He also has a solo career, having released the albums Boggy Depot in 1998 and Degradation Trip Volumes 1 & 2 in 2002. Cantrell has also collaborated and performed with Heart, Ozzy Osbourne, Metallica, Pantera, Circus of Power, Metal Church, Gov't Mule, Damageplan, Pearl Jam, The Cult, Stone Temple Pilots, Danzig, Glenn Hughes, Duff McKagan and Deftones, among others.
Cantrell was named "Riff Lord" by British hard rock/metal magazine Metal Hammer in 2006. Guitar World Magazine ranked Cantrell as the 38th out of "100 Greatest Heavy Metal Guitarists of All Time" in 2004, and the 37th "Greatest Guitar Player of All Time" in 2012. Guitar World also ranked Cantrell's solo in "Man In The Box" at No. 77 on its list of "100 Greatest Guitar Solos" in 2008.
He also contributed to the soundtrack of The Cable Guy (1996), John Wick: Chapter 2 (2017) and Dark Nights: Metal (2018), and has made cameos in films such as Jerry Maguire (1996), Rock Slyde (2009) and Deadwood: The Movie. Cantrell also acted in the Alice in Chains mockumentaries The Nona Tapes (1995) and AIC 23 (2013).
Cantrell is a recovering addict and alcoholic and has been sober since 2003. He was awarded the 2012 Stevie Ray Vaughan Award from MusiCares, for his work helping other addicts with the recovery process. Cantrell said in his acceptance speech, "I crash landed here almost 9 years ago, in Los Angeles. Sean [Kinney] was at the door with my brother, so my choices were open the door and go to rehab or jump out the back window down a cliff into some black berry bushes. That’s the choice I took. Luckily they caught me because I couldn’t go anywhere, I was kind of stuck in a bush at the bottom of a cliff bleeding, and I ended up here. I didn’t intend to get here but I’m very grateful I am here, and it took a lot of people to help me get here. It's been an amazing day. It's overwhelming. I'm as imperfect as they come. I just don't get high today and wake up the next morning and try and do the same thing. A lot of people stand and get the fuck back up after falling. Some people don't get that chance. My band's been a harsh example of that – what happens when you don't deal with it." Cantrell and his Alice in Chains bandmates played a five-song set at the awards event and Cantrell stated, "We really miss Layne [Staley] and Mike [Starr], and we carry them with us in our hearts".
Anger Rising
Jerry Cantrell Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Boy standing at attention in the corner his own
Terrified, scorpion crawling the wall
By the way father, could you please beat me some more?
Anger rising up inside him yet again
Tell me you got a plan
Deaf and blind I'm living with the lepers and
Cold Alaska, hiding, bundled up tight
Stretch aluminum foil 'cross the window at night
Mother crying, calling out up the stairs
By the way father, do you even care that I'm scared?
Chorus
Repeat chorus with "Devil rising up inside him yet again"
Generation three, solitary, alone
By the way father, created hell on my own
Chorus
The lyrics to Jerry Cantrell's song "Anger Rising" describe the struggles of a young boy who is forced to live in a difficult environment. The first verse describes his home in an Alabama trailer park where he stands at attention in the corner and is terrified by a scorpion crawling on the wall. He then asks his father to beat him more. The second verse depicts the boy being in Cold Alaska, hiding and bundled up tight. His mother cries and calls out, but he questions whether his father even cares about his fear.
The chorus of the song expresses the anger that is building up inside the boy, and he begs for someone to tell him they have a plan. He feels that he is living with the lepers, as the world seems deaf and blind to his struggles. The repetition of the chorus with the line "Devil rising up inside him yet again" adds to the intensity of the song, as the boy's emotions continue to escalate. In the final verse, the boy explains that he feels alone and isolated, and that he has created his own hell.
Overall, "Anger Rising" is a poignant portrayal of the effects of abuse and neglect on a child, and the long-lasting impact that it can have on their emotional well-being.
Line by Line Meaning
Alabama trailer park they call home
The singer is from a poor background and is currently residing in a trailer park in Alabama.
Boy standing at attention in the corner his own
The singer is recalling a memory of being punished and standing in the corner as a child.
Terrified, scorpion crawling the wall
The singer is describing a moment of fear when they saw a scorpion crawling on the wall.
By the way father, could you please beat me some more?
The artist's relationship with their father is strained and abusive, as they sarcastically ask to be beaten more.
Anger rising up inside him yet again
The artist is experiencing a resurgence of their anger and frustration.
Tell me you got a plan
The singer is feeling lost and hopeless, and is asking for guidance or reassurance from someone else.
Deaf and blind I'm living with the lepers and
The singer feels alienated and disconnected from society, as though they are living among outcasts.
You want to hold my hand
Despite feeling isolated, the artist is skeptical of others' attempts to help or connect with them.
Cold Alaska, hiding, bundled up tight
The artist is in a cold, remote location and is trying to keep warm and protected from the elements.
Stretch aluminum foil 'cross the window at night
The artist is taking measures to stay hidden, possibly due to fear or paranoia.
Mother crying, calling out up the stairs
The singer's mother is upset or distressed and is trying to communicate with them from another part of the house.
By the way father, do you even care that I'm scared?
The artist is questioning their father's compassion and concern for their well-being, as they express feeling scared.
Generation three, solitary, alone
The singer belongs to a family that has experienced several generations of isolation or solitude.
By the way father, created hell on my own
The singer blames their father for contributing to their current struggles and difficulties in life.
Chorus
The repetition of the chorus emphasizes the theme of anger and frustration building up inside the singer.
Devil rising up inside him yet again
The artist's anger and frustration are described again, this time with religious imagery.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Jerry Cantrell
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
danathor99
Cantrell, Truijillo and Bordin... Do people realise how much of a legendary combination that is?
Brad Wasbrough
I do! I'm just sad I never knew they worked together until now.
Pete Feges
Need more of THIS ROCK AND ROLL!
ILIYAN REVENETOV
The best grunge guitarist on this planet ! Jerry Cantrell ! Forever carrying Alice in Chains spirit
Puppetmaster 85
Best grunge songwriter too Imo and that’s a very high bar. Jerry is just a truly special musician in general
Gothic Snow-Leopard
like honestly, as an AIC fanboy im glad he went on to make 2 independent albums, the 2nd being 2 whole hours no less, still capturing that classic AIC feel
Pete Feges
Grunge ? THIS IS FUCKIN’ ROCK&ROLL!!!!!!
requeese
@Gothic Snow-Leopard thats because he was pretty much writing the songs for alice and chains
Lee MacWilliams
Not gonna lie, without this song I might be way worse off. Jerry is a master of riffs and harmonies, underrated musical genius.
clint kees
Lee MacWilliams it helps to remind us that the anger is not the master no matter how strong it may feel. layne is a beast!