about his addiction anymore because I know no one wanted to hear me cry and complain anymore poor me and after being in the marines and getting out I had no place to call home either "my gift of self is raped" -He is saying addiction has ahold of him like its raping himself of who he really is "my privacy is raked" -Meaning he has no privacy with the media openly talking about his addiction "and yet I find.. and yet I find. repeating in my head if I cant be my own id feel better dead" -going back to what he said about "gift of self is raped". he just wants to be normal again and not have to suffer through a hellish addiction where you hate waking up in the morning that you actually would feel better dead. trust me ive been there.
I just recently lost a friend, my best friend of 25years to heroin because he couldn't be his own, he wasn't strong enough to beat his addiction. I loved him like a brother. now every time I listen to AIC it has so much more meaning to me. Thank you Layne Staley R.I.P And your wings are no longer denied. you too Tony Franza R.I.P brother AUG,22,1989-APR,4 2013 you both are not forgotten
Thank you. You get it, you understand it....
Much respect to you! This is a very intriguing interpretation of what Layne May have been feeling. Love it <3!!
@usmcgorman man,you are the most modest and honest person i have ever yet to meet,fist let me say congratulations on you being clean this long -nod- also the fact you admitted you an ex-addict is powerful in itself,you have my utmost respect for that. what you said..this whole breakdown was pretty powerful,thank you so much for expressing all that how you could relate to it.
@usmcgorman <br /> Right on, hope your still clean and sober, wish I could say the same for me. Maybe I used my marriage as my higher power, now after 33 years husband decides loves his Harley more than me and tossed my 10 years out the window. I have been drowning in my sorrows all day to, morphine and any other pill, no longer shot it cuz no longer worker as a nurse so no more access to the real good stuff. No one want to hear me anymore, myself, I'm the most sick and so tired of me. At 54, no kids, just lost my Mom the end of October, Dad two years before that, two brothers, only one who cares. Layne, as we all are right, was such a tortured soul. I don't think as such a talented artist that their heads ever shut off so they get no peace and falsely, or not I didn't live his life, think it's the only way to shut the fucking noise up, especially when it seems all self deprecating. My he, ha girl, Mike, your Tony, soon me? RIP. Your friend tony, born 1989, means your young dude, I hope you unlocked the solution hat works for you to stay clean as you still have do my more to live for. Peace out and all you youngin's don't go down that fucked ups road, if you are on it, reach out and grab on to something to get your fucking ass off it. Or else your looking at jail, institutions, or death, there is no rainbow at the the pot of that shit, trust me.
@usmcgorman <br /> Sorry major f'd up spelling, "my he ha girl"???? How did Layne and his girl turn into that? Also very sorry for the post all together, was first, maybe last now, and wasn't thinking, shouldn't of put that out there for all to see. Tried to deleted! Can't! If someone has the power to please do so.
@usmcgorman
Incredible. Thank you so much for sharing your story, experience, and you're keen analysis of "Nutshell". I agree with your assessment, but I also feel this song is about chronic depression, in addition to addiction and the bright lights. But, then, its his whole life in a "Nutshell".
@usmcgorman semperfi brother
@usmcgorman I´ve been there myself to, still am. I'm keeping digging my out. And i understand the lyrics. Thanks for giving your view of the song. I agree.<br />
@usmcgorman I like to think this can apply to depression in a way "gift of self" part being depression seems inescapable. "Privacy raked" being the bad thoughts invading you head it's another way I like to interpret it. "If I can't be my own" part can be wishing you didn't have the problems depression brings and feeling better off dead. "Fighting alone" part being nobody listens to your crystal for help.
@usmcgorman cries*
@usmcgorman man, you get it. I’ve been sober for 20 years now. When that song came out. I had lost 3 friends. I was close to either overdose or gun to my head. Never thought I could make it out.
Sorry for your losses brother. Keep up the good fight.
@usmcgorman Only an addict can truly get the meaning of this song. Not everyone can word it as eloquently... Thank you. AIC has been with me through some very dark and fucked up times. I have kicked a lot of things, but I gotta say morphine and benzos were the hardest. I just got done telling my son "There's time when songs you love and relate to pertain more than ever... Now is one of those times". Someone I love dearly is now fighting the fight, so I'm feeling this song more than ever!
@usmcgorman Perfectly explained, you’re lucky to be here to educate the people who read this! What a bittersweet area of expertise to have/share, however, the world will depend on people like you! (I HOPE that future treatment centres are staffed with individuals like you as the Drs of Clinical Treatment, cause you can empathize, not pretend to know the true feelings of an addict because of what you read in a book! <br /> May you keep educating and telling your story! <br /> I think you are incredibly amazing & courageous!
@usmcgorman I really liked this breakdown. I knew this song hit deep for me. I couldn’t figure out why. <br /> I’m 5 years clean from heroin and meth. Addiction is one battle. Mental health is another battle. It’s easy for me to stay away from hard drugs. However, the mental battle I have everyday with myself is the most painful right now. Not with drugs but with life in general, feeling left to fight it on my own. Therapy helps on the days I see her. The other 13 days can be tough sometimes.
@usmcgorman I know I\'m late to the party on the comments but I like to read up on alot of song meanings. Thank you for posting this. This really helps my understanding of the song. By far one of the best ones ever!
@usmcgorman I am with you brother, you nailed it. I hope you are still clean man, yes I fought this battle for years and still have to fight everyday even though I am clean now. RIP Layne the best frontman ever!!!