Sunshine
Alice in Chains Lyrics

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One, a-one time, yeah

Am I too contagious
Full of sick desire
Am I that I promise
Burning corpsed pyre

Then some dude came down to touch the Mother

Mother touched, and dude ain't here no more
Suck your woman down

Am I your reflection
Melting mirror smile
Am I worth the value
Do my love defile

Then some dude came down to touch the Mother
Mother touched and dude ain't here no more
Ain't no day the sun don't crack
Then to brand some name across my back so you care?
Find someone to tell you

Sunshine
Sweet love my labor
Don't mind,
I don't care no more

Memory
Set me free, yeah
I don't care no more
Mother please
Come for me

Can you face the question?
Is my soul entire?

Sunshine
Sweet love my labor
Don't mind
I don't care no more
Sunshine
Sweet love my labor

Don't mind
I don't care no more

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Alice in Chains's song "Sunshine" are enigmatic and can be interpreted in different ways. The song starts with the singer questioning his own worth and whether he is too corrupted to be worthy of someone's love. The reference to a "burning corpse pyre" suggests a self-destructive tendency, and the line "Am I your reflection, melting mirror smile" could mean that his self-image is distorted, and he is losing himself in his own reflection. Then come the puzzling lines "Then some dude came down to touch the Mother, Mother touched, and dude ain't here no more, Suck your woman down," which can be interpreted as either a reference to drug use, a description of a violent act, or both. The lyrics then switch to a more introspective tone as the singer ponders about his identity and whether his soul is still intact. The chorus repeats the words "Sunshine, sweet love my labor, don't mind, I don't care no more," which can be seen as a nihilistic statement meaning that the singer has given up on finding meaning or purpose in his life.

Line by Line Meaning

One, a-one time, yeah
This is a one-time event or occasion, yes

Am I too contagious
I wonder if my presence is harmful to others

Full of sick desire
Do I carry unhealthy wants and needs?

Am I that I promise
Am I delivering on what I claim to offer?

Burning corpsed pyre
A grim, fiery end to a life

Then some dude came down to touch the Mother
A person tried to approach a spiritual or powerful entity

Mother touched, and dude ain't here no more
That person seems to have vanished or died

Suck your woman down
Possibly a reference to negative, demeaning treatment of women

Am I your reflection
Do I accurately represent your inner self too?

Melting mirror smile
A smile that appears insincere or forced

Am I worth the value
Do I have significance and worth to you?

Do my love defile
Is my love tarnished or corrupted in some way?

Ain't no day the sun don't crack
Not a day goes by without hardship or difficulty

Then to brand some name across my back so you care?
Would you only pay attention or care if my name or reputation was publicly displayed somehow?

Find someone to tell you
Go find someone else to confide in

Sunshine Sweet love my labor Don't mind, I don't care no more
Despite whatever struggles exist, I will continue to work hard and love fiercely without concern for others' opinions or judgment

Memory Set me free, yeah I don't care no more
I wish to let go of the past and move forward, without being held back by regrets or memories that keep me anchored to it

Mother please Come for me
A plea to a maternal, caretaking figure to provide comfort or guidance

Can you face the question? Is my soul entire?
Are you willing to confront the inquiry of whether my spirit or essence is whole and intact?

Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Jerry Cantrell

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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