Alice In Chains: Again Meaning

Song Released: 1996

Again Lyrics

Hey, let them do it again, yeah
Hey, you said you were my friend
Hey, turn me upside down, Oh
Hey, feelin' so down
Hey, hey...hey...hey...

You made a fool of me again
Again

Hey, I know I made the same mistake, yeah
I, I won't do it...

1. 1TOP RATED

   #1 top rated interpretation:
   anonymous

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   Mar 2nd 2011 !⃝

   I think this song is about being hurt over and over again by someone you love. Layne often wrote about very depressing subjects often about pain and betrayal, etc. i.e. Frogs, A Looking In View, etc.
   
   In my humble opinion I believe the song talks about how a person who is truly in love continues to forgive the one they love over and over again. The protagonist who is being hurt in this song has asked the one who is hurting him/her to think about their actions and the consequences it will have on the relationship, however the person continues to hurt the protagonist again and again and again...
   
   The protagonist once used to trust the person and considered them to not only be a friend but something more, however he/she feels so betrayed it turns their world upside down and the protagonist feels violated. Betrayal begins to eat the person up inside and nothing seems to heal it, everything seems like such a weak attempt at healing something that is already broken...
   
   This is just my opinion however...
2. anonymous

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   Jun 11th !⃝

   The first half of the song feels like a reference to someone burning him for money (…turn me upside down…), likely more than one person & one time. This was written when Layne was no longer hurting for money, and had an active addiction to multiple forms. That means being around shady people. It’d be a surprise if he wasn’t done wrong by people. The last half, I think is a reference to someone close to him dying unexpectedly. I don’t recall details, but I remember hearing about that happening and it deeply affecting him, understandably so.
3. anonymous

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   Mar 9th 2021 !⃝

   To me, there can be a lot of interpretations. One of them could be a reference to MK ultra and ritual abuse. The video goes this way; with all those kids (victims of the ritual abuse and/or MK ultra experiments) with their pointy hats (reference to satanism) and cloaks that are meant to be fooled, violated and extended (dissociation of the mind to create alters that will me slaves of the puppet master).
   In short, we're in the same universe as Eyes Wides Shut.
   
   
4. anonymous

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   Aug 21st 2017 !⃝

   It's about rehab and being put there by people you trust but would rather not be like. The video is the strongest indicator. Prison environ with monkeys, puppets, and self help buzzwords on a chalkboard. It's quite explicit and clear. It's a warning.
5. anonymous

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   Jan 5th 2017 !⃝

   Seems I recall Layne once saying in an interview when asked about the meaning of one of their songs--very loosely paraphrased--whatever ever it means to you [the listener]. So to me, and likely a large extent to Layne (and anyone who's ridden the tortuous roller coaster ride of addiction)~Again~simply highlights the depths of despair & shame one faces when staring down--day in, day out--their utter failure of hapless & helpless attempts at loosening the evil grip of addiction--hoping, longing, & delusionally believing they'll stop, control it but deep down morbidly resigned that they almost certainly will do it again & again . . . .
   
   And Metallica, lacking empathy yes but not showing sympathy when addiction interferes to that level of unprofessionalism--are right--despite the questionable taste of their mocking method--they understand addiction but were/are committed to it not jeopardizing their profession & professionalism. With all due respect, who of us AIC fans, if brutally honest, are not still disgusted with the avoidable and sickeningly selfish destructive loss of such a specially blessed person & artist --blessed on so many levels starting with that voice--sad but true--that's why so many also want to point blame at the band, friends, etc for not intervening; however, Layne is simply & sadly the only one to blame.
6. anonymous

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   Jun 17th 2013 !⃝

   I'm rather certain this song is in reference to Demri's death. He talks about his feelings of guilt towards turning her on to drugs, and how he couldn't save her from her death. In particular the line "Your weak will wont help her heal her heart" I think is a direct reference to her death from endocarditis.
7. anonymous

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   Sep 7th 2011 !⃝

   1994, Alice in Chains cancelled their "supporting" role as the opening act for Metallica. James Hatfield, Lars, and Kirk insinuated "shooting up" on stage and made a parody of "Man in the Box" by singing "we can't tour..."
   Fast forward a year; tripod is written and released. Refer to the video and the word on the chalk board appears "Support". Real friends do not and should not make fun of others who are struggling with addictions. I think it's the combination of one's ability to live day to day with a habit that won't let go and his dissapointing friendship.
   The fool, violation, and weak will points to the user's own delima with his own weakness. "Why you slap me in the face points to the hypocrite assholes "mascerica" who go publicly making light of one's personal problems...again and again.
8. anonymous

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   Oct 18th 2010 !⃝

   This song is about someone who thinks they have to do everything to bring peace somewhere. This person feels they have this weight on their shoulders to fix what most likely can't be fixed by only one person.
   "I love the way that your heart breaks with every injustice and deadly fate. Praying it all to be new and living like it all depends on you."
   
   "Here you are down on your knees again, trying to find air to breathe again. And only surrender will help you now." - This person has fallen, and it isn't the first time. The singer is trying to get this person to see they can't do it all by themselves, and they should rest and see.
   
   "They don't have to understand you, be still" - The singer wants this person to see that not everyone has to understand what this person is doing, and they should calm down.
9. Darkjak

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   Apr 24th 2010 !⃝

   This song is from God's point of view on a christian who flip-flops between the sin and guilt in his life. It is a vicious cycle flyleaf has seen many followers struggle with. The thing that happens again and again. This song speaks of how the realization of our sin causes us to fall down and back to God for forgiveness. The repent is something we must do again and again to ever be right with God, instead of putting ourself in that guilt we fill ourselves with from the evils we do when we forget his presence. The song brings up how christians have a hard time facing others with this guilt that the church reveals in its followers. The church does not understand how this follower overwhelmed by guilt is losing his will to continue living his sinful life. The air he seeks is the relief from the guilt God provides this follower. The flood gates represent the promise God never will destroy that which is sinful by his hand again, and every follower must understand to hold strong in enduring life. The sinful follower has the right to continue his life no matter how many time his flesh strives to sin again and again.

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