The lyrics of Jerry Cantrell's song Solitude speak about the dark and twisted inner demons that we all have to confront at some point in our lives. The song talks about the feeling of being trapped in a prison of one's own making, where there is no light or hope for escape. The singer talks about the temptation to "indulge the beast awhile", referencing the lure of self-destructive behavior that can feel so right in the moment. He speaks of feeling unclean and defiled, and of being stuck in a hallucinatory state. The sins of lust and sloth are mentioned, but it's made clear that these are not the only struggles the singer faces. In the chorus, the singer advises that when hurting oneself feels right and there's nothing good in sight, it's important to take the time to "pull the weeds choking flowers in your life". This could be interpreted as meaning that it's essential to confront the negative aspects of oneself in order to move forward. Towards the end of the song, the singer speaks of insanity taking over, leading to a darkness that is so black it's untrue. The listener is left with a sense of foreboding, wondering if the singer will be able to break free from the bonds of their own mind and find a way out of the solitude that they're trapped in.
