Choke

Alice In Chains' song 'Choke' delves into the complexities of relationships, particularly focusing on the themes of pride, separation, and emotional resilience. The lyrics suggest a narrative where one partner is contemplating leaving, and the other is coming to terms with this potential departure. The opening lines, 'Before you asked for something better / You should know I'm practiced at goodbyes,' set the tone for a story of someone who has experienced loss before and is prepared to face it again. This readiness to say goodbye indicates a sense of emotional strength and self-preservation.

The recurring imagery of 'fragile things so close together / Taped up, broken from before' paints a picture of a relationship that has been through hardships and is barely holding together. The metaphor of fragility and being 'taped up' suggests that the relationship has been patched up multiple times but remains vulnerable. This vulnerability is further emphasized by the line 'A very long hard way to fall,' indicating that the end of this relationship would be a significant and painful descent.

The chorus, 'Go then, if you don't feel right / Living in our home / Choking, eat your pride / Eat your pride alone,' is a powerful statement about self-respect and the importance of not compromising one's well-being for the sake of a relationship. The use of the word 'choking' metaphorically represents the suffocating feeling of staying in a situation that no longer feels right. The insistence on eating one's pride alone underscores the idea that sometimes, it's better to part ways than to stay in a toxic environment. This song captures the essence of emotional resilience and the difficult but necessary act of letting go when a relationship no longer serves both parties.