Alice in Chains - Dirt album cover

Alice in Chains – Rooster Lyrics

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Ain't found a way to kill me yet
Eyes burn with stinging sweat
Seems every path leads me to nowhere, hmm

Wife and kids and household pets
Army green was no safe bet
The bullets scream to me from somewhere, hmm

Here they come to snuff the rooster, ahh yeah
Yeah, here come the rooster, yeah!
You know he ain't gonna to die
No, no, no, you know he ain't gonna to die

Here they come to snuff the rooster, ahh yeah
Yeah, here come the rooster, yeah!
You know he ain't gonna to die
No, no, no, you know he ain't gonna die

Walking tall machine gunman
They spit on me in my homeland
Gloria sent me pictures of my boy

Got my pills against mosquito death
My buddy's breathing his dying breath
Oh God, please won't you help me bring him through

Here they come to snuff the rooster, ahh yeah
Yeah, here come the rooster, yeah!
You know he ain't gonna die
No, no, you know he ain't gonna die

About This Song

"Rooster" is a haunting tribute to Vietnam War veterans, written by Jerry Cantrell about his father's combat experience, with the "rooster" serving as his father's military nickname. The song captures the psychological toll of war through vivid imagery of survival, trauma, and the persistent threat of death, while exploring themes of resilience and the lasting impact of combat on soldiers and their families. Musically, it exemplifies Alice in Chains' signature style with heavy, sludgy guitar riffs, Layne Staley's tortured vocals, and a brooding atmosphere that perfectly complements the dark subject matter. The track stands as one of grunge's most powerful anti-war statements, using personal family history to create a universal meditation on the cost of conflict. Its enduring impact lies in how it humanizes the veteran experience while showcasing the band's ability to transform personal pain into deeply moving art.

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