Love Song

Album: Sap (1992)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • "Love Song" is a hidden track on Sap, the second studio EP by Alice in Chains. It's unlike any other song the band did, encroaching on Captain Beefheart levels of strangeness and sounding like something you'd hear in an art film. Alice in Chains frontman Jerry Cantrell called it the "most bizarre" song they ever recorded.
  • There's little to be gained (other than fun) in analyzing the song's lyrics, as it's just a stream of weird images. There are teeth being cut out of mouths, the chasing and kissing of midgets, and the repeated mantra "Rae Dawn Chong," with Rae Dawn Chong the daughter of Tommy Chong, one half of the comedic, fully baked Cheech and Chong duo.

    Rae Dawn Chong is also an actress. She's known for Quest of Fire (1981), Beat Street (1984), The Color Purple (1985), and that icon of '80s action movie goofiness, Commando (1985). In 1991, which was the year Sap was recorded, she starred in a strange film titled The Borrower. It's a sci-fi flick about an alien serial killer trapped in a human body and sent to Earth to go on a murderous rampage. That movie is so strange that it might indeed be linked to "Love Song" and the band's decision to say Rae Dawn Chong's name over and over again in the lyrics, but we can't be sure. Chong also inspired the single "Rae Dawn" off of Vaudeville Villain (2003), the third studio album by MF Doom.
  • "Love Song" was the mutant brainchild of Alice in Chains drummer Sean Kinney. In recording, all the members shuffled around their instruments. Vocalist Layne Staley played drums, Cantrell played bass, bassist Mike Starr played guitar, and Kinney contributed megaphone and piano. The only usual roles retained were Staley and Cantrell splitting vocal duties.

Comments: 2

  • Chickie Mcnuggies from AquatiaNo but Ann Wilson was on am I inside and brother on the same album.
  • Luna Loud from Royal Woods, MichiganLol. Wasn't Ann Wilson on this "song", too?
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Melanie

MelanieSongwriter Interviews

The singer-songwriter Melanie talks about her spiritual awakening at Woodstock, "Brand New Key," and why songwriting is an art, not a craft.

We Will Rock You (To Sleep): Pop Stars Who Recorded Kids' Albums

We Will Rock You (To Sleep): Pop Stars Who Recorded Kids' AlbumsSong Writing

With the rise of Kindie rock, more musicians are embracing their inner child with tunes for tots - here, we look at pop stars who recorded kids' albums.

Michael Franti

Michael FrantiSongwriter Interviews

Franti tells the story behind his hit "Say Hey (I Love You)" and explains why yoga is an integral part of his lifestyle and his Soulshine tour.

Tom Keifer of Cinderella

Tom Keifer of CinderellaSongwriter Interviews

Tom talks about the evolution of Cinderella's songs through their first three albums, and how he writes as a solo artist.

Lori McKenna

Lori McKennaSongwriter Interviews

Lori's songs have been recorded by Faith Hill and Sara Evans. She's performed on the CMAs and on Oprah. She also has five kids.

Stand By Me: The Perfect Song-Movie Combination

Stand By Me: The Perfect Song-Movie CombinationSong Writing

In 1986, a Stephen King novella was made into a movie, with a classic song serving as title, soundtrack and tone.