Iron Gland was developed out of a guitar riff that Jerry Cantrell would play that annoyed the other band members, so he created the song (adding in a reference to Black Sabbath's "Iron Man") and promised to never play the guitar riff again. It features Tom Araya of Slayer on vocals.
Iron Man
Alice in Chains Lyrics
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Redrum
The song "Iron Man" by Alice in Chains is a cover of the classic song by Black Sabbath, which tells the story of a man who travels through time and witnesses the apocalypse. Alice in Chains chose to cover this song because of their deep admiration for Black Sabbath and their influence on the grunge genre. The lyrics of Alice in Chains' version are sparse, yet impactful. The line "I am iron god, iron, Redrum" is particularly interesting because it references two classic works of art. "Redrum" is a nod to Stephen King's The Shining, where the word is actually "murder" spelled backwards. The phrase "iron god" is likely a reference to the Iron Giant, a famous children's book and animated film about a giant robot who becomes a hero. The Iron Giant is known for his strength and sacrifice, which could be what Alice in Chains is alluding to in their version of the song.
The lyrics of "Iron Man" are particularly interesting considering the history of the song. Black Sabbath originally wrote the song as a warning against the dangers of nuclear war. The singer of the song is a man who has seen the end of the world and is trying to warn others, but no one will listen to him. Alice in Chains' version of the song takes a more introspective approach, focusing on the strength of the individual. In this version, the "iron god" is the person singing the song, who is able to withstand the trials of life and emerge victorious. This interpretation of the song is particularly relevant for Alice in Chains, as their music often deals with themes of addiction, depression, and the search for meaning in a chaotic world.
Line by Line Meaning
I am iron god, iron
I am a powerful and indestructible force, comparable to the strength and durability of iron.
Redrum
This is a reference to the phrase 'Murder' spelled backwards, which was used in the horror movie 'The Shining'. It is unclear how this relates to the rest of the song.
Contributed by Sadie I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@hunterparker9988
Apparently this is Tom Araya from Slayer singing these lyrics
@assshakerstudios549
Yep Gland.... You can totally tell! I thought that at the time too as I was heavily into Seasons at the time and it on repeat all the fucking time in my walkman...LOL. But yeah Dirt was my fav Chains album as well!
@HouseOfWoe
What lyrics? 🤔
@ermonski
Gotta love how AiC is very much respected by the heavy metal community. Come on, Tom Araya doing the vocals for this? How awesome is that
@Al_Gore_Rhythmn
Well yeah, you think they wouldn't be if on a video of some backstage footage, Till Lindemann and Vince Neil can be seen taking a shot together while AIC is playing in in background?
@rossdelemarre
well @ermonski alice in chains was a part of the heavy metal community, even hosting headbangers ball on MTV. so yes it would make sense that they are respected by a community that they are apart of....
@vapordreams983
Alice in Chains and Soundgarden were the grunge bands metalheads loved
@malamindulo
I once listened to this late at night, thinking it was a cover of Black Sabbath.........
Didn't get sleep that time.
@MrJgreig72
That's what I was thinking.
@dodzik07
I don’t blame you I thought it was too 😂