River of Deceit

Wow, some of these comments go back to the Clinton administration. Well, anyway, that doesn't matter. All music is timeless in a way. I heard River of Deceit today, actually been years since I last heard it, and was compelled to return here and provide my wisdom. Or bullshit, you decide.

I'll start with a bit of pushback on the opinion that the song wasn't about Staley's drug addiction but rather the forces or experiences he endured that led him to addiction. I don't agree with that, I believe the song is ENTIRELY about his drug addictions and, more importantly, a crossroads. The prophet is actually a reference to a 1923 book of the same name; it's a collection of poems and stories written by Lebanese poet Khalil Gibrand. Layne had been studying his anthology before recording the album and no doubt many of the lyrics in RoD, while seemingly enigmatic and esoteric, are taken from the Prophet. On a side note, I recommend everyone read it at least once. It's a powerful life lesson.

The title itself, River of Deceit, is curious. What is the river? Is this a real or imagined river? Was he talking about a mythological river like Styx or Lethe? Is it a metaphor? YES, yes, it is. The river is the artery of blood in his arm into which he injects heroine. Now I have no way of knowing if he ripped this off from Neil Young but it's oddly similar. If you recall Young's lyrics from "Down By The River" he says down by the river, I shot my baby. The river was his arm, the baby he shot was the needle. I don't know about you but I see a connection. Anyway, the river is blood, the heroine is the deceit.

Staley ties in a lot of loose and personal metaphors of the river. He could drown, he could swim to shore, the river always pulls down. Now, that last part interests me. Blood always returns to the heart, but this river won't be returning, it flows in only one direction. Not unless he gets out of it. Because down is death. The use of a river as a symbol of life or death I think was incredibly well played in this song. The river, polluted with drugs, will kill him unless he starts swimming.

Otherwise, I don't think it necessary to try to unlock easter eggs in the lyrics. What does pull off my skin mean? What does burn mean? What does grow a beautiful shell mean? Well, I do actually have an idea about that last one. I don't think it means anything. Or if it does, it's an allusion to a sea creature that hides and emerges only when it needs to. What does that mean? I have no clear idea except possibly a dream of re-imagining himself.

Not all song writers are channeling the gods. Not all lyrics are written with some secret cypher required to allow the listener to grasp some deeper meaning. Sometimes words just fit and sound cool. Ever hear Stairway to Heaven? Sorry to break it you you, the music is beautiful but the lyrics are gibberish. However, I think Staley was trying to communicate something important to him in RoD, and he wanted us all to know. It was a message of hope and despair. That he had a choice to make, and he knew it as well as everyone who loved him knew. If he didn't maneuver on the river, he would drown. The song was released in 1995. Seven years later he would be found dead of an overdose. Perhaps it was all a plea for help, or a declaration that he accepted his fate, or that he was just confused as hell and didn't know what to do. But he had to tell someone, and he told us.

Thank you, Layne Staley. For your passion, your talent, your brilliance. And for the lonely who heard you from shore and chose to swim.