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".
Leave Me Alone
Jerry Cantrell Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Who haunt you there now
I don't mind if you still love me
Don't come over, hear what I say
Don't come over, hear what I say
Don't come over, hear what I say
Just leave me alone, leave me alone
Shame me, hide your heart from those
Who hunt you way down
Would you care if I still need her
Don't come over, hear what I say
Don't come over, hear what I say
Don't come over, hear what I say
Just leave me alone
Save me, taken far from those
Who flaunt you, calm down
Drag your heart and you behind her
Don't come over, hear what I say
Don't come over, hear what I say
Don't come over, hear what I say
Just leave me alone, leave me alone
In "Leave Me Alone," Jerry Cantrell expresses his desire for solitude and to be left to his own devices. He acknowledges that there are people who care about him and may still love him, but he doesn't want them to come around because he wants to be alone. The lines "Blame me, save a prayer for those who haunt you there now" suggest that he may have caused some pain or harm to those he cares about and wants them to move on without him. He also mentions that he still needs someone, but it's unclear if that someone is a specific person or just a general sense of comfort and companionship.
The repeated refrain of "Just leave me alone" drives home the message that Cantrell wants to be left alone and doesn't want interference or assistance from anyone, no matter how well-intentioned. The line "Drag your heart and you behind her" seems to indicate that he doesn't want anyone to be dragged down with him or to suffer because of his own struggles.
Overall, "Leave Me Alone" is a somber and introspective song that reflects Cantrell's desire for privacy and self-reflection. It's a deeply personal song that speaks to the struggles and desires of many people who sometimes just need to be left alone to their own devices.
Line by Line Meaning
Blame me, save a prayer for those
Who haunt you there now
I don't mind if you still love me
Although you blame me for the haunting presence around you now, I still ask you to save a prayer for those affected. It doesn't bother me if you still love me.
Don't come over, hear what I say
Don't come over, hear what I say
Don't come over, hear what I say
Just leave me alone, leave me alone
I urge you to listen to what I say and not come over. I repeat this three times as a warning. Please respect my wish and just leave me alone.
Shame me, hide your heart from those
Who hunt you way down
Would you care if I still need her
You feel ashamed of my actions and hide your heart from those who seek to harm you. Despite this, I wonder if you would still care about me if I still needed her.
Save me, taken far from those
Who flaunt you, calm down
Drag your heart and you behind her
I ask you to save me from those who flaunt their power over you. Please calm down and come with me, as I cannot leave without you. Bring your heart and yourself along with her.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: JERRY CANTRELL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@chrisridenhour
I always hear Layne singing with Jerry, even if he's not there - just in spirit.
@jenmiller7192
I immediately do too. He is.... He's up there belting out Jerry's new tunes, proud as hell, singing from the heavens... and it's echoing down through the earth into our souls.
@chrissimpson6701
I thought it was just me.
@siobhanwalsh6487
@@chrissimpson6701 no not at all x
@cheriseroueche8102
So agree!! It’s like he’s right there!!
@brotherlittlefoot2216
@@jenmiller7192 You are actually factually correct,but u don't have to take my word for it.All of the great artists and then some are all singing to the Earth is preparation for the great changes coming upon this planet.Sounds can raise vibration.I learned all of this after a visit from Peter Steele of TON.Most of these artists left early bc they had to, but we will see them all again - in one body or another.
@andrewd5139
The cable guy still remains my favorite movie of all time
@LibertarianMinded
Literally just found this music video for the same reason ❤
@dopamine9854
Jerry's solo work is really underrated.
@andro1_1
Boggy Depot, his best.