Dam That River Lyrics
[Verse 1]
I broke you in the canyon
I drowned you in the lake
You, a snake that I would trample
Only thing I'd not embrace
[Chorus]
Oh, you couldn't dam that river
And maybe I don't give a damn anyway
So you couldn't dam that river
And it washed me so far away
[Verse 2]
I pushed and then you stumbled
I kicked you in the face
You stared at me so hollow
Got to keep that killing pace
[Chorus]
Oh, you couldn't dam that river
And maybe I don't give a damn anyway
So you couldn't dam that river
And it washed me so far away
[Guitar Solo]
I broke you in the canyon
I drowned you in the lake
You, a snake that I would trample
Only thing I'd not embrace
[Chorus]
Oh, you couldn't dam that river
And maybe I don't give a damn anyway
So you couldn't dam that river
And it washed me so far away
[Verse 2]
I pushed and then you stumbled
I kicked you in the face
You stared at me so hollow
Got to keep that killing pace
[Chorus]
Oh, you couldn't dam that river
And maybe I don't give a damn anyway
So you couldn't dam that river
And it washed me so far away
[Guitar Solo]
[Verse 3]
I burned the place around you
I hit you with a rake
You piss upon my candle
So proving you're a fake
[Chorus]
Oh, you couldn't dam that river
And maybe I don't give a damn anyway
So you couldn't dam that river
And it washed me so far away
I burned the place around you
I hit you with a rake
You piss upon my candle
So proving you're a fake
[Chorus]
Oh, you couldn't dam that river
And maybe I don't give a damn anyway
So you couldn't dam that river
And it washed me so far away
About
Genius Annotation
The song has two popular interpretations; one is which Jerry Cantrell and Sean Kinney get into an altercation, and Kinney breaks a coffee table over Cantrell’s head. The song is a metaphor for revenge, with the inability to ‘dam the river’ symbolizing the uncontrolled bleeding from Cantrell’s head.
The second interpretation is the song being a metaphor for the Green River Killer, who was notorious during the mid-80’s to late-90’s.
Q&A
Find answers to frequently asked questions about the song and explore its deeper meaning
- 1.Them Bones
- 2.Dam That River
- 5.Sickman
- 6.Rooster
- 7.Junkhead
- 8.Dirt
- 9.God Smack
- 10.Iron Gland
- 11.Hate to Feel
- 12.Angry Chair
- 13.Would?
Credits
Producers
Writer
Background Vocals
Guitar
Engineer
Assistant Engineer
Mixing Engineer
Assistant Mixing Engineer
Mastering Engineer
Label
Drums
Bass
Lead Vocals
Recorded At
Eldorado Recording Studios, Burbank; London Bridge Studio, Seattle; One on One Recording Studios, Los Angeles
Release Date
September 29, 1992
Dam That River Live Performances
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