Alice In Chains: Over Now Meaning

Song Released: 1996

Over Now Lyrics

Good night...
Yeah, it's over now, but I can breathe somehow
When it's all worn out, I'd rather go without.

You know it's been on my mind
Could you stand right there
Look me straight in the eye and say
That it's over now.

We pay our...

1. Erin

   • 1
   • 2
   • 3
   • 4
   • 5

   click a star to vote

   Sep 19th 2022 !⃝

   Jerry did not want AIC to become a studio band and Layne couldn't go on the road anymore. They both understood it was the end of AIC as we knew them to be. Yes, the band never "broke up" but it was over for them at that point to go on as usual and they knew it.
2. anonymous

   • 1
   • 2
   • 3
   • 4
   • 5

   click a star to vote

   Mar 30th 2022 !⃝

   April 4 2017 is right on. He wrote what I would have ok........ Just want to say he nailed it in my personally precious opinion
3. anonymous

   • 1
   • 2
   • 3
   • 4
   • 5

   click a star to vote

   May 8th 2020 !⃝

   To me its about a relationship breaking up. Hes relieved its done but part of him doesnt want it to be done, he wants her to be sure they're done so he can move on. He wants to be able to look in the mirror and convince himself that its over now.
   It could also be the relationship between him and his drug addiction too.
4. anonymous

   • 1
   • 2
   • 3
   • 4
   • 5

   click a star to vote

   Apr 4th 2017 !⃝

   In my opinion , This song is about the struggles of drug addiction of Jerry and Layne and the brotherly love Jerry had for Layne. Id say mainly heroin. Jerry got clean and Layne did not,I've watched multiple interviews of Jerry admitting his strugles of drugs and got through it. If you listen to Degredation Trip in one song he talks about how he did what he did at that point in time im assuming Dirt era and wouldn't change a thing.
   
   "Yeah, it's over now, but I can breathe somehow
   When it's all worn out, I'd rather go without.(He made it through and can see clearly now and doesn't want it anymore.)
   
   You know it's been on my mind(Jerry still has his demons, but I believe this next line is asking Layne if he could look at him and say its over.)
   Could you stand right there
   Look me straight in the eye and say
   That it's over now.
   We pay our debts sometimes."(I think he means he's paid his debt with by experiencing all the struggle he may have went through, and also that Layne is paying his debts still going through a very dark time as it reflects in his lyrics as well as jerrys, and if your a true fan you can see the changes in the lyrics in the later years ESPECIALLY there two new recent albums aswell as Jerrys solo albums. Jerry talks about Layne alot "Your Decision", "Black Gives Way to Blue".)
   
   I really find it hard he's talking about the band breaking up Just by what he is saying. It may be how people are suppose precieve it, but I think it's much deeper, for Jerry and Laynes lyrics are really deep and I don't feel like everyone can understand their point of views as clear as others say who may have went or See going through it aswell .See the truth for what it is.He made it through and he is alive to tell the tale. I also think alot of it had to do Layne as well as Jerry made it through and he wanted the best for his brother. I say that because In the song he says,"You know its been on my mind(still having cravings but ultimately he was done with it) could you stand right there and look me straight in the eye and say its over now(Asking Layne indirectly if he could see it like Jerry did and say its over now)." Like as I said he just wanted the best for Layne, but he knew he couldn't stop him Unfortunately. If you watch the unplugged you can clearly see Jerry looks really good, Layne was almost to point of were he started to decline and gave up shortly after that he passed a few years later. All this being said this is just my opinion not downing Layne or anyone who struggles with addiction. Layne is by far with out a doubt addict or not one of my favorite vocalists to date as I can feel his pain in his words that hit me as I can't imagine what he went through. Along with Jerry Cantrell aswell as he is an amazing and underrated guitar player and amazing vocalist as well him and Layne had perfect harmonies are blend together so well that will give you goosebumps. They have a huge influence on me, Mostly because I'm a muscian and their music has emotion, It goes deeper than what most people would think. Alice in Chains along with the whole 90s era of Music was a absolute great time for music. As in the talent and feeling for the music that you can feel is what it's about. And the most biggest thing that really upsets me about most music nowadays IT HAS REAL MEANING TO IT. Alice In Chains Layne, Jerry, Both Mikes , and Sean and Even William DuVall aswell. Will forever be a staple in music forever. May Layne Rest In Peace. And may his unique voice live on forever. ALSO, I BEG that everyone be adults and respect my opinion for it is there for to read what is said and decide for yourselfs, Even if it may be ugly. For informational purposes to give people an idea of what Layne stuggled with and truely showed it in his music and it is truely sad a person felt like this. If anyone agrees or even disagrees with what I said, I encourage you to tell me what you think the meaning of this song. I feel alot of it makes alot of sense of an ugly truth of an Amazing Band.
   
   COMMENT YOUR THOUGHTS BELOW.
5. anonymous

   • 1
   • 2
   • 3
   • 4
   • 5

   click a star to vote

   Jul 9th 2016 !⃝

   I feel it's about the emotional and physical exhaustion of drug addiction.
6. anonymous

   • 1
   • 2
   • 3
   • 4
   • 5

   click a star to vote

   Dec 9th 2013 !⃝

   you idiots its not about the band breaking up they never did they took a break cause of laynes addiction,the songs about when him and hes gf broke up.
7. anonymous

   • 1
   • 2
   • 3
   • 4
   • 5

   click a star to vote

   Jul 18th 2013 !⃝

   It's about the break up of the band AIC.
8. anonymous

   • 1
   • 2
   • 3
   • 4
   • 5

   click a star to vote

   Feb 26th 2013 !⃝

   i thinks its about layne battling his addiction and feeling its behind him with sincerity and confidence
9. anonymous

   • 1
   • 2
   • 3
   • 4
   • 5

   click a star to vote

   Jun 16th 2011 !⃝

   i also enjoying looking at the song as life being the debt itself, only borrowed and at some point we all pay in. amazing way to look at things, only one of many this song can produce for me.
10. anonymous

    • 1
    • 2
    • 3
    • 4
    • 5

    click a star to vote

    Jan 28th 2011 !⃝

    To me this feels as though it's about death, and someone standing over your coffin looking down. We pay our debt sometime.
11. anonymous

    • 1
    • 2
    • 3
    • 4
    • 5

    click a star to vote

    Oct 29th 2009 !⃝

    This strikes me as being about the end of a relationship, the effects it can have and how long it can take to accept that all good things must come to an end.

Latest Articles

• 
  A new era for Millennial favorite, Linkin Park
• 
  Anime to watch for the soundtracks… and other reasons you’re undateable
• 
  Dolly, we need you
• 
  The Stranger Things Effect: How new media is drawing Gen Z and Alpha's attention to aging media
• 
  The most underrated soundtrack of the early 2000s
• 
  Buy the Soundtrack, Skip the Movie: Brainscan (1994)