#----------------------------------PLEASE NOTE---------------------------------#
#This file is the author's own work and represents their interpretation of the #
#song. You may only use this file for private study, scholarship, or research. #
#------------------------------------------------------------------------------##
From: "Scott H. Andrews"
J U N K H E A D
by Alice in Chains
from "Dirt" 1992
transcribed by Scott Andrews (sha3u@virginia.edu)
INTRO: RIff 1 w/ ad lib intro vocal
RIFF 1:
yeah................
B5 Bb5 Bb5 G5 F#5 F5 F5 E5
|-----------------------------------------------|
|-----------------------------------------------|
|------4---3------3-----------------------------|
|------4---3------3---5---4-----3-----3---2-----|
|------2---1------1---5---4-----3-----3---2-----|
|---------------------3---2-----1-----1---0-----|
B5 Bb5 Bb5 G5 F#5 F5 F5 E5 E5
|-----------------------------------------------|
|-----------------------------------------------|
|------4---3------3-----------------------------|
|------4---3------3---5---4-----3-----3---2---2-|
|------2---1------1---5---4-----3-----3---2---2-|
|---------------------3---2-----1-----1---0---0-|
yeah............. ah..............
B5 Bb5 Bb5 G5 F#5 F5 F5 E5
|-----------------------------------------------|
|-----------------------------------------------|
|------4---3------3-----------------------------|
|------4---3------3---5---4-----3-----3---2-----|
|------2---1------1---5---4-----3-----3---2-----|
|---------------------3---2-----1-----1---0-----|
end Riff 1
B5 Bb5 Bb5 G5 F#5 F5 F5 E5
|-----------------------------------------------|
|-----------------------------------------------|
|------4---3------3-----------------------------|
|------4---3------3---5---4-----3-----3---2-----|
|------2---1------1---5---4-----3-----3---2-----|
|---------------------3---2-----1-----1---0-----|
VERSE 1: Riff 2 w/ lyrics
a good night, the best in a long time
a new friend turned me on to an old favorate
nothing better than a dealer who's high
be high, convince them to buy
RIFF 2:
|-----------------------------------------------|
|-----------------------------------------------|
|-----------------------------------------------|
|-----------------------------------------------|
|------2---1------1-----------------------------|
|---------------------3~--2-----1-----1---0-----|
palm mute slightly
|-----------------------------------------------|
|-----------------------------------------------|
|-----------------------------------------------|
|-----------------------------------------------|
|------2---1------1-----------------------------|
|---------------------3~--2-----1-----1---0-----|
|-----------------------------------------------|
|-----------------------------------------------|
|-----------------------------------------------|
|-----------------------------------------------|
|------2---1------1-----------------------------|
|---------------------3~--2-----1-----1---0-----|
end Riff 2
|-----------------------------------------------|
|-----------------------------------------------|
|-----------------------------------------------|
|-----------------------------------------------|
|------2---1------1-----------------------------|
|---------------------3~--2-----1-----1---0-----|
CHORUS:
yeah..... what's my drug of choice?
A5 C5 G5 F5
|------------------------------|------------------------------------------|
|------------------------------|------------------------------------------|
|--2--2--2---5-----------------|--0--0--0---------------------------------|
|--2--2--2---5-----------------|--0--0--0---3----------3--2--0-----0------|
|--0--0--0---3------------X-X--|--X--X--X---3-------------------3---------|
|-------------------------X-X--|--3--3--3---1-------------------------3~--|
well, what have you got?
A5 C5 G5 F5
|------------------------------|------------------------------------------|
|------------------------------|------------------------------------------|
|--2--2--2---5-----------------|--0--0--0---------------------------------|
|--2--2--2---5-----------------|--0--0--0---3----------3--2--0-----0------|
|--0--0--0---3------------X-X--|--X--X--X---3-------------------3---------|
|-------------------------X-X--|--3--3--3---1-------------------------3~--|
I don't go broke
A5 C5 G5 F5
|------------------------------|------------------------------------------|
|------------------------------|------------------------------------------|
|--2--2--2---5-----------------|--0--0--0---------------------------------|
|--2--2--2---5-----------------|--0--0--0---3----------3--2--0-----0------|
|--0--0--0---3------------X-X--|--X--X--X---3-------------------3---------|
|-------------------------X-X--|--3--3--3---1-------------------------3~--|
and I do it a lot
A5 C5 G5 F5
|------------------------------|------------------------------------------|
|------------------------------|------------------------------------------|
|--2--2--2---5-----------------|--0--0--0---------------------------------|
|--2--2--2---5-----------------|--0--0--0---3----------3--2--0-----0------|
|--0--0--0---3------------X-X--|--X--X--X---3-------------------3---------|
|-------------------------X-X--|--3--3--3---1-------------------------3~--|
VERSE 2: Riff 1 w/ lyrics
seems so sick to the hypocrite norm
running their boring drills
but we are an elite race of our own
the stoners, junkies, and freaks
VERSE 3: Riff 2 w/ lyrics
are you happy? i am man
content and fully aware
money, statues, nothing to me
'cause your life's empty and bare
CHORUS
INTERLUDE: guitar plays harmonized solo while bass plays Chorus.
Solo:
|-------------------------------------|
|---------------8----------8--8--10---|
|------------9------------------------|
|--7---7--7---------------------------|
|-------------------------------------|
|-------------------------------------|
repeat 4x
|---------------------------------------------------|
|---8------8--8--10---------------------------------|
|--------------------10------10--9--7------7--------|
|--------------------------------------10-----------|
|---------------------------------------------10----|
|---------------------------------------------------|
RIFF 1: w/ ad lib intro vocals
VERSE 4: w/ Riff 2 and lyrics
you can't understand a user's mind
but try, with your books and degrees
if you let yourself go and open your mind
i'll bet you'd be doing like me
and it ain't so bad
CHORUS
OUTRO: Riff 1 w/ lyrics
say, i do it a lot
i do it a lot
i do it a lot
say, i do it a lot
*************************
From: chris10@ufcc.ufl.edu
Hey Alice in Chains fans!!! This is my first time trying to transcribe a song
so if there are any mistakes please let me know, ok?? E-mail me at:
chris10@ufcc.ufl.edu It would also be nice to hear from some of you to let me
know that all the rewinding of my Dirt tape wasn't in vain. Have fun with it!!
Junkhead by Alice in Chains
Transcribed by Chris Simpkins
Intro
----------------------------------------------------------------------e
----------------------------------------------------------------------B
------5--4-----4-----------------------------------------------------G
------5--4-----4--5----4--3----3--5--------------------------------D
------3--2-----2--5----4--3----3--5--------------------------------A
-------------------3----2--1----1--3--------------------------------E
Repeat 4x
Verse
----------------------------------------------------------------------e
----------------------------------------------------------------------B
----------------------------------------------------------------------G
----------------------------------------------------------------------D
------3--2-----2-----------------------------------------------------A
-------------------3----2--1----1--3---------------------------------E
Repeat 4x (palm mute slightly)
Chorus
(F#,B,A,G)
F#/B/A
Yeahhhh..............
G F#/B/A
What's my drug of choice,
G F#/B/A
Well what have you got?
G F#/B/A
I don't go broke,
G F#/B/A
And I do it alive!
Verse
----------------------------------------------------------------------e
----------------------------------------------------------------------B
------5--4-----4-----------------------------------------------------G
------5--4-----4--5----4--3----3--5--------------------------------D
------3--2-----2--5----4--3----3--5--------------------------------A
-------------------3----2--1----1--3--------------------------------E
The verse goes back to these chords 4x and then to the root notes for the
chords 4x.
Solo
----------------------------------------------------------------------e
----------------------------------------------------------------------B
-----------8-11---11-11-13-11----11-11-13-9----9-8-6-4---------G
-6---6-6-------------------------------------------------------7-5---D
----------------------------------------------------------------------A
----------------------------------------------------------------------E
Repeat 4x
Please let me know if there are any mistakes =)
Later,
Chris
=============================================================
Tab Discussion, Comments, and Critiques
|
No Picture
Scott Wanna Be |
#1 by Scott Sanderson at Sep 25, 2007 at 11:02 PM EST |
| This song is obviously about drugs. It is saying that drugs are okay, as long as they don't consume your life. Unfortunately Layne Staley was a little too consumed and died of a smack overdose. | |
|
No Picture
Rhys Average |
#2 by Rhys at Sep 26, 2007 at 9:50 AM EST |
| Reverand chris is right it's a concept album about heroin | |
|
No Picture
dale Average |
#3 by dale at Sep 26, 2007 at 4:58 PM EST |
| wow. | |
|
No Picture
Tab Wanna Be |
#4 by Tab at Sep 27, 2007 at 2:33 PM EST |
| Well this song at the time is all if aic saying fuck everone else were going to do drugs till we die and you aint going to stop were not going to go broke just keep truckin | |
|
No Picture
Toby Wanna Be |
#5 by Toby Moran at Sep 27, 2007 at 7:17 PM EST |
| reverand_chris and drinkthepoison both hit the nail on the head | |
|
No Picture
Brent has spazz Wanna Be |
#6 by Brent has spazz nuts at Sep 27, 2007 at 9:01 PM EST |
| Its obvious what the meanings of the songs by AiC are, however i never really looked at it like chris did. thats pretty amazing and really opened my eyes to show how meaningful the songs are. at the point of writing this album, however, layne didn't regret taking drugs. it wasn't until the later albums that he actually experienced torture and regret. | |
|
No Picture
lodger Wanna Be |
#7 by lodger at Sep 28, 2007 at 2:03 AM EST |
| Um, this song rules and it means that some people should try drugs before they so close mindedly condemn them....Or not... But who cares the songs sounds cool... Oh and In reference to an earlier post,,, Layne actually helped write 5 of the songs, and personally wrote two of the songs from DIRT....SO actually that's 7.... But who the Fu*k cares.......AIC Rocked.... | |
|
No Picture
Average |
#8 by Brian (Add Me!) at Sep 28, 2007 at 8:10 AM EST |
| Have you even taken a look at the inside of the Dirt album? At each song it says by who it is written (Cantrell wrote 5 songs entirely by himself, Staley did 2, and they wrote 4 songs together) Junkhead was written by Cantrell and Staley. So now you still don't know who wrote the words... I think though Staley had obviously more issues with drugs than Cantrell... Anyway, you should try to get the "Music Bank" demo version of Junkhead. It's even cooler than the Dirt version...Layne's voice is dubbed like 4 times at the "What's my drug of choice" part, it sounds like a choir of angels in heaven. Also, he altered the lyrics a bit: "If you'd let yourself go and open your mind, I bet you'd be USING like me" was on the original version. I think this song itself doesn't show much of regret of using dope, although it's pretty sarcastic: "We're an ELITE race of our own" (= like ubermensch?) "The Stoners, junkies and Freaks" A lot of Dirt songs show a different feeling he has about drugs at the time of writing it. Hate to Feel is much more negative about heroin, and how hard it is to kick the habit. (Gotta change, set a date) He also refers to his dad who left his family when Layne was a kid, and only came back to Layne when he was famous with AIC and had money to spend.... The only one who could tell whats is meant by the lyrics is gone... | |
|
No Picture
Rockstar Professional |
#9 by Rockstar at Sep 29, 2007 at 4:40 PM EST |
| I doubt we'll ever know if Layne was actually promoting drug use or not. I personally don't think so, but its possible. Regardless, its a penetrating insight into the mind of a man completely consumed by his addiction. He's pissing his whole life away and completely ignorant of it the whole time...simply an amazing song. | |
|
No Picture
Brad Lead Player |
#10 by Brad Vincent at Sep 29, 2007 at 5:51 PM EST |
| self sufficient u mean aqueous?...DRUGS.....WOOO | |
|
No Picture
Sean Average |
#11 by Sean Stuckey at Sep 30, 2007 at 12:59 AM EST |
| "reverand_chris" pretty much has it. This is the start of the cycle of songs on "Dirt" that chronicle heroin addiction. Some people take the song out of context and misinterpret it, but if you listen to it closely or listen within its context on the album, it's blatantly against drug use. "Junkhead" is sarcastic ... very, very, VERY dark humor. He is simultaneouly explaining and mocking a drug addict's justification for using the drug. The narrator has convinced himself that drugs aren't so bad, that they make him better than others, etc. But LISTEN to the way he sings it--it's pretty damn obvious that he's fucked up and miserable and lying to himself/trying way too hard to convince himself. And, y'know, in case you missed the message, Junkhead is followed by "Dirt" ("One who doesn't care is one who shouldn't be/I've tried to hide myself from what is wrong with me"), "Godsmack" ("Can't get high, or you will die" "What in God's name have you done?" "So your sickness weighs a ton"), "Hate to Feel" ("What's gone wrong, I can't see straight" "Mirror on the wall will show you/What you're scared to see" "Used to be curious/Now the shit's sustenance"), "Angry Chair" ("Saw my reflection and cried/So little hope that I died" "Little boy made a mistake/Pink cloud has now turned to gray/All that I want is to play/Get on your knees, time to pray, boy") and so on. I mean, how obvious is it from those songs that heroin is DESTROYING him, it's killing him, making him insane, ruining his innocence and his life? So no, Junkhead is not a pro-heroin song. It's an explanation/very dark MOCK of how a junkie justifies drug use to himself. It's followed by a depiction of heroin DESTROYING said junkie. You'd have to be an utter idiot to think that amounts to an endorsement. | |
|
No Picture
lucas Average |
#12 by lucas cordina at Sep 30, 2007 at 4:34 AM EST |
| I knew I would feel the love on this thread. | |
|
No Picture
+ Dissolve + Rhythm Player |
#13 by + Dissolve + at Sep 30, 2007 at 12:33 PM EST |
| Yea, this song is about smack but I disagree, person before me, I think it's not exactly promoting drugs it's talking about addiction and what it's like. | |
|
No Picture
Sonny Moore Who Average |
#14 by Sonny Moore Whore at Sep 30, 2007 at 1:21 PM EST |
| Just give into it baby. It's all good. It's self sufficience. | |
|
No Picture
Pat Average |
#15 by Pat Mangan at Sep 30, 2007 at 2:42 PM EST |
| This track begins one of the deepest parts of any other album by any other band. The whole thing Junkhead through Would? Is about the cycle of drugs. I'll Explain... Junkhead- This is the user buying the drugs saying to himself its gonna be a great night. He finds himself a dealer, buys the drug then takes it home to do it. Dirt- Is him talking to the drug directly. Saying i want you to kill all the pain, and make me happy. And the reference to the stinging pistol in his mouth is him saying, that when i take these drugs there is a risk i could die but its a risk im wiling to take for a good time. And it ends with him taking the drug. God Smack- This is after he has taken the drug and his conscience is talking to him saying what have you done? The Instrumental(Iron Glad)- This is sometimes refered to as the "Dream sequence" This is when the drug had taken effect, and he his halucenating and things like that Hate To Feel- This is him regretting having taken the drug, saying he promised himself he would not be an junkie like his father was, and saying its time for me to check into rehab. Angry Chair- This refers to rehab itself. I have never been to rehab myself, but i do believe they give you tons of therapy (refering to the chair) and some medications. And he is talking about how horrible it was in there. Would? - This is him talking to another person about the mistake he has made, Saying that this drug nearly destroyed me, yet i still took it making the same mistakes, but cant you see it from my point of view. It ends with him telling the person how easy it is to be overtaken by the drug with him saying "If I Would, Could You?" And thats about it, i dont recall if those are exactly accurate but i'd say they are fairly close. Great stuff from one of the Greatest bands ever. its a shame he lost his life for drugs..:( | |
|
No Picture
TiTO Average |
#16 by TiTO at Oct 1, 2007 at 10:44 AM EST |
| the reverened is preachin the right message. i think you're almost exactly, if not exactly correct. couldn't agree more. | |
|
No Picture
Zach Average |
#17 by Zach DeLaRocha at Oct 2, 2007 at 11:22 PM EST |
| public menace, you are wrong, layne was already starting his resentment toward drugs at this time. thats why the whole dirt cd is supposed to show how grim drugs are so no one will do them.layne once said to his mother ," MOM, WHY DO PEOPLE KEEP TAKING DRUGS??, DONT THEY HEAR MY MUSIC??, DONT THEY UNDERSTAND THE WORDS??"- exact quote from layne staley. | |
|
No Picture
tucker Wanna Be |
#18 by tucker at Oct 3, 2007 at 4:02 AM EST |
| Hmm, I kinda doubt it Reverened Chris, but it does kinda make sense. | |
|
No Picture
Austin Average |
#19 by Austin Schrauben at Oct 3, 2007 at 9:28 AM EST |
| I viewed this song with the specific intention to say that this song contradicts everything he's said about his drug use. In the love/hate relationship that is drug abuse, I'm sure this was written on the love side. I don't think he was promoting it as much as he was saying why he does it. | |
|
No Picture
cash Wanna Be |
#20 by cash putnam at Oct 3, 2007 at 10:06 PM EST |
| I think everyone is failing to realize that 10 of the 13 songs on the Dirt album were written by Jerry Cantrell, including this one. To understand the meaning of about 90% of Alice in Chains music, you have to keep Jerry Cantrell in mind. It seems like this song prime example of how Jerry Cantrell was getting sick of the focus the media & critics were placing on the drug use of Alice In Chains & their "duty" as "role models". If you pay attention to the lyrics, it seems like the whole song is mocking druggies & the druggie stereotype in a way. Kinda like they were making fun of those who viewed doing drugs as the cool thing to do or people who just choose not to realize the real hold drugs have on people. The whole song seems to have a sarcastic undertone to it. It especially seems sarcastic when you listen to the rest of the Dirt album, which seems to paint a more balanced view upon the ups & downs of the lifestyle of a drug user (whether or not the songs were directly talking about drug abuse, the influence is still there since Jerry Cantrell & Layne Staley were drug users). Therefore this song in no way promotes drug abuse & that statement just shows how the focus of a few lyrics of a song can get in the way of the real meaning. | |
|
No Picture
Daniel Average |
#21 by Daniel Sheppard at Oct 4, 2007 at 9:54 AM EST |
| Its obvious what the meanings of the songs by AiC are, however i never really looked at it like chris did. thats pretty amazing and really opened my eyes to show how meaningful the songs are. at the point of writing this album, however, layne didn't regret taking drugs. it wasn't until the later albums that he actually experienced torture and regret. | |
|
No Picture
Sam Average |
#22 by Sam the man at Oct 5, 2007 at 4:07 AM EST |
| My favorite Alice In Chains song... It rocks 1 2 Next | |
|
No Picture
marc Professional |
#23 by marc at Oct 5, 2007 at 10:25 AM EST |
| If you let yourself go and opened your mind I'll bet you'd be doing like me And it ain't so bad This song advocates drug use. Plain and simple. Also if Lane really did say that to his mom (and I doubt it) he would have to be completly unfamiliar with the concept of drug use. And we all know that's not true. If you use drugs cause the singer in your favorite band does than you are an idiot and will probobly end up like lane and die slowly and alone. | |
|
No Picture
sammy Average |
#24 by sammy shaffer at Oct 5, 2007 at 5:27 PM EST |
| i think it was about laynes drug use and the media attention around him and he had the money 2 support his habit he wasnt hurtin no-1 he wasnt beggin people 4 money 2 get his drugs but still every-1 thought he was a bad person 4 usein drugs | |
|
No Picture
The Random Rock Average |
#25 by The Random Rocker at Oct 5, 2007 at 11:43 PM EST |
| one of my favorites from AiC... very dark sarcastic song about drug use, indeed. | |
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