Down in a Hole (7)

“Down in a Hole” could be interpreted several different ways. Some have interpreted it as being Layne Staley’s longtime heroin addiction while others believe it is about Cantrell’s relationship, who is actually the writer of the song. I honestly don’t believe anyone can possibly decipher the song all the way down to the specific purpose. Only one aspect appeals to me. The speaker is defeated, one way or another, whether it be to an addiction or a woman. He has given up and in a sense, buried himself symbolically.

“Bury me softly in this womb.” This statement could be a beginning/end relationship of life. New life comes from a womb, but in this case, he is leaving life in a completely different womb, perhaps a grave or a casket? He indicates that he is giving up by constantly referring to a grave or burial. “Sand rains down and here I sit,” a first person view point of what is going on in the first verse. Imagine a corpse “holding rare flowers”, sand beating down onto the one who occupies the grave. The speaker address his audience, “I give this part of me for you.” This particular line supports the theory that the song is based on a lover of the speaker, however it still supports that he has surrendered or has given up a part of himself. The first verse is ended with an assonance using the “ooh” sound in the words tomb and bloom.

The first line of the second verse hints at a possible topic of the song. He questions whether it is possible or impossible for him to be saved from the hole that he has dug for himself. Another device is used comparing his heart with a grave using a simile. The device gave me a visual comparison. A grave is sometimes decorated with possessions that were dear to the deceased, for example, flowers, toys, pictures, or statues. He may keep whatever is dear to him close to his heart. Once again the audience is addressed by the speaker. A whole new possible scenario is introduced. It is possible that the speaker was split between two decisions on who he should be. Another party was expecting one thing from him, while the other was expecting the opposite, and somewhere in the process of trying to please both sides, he had lost himself. “A man who won’t let himself be. The speaker uses this last line of the verse to expose who or what he truly is.

The chorus identifies the tone as defeated or hopeless and even states what it is that he is losing--his soul and his control. His intentions are clear. He wants to fly, but has obviously been denied.
When a person dies, it’s almost a symbol of closure when the headstone is put upon the grave, making it seem as if it is the final resting place of the soul. This could be a way of expressing that there is no way out of his current situation, and this is where he gives up all hope.

The addiction theory is supported by the third and fourth line of the third verse. A metaphor is used to possibly compare the sun to whatever drug he has submitted himself to. The speaker has gotten to a point where perhaps he has had so much of this drug to where he has developed and addiction and tolerance at the same time to the point where he can no longer “taste.” The speaker expresses his guilt and blames himself for allowing it to go this far and for the last time surrenders by no longer speaking of his feelings.

The primary argument was to state that there is no longer hope, and that his cards have been dealt. There is no turning back. His argument appeals to spirituality using words such as soul, feelings, heart, and describes himself as feeling small.

Some can be put into the most difficult of situations, but for the most part, they put themselves there. I agree that some are pushed to an extent so deep that there is no way of reversing what they have done. Drug addiction is a difficult thing to overcome, and most eventually die because of it. Perhaps this is the reason that some may relate this song to drug addiction, but I personally don’t believe there is enough evidence to support that argument. Not everyone can be saved from their mistakes, and most have to live with their mistakes forever.

Dear Mr. Hughes,

I can't get the hang of writing a thesis statement. Truth is... i don't think i even know what it is.
oops. help me?