“Them Bones” by Alice in Chains

Pioneers of the grunge movement, Alice in Chains needs no introduction for most people. Carried by the distinctive wail of the great Layne Staley (R.I.P.), their gloomy songs often had at least one melodic section that helped the band score some major crossover hits. While few actually charted on the Billboard Top 100, most everyone knows classics like “Man In The Box” and “Would?”

The band’s second full-length record, “Dirt”, was released in 1992 and buried its competition by going 4x platinum and reaching #6 on the Billboard album chart.

“Them Bones” was the lead-off track from their biggest selling record, “Dirt”. Short and to the point, this gritty rocker grabs your attention and leaves you wanting more. Songwriter and guitarist Jerry Cantrell propels this song with a meaty riff that augments Staley’s cries before they launch into this meditation on mortality.

Cantrell reportedly had this to say about the song’s meaning: "I was just thinking about mortality, that one of these days we'll end up a pile of bones. It's a thought for every human being, whether you believe in an afterlife or that when we die, that's it. The thought that all the beautiful things and knowledge and experiences you've been through just end when you end scares me, the thought that when you close your eyes for good, it's gone forever."

“Dirt” is filled with songs about addiction, but another standout track is “Rooster”, which was written as a tribute to Cantrell’s father and his service in the Vietnam War.

Their follow-up release, “Jar of Flies”, was the first EP to debut at #1 on the album chart and contained their biggest Billboard hit, “No Excuses”, which went to #48. The EP was written and recorded in just one week, largely as an acoustic outing, following the tour to support “Dirt”.