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".
Between
Jerry Cantrell Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Try and find my head
Gonna swim in the ocean until I'm dead
Let the infection spread
On my way to Texas
Drive up on my ranch
Gonna take you fishin' up big branch
Somewhere in between the wrong and right
We fight
It's fair to say that in your eyes I'm wrong
And in my mind, that's alright
Off in New York City
Good to see some friends
Scratched my nose upon a barrette on her head
Laid up in a rental bed
Then back home to Seattle
Fed the Monkey Man
I proceed to throw up all over my hand
Well it ain't so bad
Somewhere in between the wrong and right
We fight
It's fair to say that in your eyes I'm wrong
And in my mind, that's alright
That's alright
The song “Between” by Jerry Cantrell is an introspective piece that examines the feelings of uncertainty and internal conflict that the singer experiences. The lyrics suggest that he is searching for something, but he is unclear about what he is looking for. The first verse is about the singer's desire to escape from reality, to the point where he wishes for an infection to take hold. He is on a journey to California, where he plans to swim until he dies. The juxtaposition of swimming in the ocean until death is a metaphor for the singer's desire to escape from his troubles. He hopes that by immersing himself in the ocean, he will become a part of something larger and more powerful than himself.
The second verse of the song is about the singer's fear of commitment. He plans to drive up to his ranch in Texas with a girl he's seeing, but he's not sure if he wants to pursue a relationship with her. The imagery of fishing is symbolic of the singer's desire to capture something, but he doesn't know if he will keep it or release it. The third verse describes the singer's experiences in New York City. He is happy to see his friends but feels out of place in the city. The final verse brings the listener back to the singer's home in Seattle, where he cares for his pet monkey. He is sick and throws up on himself, but he realizes that it's not so bad.
Overall, the song explores the idea that life exists somewhere in between right and wrong. The lyrics suggest that what is right for one person may not be right for another, and that's okay. The singer acknowledges that he may not always make the right decisions, but he's willing to live with the consequences.
Line by Line Meaning
Going to California
I am headed to California.
Try and find my head
I am searching for clarity and understanding.
Gonna swim in the ocean until I'm dead
I will immerse myself in the soothing and refreshing water of the ocean until my death.
Let the infection spread
I will allow the metaphorical disease that plagues me to take its course.
On my way to Texas
I am en route to Texas.
Drive up on my ranch
I will approach and drive through my farm or estate.
Gonna take you fishin' up big branch
I will take you to catch fish in the creek named 'big branch.'
Well now you're my catch
You are now my victim, and I have conquered you.
Somewhere in between the wrong and right
I am in the midst of navigating the grey area that exists between right and wrong.
We fight
We argue.
It's fair to say that in your eyes I'm wrong
You believe me to be incorrect or mistaken in your opinion.
And in my mind, that's alright
However, I am content with my own beliefs and perspectives.
Off in New York City
I am located in New York City.
Good to see some friends
I am pleased to spend time with some of my friends.
Scratched my nose upon a barrette on her head
I scraped my nose with the hairclip fastened to her hair.
Laid up in a rental bed
I am confined to lying on a temporary bed that I have rented.
Then back home to Seattle
I subsequently returned home to Seattle.
Fed the Monkey Man
I provided sustenance to the individual referred to as the 'Monkey Man.'
I proceed to throw up all over my hand
Regrettably, I vomited and failed to contain it, therefore getting vomit all over my hand.
Well it ain't so bad
Regardless, it is not as terrible as it might seem.
Somewhere in between the wrong and right
I am still in the ambiguous area between right and wrong.
We fight
We are still arguing or disagreeing.
It's fair to say that in your eyes I'm wrong
You maintain that I am mistaken or wrong in your opinion.
And in my mind, that's alright
However, I remain content with my thoughts and perspective on the matter.
That's alright
That is acceptable or permissible.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Jerry Cantrell
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Duff787
on Dickeye
It's all about Layne. Jerry was pissed that he recorded with mad season. Born traitor. Layne and Jerry did lots of drugs together. Only thing he came here looking for. Injected concrete is a not so subtle reference to what dealers cut heroin with. Layne frequently shot up between his toes to hide track marks. Hide bloody feet.