Released: 1992
‘Rooster’ by Alice in Chains is a gritty, raw depiction of the horrors of war, specifically the Vietnam War. The song, written from the perspective of a soldier, portrays the physical and emotional struggles faced on the battlefield.
The opening lines, ‘Ain’t found a way to kill me yet / Eyes burn with stinging sweat,’ convey the soldier’s determination and resilience. The ‘stinging sweat’ could be a reference to the intense heat and physical exertion experienced in the war zone.
When the lyrics say ‘Wife and kids and household pets / Army green was no safe bet,’ it’s a stark reminder of the soldier’s life back home and the risks associated with being in the military. ‘Army green’ is a reference to the uniform, symbolizing the dangers of war.
The chorus, ‘Here they come to snuff the rooster,’ is a metaphor for the enemy trying to kill the soldier. The ‘rooster’ represents the soldier’s spirit and resilience. The repeated line ‘You know he ain’t gonna die’ emphasizes his determination to survive.
The lines ‘Walking tall machine gunman / They spit on me in my homeland’ suggest the soldier’s return home, where he faces disrespect instead of honor. The ‘machine gunman’ could be a reference to his role in the war.
The line ‘Gloria sent me pictures of my boy’ is a poignant reminder of the soldier’s family back home, and what he’s fighting for.
The lyrics ‘Got my pills against mosquito death / My buddy’s breathing his dying breath’ illustrate the harsh realities of war. ‘Mosquito death’ likely refers to malaria, a common risk in Vietnam, while the dying buddy represents the tragic loss of life in war.
