"That was the first time we'd written with Mike Inez… Read Full Bio ↴Jerry Cantrell:
"That was the first time we'd written with Mike Inez, which makes this another special song. The whole Jar of Flies EP proved to both us and the fans what a talented and valid part of the band Mike was. He plays the nastiest, darkest shit but he's got the sweetest heart in the world."
The track is notably softer than Alice in Chains's previous recordings on both Facelift and Dirt; however, despite the bright opening guitar riff and verse, the song's pre-chorus suddenly detours into dark, sludgy electric guitar and a haunting vocal harmony. The chorus then reintroduces the upbeat tones with powerfully long-drawn vocals and anxious violins. A hard rock electric guitar solo then plays amidst the bright acoustic section.
"I Stay Away" also uses a great deal of instrumentation that Alice in Chains had previously not attempted, including horns and string instruments. It also effectively demonstrates the harmony between vocalist Layne Staley and guitarist Jerry Cantrell.
I Stay Away
Alice in Chains Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I want to travel south this year
I won't
Won't prevent safe passage here
Why you act crazy?
Not an act, maybe
So close, a lady
Yeah, hey, yeah
Tears that soak a callous heart
Why you act frightened?
I am enlightened
Your weakness builds me
So someday you'll see
I stay away
Why you act crazy?
Not an act, maybe
So close, a lady
Shifty eyes, shady
I stay away
I stay away
I stay away
I stay away
The lyrics of "I Stay Away" by Alice in Chains depict an individual who desires to travel south. However, there is no indication of whether the person is trying to escape something or gain something when he travels. The phrase "I won't prevent safe passage here" implies that the individual is not afraid of facing any obstacles or hardships on his journey.
The second stanza is a conversation between two people, one of whom is asking another why they are acting crazy. The reply "not an act, maybe" suggests that the person is not pretending to be crazy but is genuinely mentally unstable. The third and fourth line of the stanza describe the woman the person is referring to. Her shifty eyes and shady behaviour imply that she is untrustworthy.
In the chorus, the singer reiterates his decision to stay away from the person he has been referring to in the earlier stanzas. The lines "Why you act frightened? I am enlightened. Your weakness builds me. So someday you'll see" imply that the person he is referring to is weak and that the singer derives strength from it. The repetition of the "I stay away" phrase adds a finality to the singer's decision.
Line by Line Meaning
Yeah, hey
Expression of excitement or anticipation.
I want to travel south this year
I desire to go south this year.
I won't
I will not refrain from going south.
Won't prevent safe passage here
I will not obstruct the path of others.
Why you act crazy?
Why do you behave so erratically?
Not an act, maybe
Perhaps it is not a performance.
So close, a lady
It could be someone near and dear.
Shifty eyes, shady
Their glance or behavior is suspicious.
Yeah, hey, yeah
Repeated expression of excitement or anticipation.
Tears that soak a callous heart
Crying can soften even the hardest of hearts.
Why you act frightened?
Why do you appear so scared?
I am enlightened
I have achieved enlightenment or understanding.
Your weakness builds me
Your flaws give me power or strength.
So someday you'll see
One day you will comprehend and understand.
I stay away
I avoid them or keep my distance.
I stay away
I distance myself from them.
I stay away
I remain aloof or apart.
I stay away
I steer clear or avoid.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Layne Staley, Michael Inez, Jerry Cantrell
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@codycooper5768
I might be in the minority here but jar of flies is my favorite album! I love that more stripped down, acoustic approach. Loved the older, heavy crunchy stuff too, don't get me wrong! but I just love jar of flies so much, and of course their MTV unplugged show...
I still respect the hell out of Jerry Cantrell for continuing on, and he is in my opinion LARGELY overlooked and underrated as a musician, a singer, and a songwriter.. I respect him for keeping on, and that new singer is very talented, breathes new life into the band.. but damn it all I wish Layne would have gotten help, got his shit together, and LIVED!! kept making music...
I didn't get into Alice in Chains until somewhat recently, as an adult. I was a kid in the early 90s. I remember something my dad said about when Kurt Cobain died. My dad was old school, not much of a rocker, more into old country like Willie Nelson, Johnny Cash, and what not. Well when he saw nirvana's unplugged, Kurt's rendition of "in the pines" he was extremely impressed. And that's when he realized like okay this dude's legit. It's not just yelling and screaming and noise lol nirvana's unplugged made a believer out of my dad because he immediately recognized the artistry, the musicianship involved...
He said something after Kurt died about damn just imagine how much great music he COULD have kept making, had he lived. My dad thought they might have CONTINUED that unplugged stripped down approach..
Well anyhow, talking about nirvana on an Alice in Chains video! Sorry lol I said all that to say THIS though:
The way my dad felt about Kurt is kinda how I feel about Layne; I feel like if Layne had lived and they continued the band, Layne probably would have made more stuff similar to unplugged and jar of flies...
Sad what happened to both those guys, RIP kurt and layne both ✌️✌️✌️
@Awge_aket
Yeah, I want to travel south this year
Aaah, Woah, Woah
Won't prevent safe passage here
Why you act crazy
Not an act maybe
So close a lady
Shifty eyes shady
Yeah, hey Yeah, tears that soak
A callous heart
Why you act frightened
I am enlightened
Your weakness builds me
So someday you'll see
I stay away
Why you act crazy
Not an act maybe
So close a lady
Shifty eyes shady
I stay away
I stay away
I stay away
I stay away
@thenailtechfiles7935
his voice was perfection. scary, strong, beautiful unmatched
@gtrriffs
Great choice of words mae.🏴🎸
@elisaw8367
It was <3
@ryanlovvorn8024
I've never heard it describes like that, it's perfect. Then add Jerry to it and they have an echo to their voices when there is no echo. What a fucking band. Thank you boys
@bfreeman8786
Haunted and Defiant.
@rozwelljones4976
@@ryanlovvorn8024 it's called a harmony man.
@HotStrange
The orchestral parts after the chorus just send this song to another level.
@geoffreyguillot3602
Unmatched by any
@HotStrange
@@THE1BELOWANDABOVEALL Agreed on both accounts. The first time I heard the Choir sing “under the bridge downtown” in the 90s, I got chills. Classic song.
I think Jar or Flies is a perfect release in general. Very close to being my favorite project AiC ever made.
@smeagolmazurenko5238
It's amazing how these guys were able to merge the beautiful with the ugly. Masters of dissonance.