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".
Hurt A Long Time
Jerry Cantrell Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
His knuckles white
He got a gun
And gave up the fight
When I found out
I couldn't even cry
Well I am now
I'll save it for you
You save me from me
And the hole in my head I can see
Tell her I love her
Tell the kids that I loved them
Oh, it's a bad dream
I've got only time
Yeah, it's a bad dream
I've got only time
You know it's a bad dream
I've got only time
I wish it was a bad dream
I wish it was a bad dream
'Cause it's gonna hurt a long time, yeah
He lies awake
With saddened eyes
Sleeping babies
Keeping him alive
I'll save it for you
You save me from me
And the hole in my head I can see
Tell her I love her
Tell the kids that I loved them
Oh, it's a bad dream
I've got only time
Yeah, it's a bad dream
I've got only time
You know it's just a bad dream
I've got only time
I wish it was a bad dream
I've got only time
I wish it was a bad dream
'Cause it's gonna hurt a long time, yeah
The lyrics in Jerry Cantrell's song "Hurt A Long Time" depict a tragic scenario where a man holds a gun and decides to give up the fight. The opening lines suggest an increasingly tense situation as the man's hands are clenched and his knuckles white, indicating his inner turmoil. The singer then goes on to lament his inability to cry when he first learned of the tragic news, but now he feels the full weight of his emotions and is trying to come to terms with what has happened.
The chorus of the song has a melancholic tone, with the singer asking someone to save him from himself and the "hole in his head" that he can see. He then leaves a message for his loved ones, asking to be remembered and telling them that he loves them. Throughout the song, there is a feeling of inevitability, as the singer acknowledges that it's a bad dream, but he knows he will have to live with the pain for a long time.
One possible interpretation of the song could be that it is about suicide. The opening lines suggest that the man has decided to give up the fight, and the message he leaves for his loved ones seems like a final goodbye. The singer's lament about being unable to cry initially may indicate a sense of detachment or numbness that is often associated with depression. The song is a poignant and emotional portrayal of the pain and sadness that come with loss, whether it is through suicide or some other tragic event.
Line by Line Meaning
His hands are clenched
He is tense and anxious.
His knuckles white
He is gripping something tightly, probably a gun.
He got a gun
He is armed and dangerous.
And gave up the fight
He has given up on living.
When I found out
The artist has discovered something terrible.
I couldn't even cry
The singer is in shock and cannot express their emotions.
Well I am now
The singer is finally starting to feel the pain of the situation.
And I'm tryin' to figure out why
The artist is trying to understand the reasons behind the tragedy.
I'll save it for you
The artist has a message they want to send to someone.
You save me from me
The artist has someone they rely on for support.
And the hole in my head I can see
The singer has a mental or emotional wound that they can't ignore.
Tell her I love her
The artist has a message of love for someone they care about deeply.
Tell the kids that I loved them
The singer wants to let their children know how much they mean to them.
Oh, it's a bad dream
The singer is struggling to accept the reality of the situation.
I've got only time
The singer knows that healing takes time.
You know it's a bad dream
The artist is still having trouble accepting the reality of the situation.
I wish it was a bad dream
The artist longs for the tragedy to be just a nightmare.
'Cause it's gonna hurt a long time, yeah
The singer knows that the pain will last for a while.
He lies awake
The character is having trouble sleeping.
With saddened eyes
The character is grieving and filled with sorrow.
Sleeping babies
The children are asleep and unaware of the tragedy.
Keeping him alive
The character finds comfort in the love of their family.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Jerry Cantrell
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
theShutterSniper
His hands are clenched
His knuckles white
He got a gun
-And gave up the fight
When I found out
I couldn't even cry
Well I am now
And I'm tryin' to figure out Why I'll save it for You
You save me from me
And the hole in my head -I can see
Tell her I love her
Tell the kids that I loved them
Oh, it's a bad dream(now)
I've got only time
Yeah, it's a bad dream
I've got only time
You know it's a bad dream
(now)
I've got only time
I wish it was a bad dream- I wish it was a bad dream
'Cause it's gonna hurt a long time yeah
He lies awake
With saddened eyes
Sleeping babies
Keeping him alive
I'll save it for You
You save me from me
And the hole in my head -I can see
Tell her I love her
Tell the kids that I loved them
Oh, it's a bad dream
(now)
I've got only time
Yeah, it's a bad dream
(now)
I've got only time
You know it's a bad dream
I've got only time
I wish it was a bad dream I wish it was a bad dream
'Cause it's gonna hurt a long time
Limits98
Lyrics
His hands are clenched
His knuckles white
He got a gun
And gave up the fight
When I found out
I couldn't even cry
Well I am now
And I'm trying to
Figure out why
I'll save it for you
You save me from me
And the hole in my
Head I can see
Tell her I love her
Tell the kids that
I loved them
Oh,
It's a bad dream
(Now)
I've got only time
Yeah,
It's a bad dream
I've got only time
You know it's a bad dream
(Now)
I've got only time
I wish it was a bad dream
I wish it was a bad dream
Cause it's gonna
Hurt a long time
Yeah
He lies awake
With saddened eyes
Sleeping babies
Keeping him alive
I'll save it for you
You save me from me
And the hole in my
Head I can see
Tell her I love her
Tell the kids that
I loved them
Oh,
It's a bad dream
(Now)
I've got only time
Yeah,
It's a bad dream
(Now)
I've got only time
You know it's a bad dream
I've got only time
I wish it was a bad dream
I've got only time
I wish it was a bad dream
Cause it's gonna
Hurt a long time
Yeah
joelawson33
Probably one of the saddest songs I've ever heard. It really makes me respect Jerry for his profundity and insight. Such an extraordinarily cool guy. He IS and always has been the core of AIC.
Peggy Burke
@Maria Despoina Roditi
Thank you for that, but I don’t feel strong. Mostly I feel broken..
Maria Despoina Roditi
@Peggy Burke You are such a strong woman Peggy,God bless you
Peggy Burke
jason Rader
We never understand . A guy I know got clean and fought to stay that way 10 years. He got hit by a car crossing the street. Seems so wrong to loose him like that.
Richard Folsum
I know he cared so much for Layne.
Peggy Burke
jason Rader
Thank you for your kindness Jason. We all loose people we love. I deal with it everyday just like everyone else. My bad days are super painful and dark and they happen often.
But my life has also had a tremendous lot of love, friends, people that care, and a husband that loves me even on my dark days when I go to my room because I just can’t deal with the world.
I don’t understand why so many bad things happen to me. But I have learned that I can help other people who are dealing with loss. I talk to a lot of newly grieving parents and so how I can give them comfort and a little hope for the years to come.
I could easily be an alcoholic or a junkie, so I choose not to touch either. I would like nothing more than to escape reality but alcohol and drugs are only going to make things worse . We have to live the lived we got. That’s really all I know. I don’t understand any of it.
Alex Williams
Words can't express how much this song means to me.
Jeff
Respect to Jerry for laying out emotion in his works. Makes me regret not spending more time with my big bro before his death😢.
LITERALSAY10
We've lost so many people Kurt, Layne, Chris, Andy and Scott. This song is beautiful
XXthekingofyouXX
@Liz Magu - Elvis, Sinatra, Tupac, Reagan