What do you think Man in the Box means?

Alice In Chains: Man in the Box Meaning

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Album cover for Man in the Box album cover

Song Released: 1991


Man in the Box Lyrics

I’m the man in the box
Buried in my shit
Won’t you come and save me, save me

Chorus
Feed my eyes, can you sew them shut?
Jesus christ, deny your maker
He who tries, will be wasted
Feed my eyes now you’ve sewn them shut

I’m the dog who...

  1. anonymous
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    Sep 11th 2013 !⃝

    It's about animals that are treated unfairly and caged its brilliant its thief voice and how gov hide it from us - not everything is about humans the time

  2. betternotfigureitout
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    May 31st 2013 !⃝

    In case you haven't figured out the nature of the music, or indeed, the entertainment industry, I recommend you attempt to understand why so many in that field die or appear to go nuts. This song is an unanswered appeal for help. Pete Ham of Badfinger committed suicide and wrote this on his note: "I will not be allowed to love and trust everybody. This is better." It also included an accusatory blast toward Badfinger's business manager, Stan Polley: "P.S. Stan Polley is a soulless bastard. I will take him with me." Check out the website Vigilant Citizen.

  3. anonymous
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    Mar 5th 2013 !⃝

    i see it differently i guess. great song. Im the man in the box, this is him in the world, buried in my shit, fighting an up hill battle with sin and worldly things, problems. won't you come and save me, save me? asking Jesus to save him. Feed my eyes, can you sew them shut? i think he is asking Jesus to feed him the light, the Bible references light as holy and darkness as evil. light salvation. notice there are 2 singers i believe when the 2nd singer asks can you sew them shut its a question reference to staying away from the light for good, always being in the darkness by sewing them shut. he says, he who tries (2nd singer)-will be wasted. he is trying, asking Jesus to save him again, with conviction-notice his strong voice in the chorus.the (2nd singer) will be wasted, is satan telling him Jesus won't save him he is wasting his time, not worthy. last one. feed my eyes, notice his voice not quite as intense, trying once more to be saved, now you've sewn them shut, he didn't get saved, remaining in darkness. could also be a reference to the past as if he is looking back on it. im the dog that gets beat, meaning he tries to do good but he is a product of his environment, so to speak, reference to sin, he is the dog as Jesus his master. shove my nose in shit. punishing him for sinning. then its the same over again.
    pay attention to his voice intensity throughout the song and listen to the 2 singers as it references 2 people or 1 person 1 being. thanks Just my .02

  4. anonymous
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    Oct 26th 2012 !⃝

    The world medias drama propaganda and the churchs "churchiness" offer no lasting relief from the pain of abuse. Just more rules and overconsumption. Insisting upon the blind sheep to reject messianic revelation for continual hope for a new jesus according to "their" plan.

  5. anonymous
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    Jul 21st 2012 !⃝

    to be honest I didn't read every one of the things written here, but I always took it to be sorta about censorship, AND in a sarcastic way attacking religion..

    but then again I am an atheist so I don't get religion, and think of all the people that are religious as the "man in the box"

  6. anonymous
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    Oct 11th 2011 !⃝

    I met a guy who was the guitar tech for the Seattle band Grunttruck who also got a record deal at the same time as all the grunge bands. He told me story of a guy who won the state lottery and got a hotel room and bought insane amounts of drugs,and for a year did nothing but party. He was the man in the box, Lane Staley bought drugs off of this dude,with the way he died it makes sense.

  7. anonymous
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    Jun 26th 2011 !⃝

    Analyze the lyrics and then watch the official video... this song is about veal? hardly... that is the politically correct message of someone with an agenda. This song is screaming of a man's person struggles with his own personal demons (...something he wants to be saved from personally) The video shows an ominous figure walking around in "grim reaper" robes.. This is classic good vs. evil as is evidenced in the chorus with a call and response between the lead singer and the back-up vocals... his cry for help and his personal demons telling him he has no hope. Veal, yeah right... the man in the box is trapped and looking for a way out. He feels frustrated and like a victim in the second verse referencing himself to a dog being beaten... while calling for help, his personal demons tell him he has no hope (Jesus Christ....deny your maker...) and even if he tries he will return to his vices trapping him right back in the box... watch the official video... this is a metaphoric scream for help in the midst of hopelessness, covered with some ridiculous story of veal to cover something darker and deeper while also making a political statement that would make for cause celeb... this is 101...

  8. anonymous
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    May 11th 2011 !⃝

    I think this song is about sex he is in the box and is shitting all over the place

    This interpretation has been marked as poor. view anyway
  9. anonymous
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    Mar 28th 2011 !⃝

    Thats funny. 11:52 Feb. 5. Typical close minded christian. Your on a MUSIC interpretation web page. OPEN YOURS EYES MAN. idiot

    This interpretation has been marked as poor. view anyway
  10. anonymous
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    Feb 5th 2011 !⃝

    No one shoves their beliefs down everyone's throats more than anti Christians. Most politicians, Hollywood, the liberal media, most college professors, most music etc all hate Christianity and force those beliefs down Christians throats. As far as Christians saying believe What we believe or go to hell? Newsflash, we didn't come up with that, Jesus did. Jesus said himself he is he way the truth and the life and no one comes to the Father except through him. We didn't write that and we didn't say that, We just believe it. If you don't, you don't have a problem with us you have a problem with Christ. Either way it doesn't change the truth. Jesus is Lord. You can acknowledge it now or you will acknowledge it agaisnt your will when you die.

  11. anonymous
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    Jan 23rd 2011 !⃝

    Song to me means that maybe he was abused and tortured as a kid so he prays to god for help. Or it may mean he wants to be free from all his sins in life.

  12. lilbiz7890
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    Sep 1st 2010 !⃝

    Before I say this...I want everyone to know this is only my opinion....but I think that Jesus is feeding him information so as it is said by someone else on here but I also think that he is thinking or at least the ''information'' that is given from Jesus christ is to say he is denying his maker, God or Jehovah or whoever and he is tryin to tell the listener not to follow these lies because he will be wasted and well....this may sound insane but there it is...belive it or not but oh well...

  13. stevo2440
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    Aug 1st 2010 !⃝

    Shikkie, seriously? "Christians shove their beliefs down your throat?" Sorry, if someone has done that to you, but that is not the usual practice of believers. Just cause the message is there doesn't mean that you have to accept it. Maybe you feel pushed because God is pushing you. Just a thought.

    After reading many different interpretations on many sites, I have to find the most credibility in the veal story.

    This interpretation has been marked as poor. view anyway
  14. anonymous
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    Jul 9th 2010 !⃝

    I agree that the chorus is a struggle between Christ and Satan (an excellent use of creative lyrical work!) and that the singer is basically desperate for any kind of salvation, and is grasping for anything he can get. As for you, Shikkie, I believe you've sewn your eyes shut

  15. anonymous
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    Apr 20th 2010 !⃝

    I have a VERY literal interpretation...Does anyone remember the man who was kidnapped, held captive for ransom, while being chained inside a wooden box? He was in this box while in a storage warehouse. I saw this on a Investigative Reports awhile back. He was not released in time and died in the box. He was not allowed to even get out to defecate.

    I do however understand the other interpretations, just a thought.




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