Don't Follow

"Don't Follow"
Single by Alice in Chains
from the album Jar of Flies
Released	1994
Genre	Blues rock, acoustic rock
Length	4:22
Label	Columbia
Writer(s)	Jerry Cantrell
Producer(s)	Alice in Chains Toby Wright
Alice in Chains singles chronology
"I Stay Away" (1994) "Don't Follow" (1994) "Got Me Wrong" (1994)
Jar of Flies track listing "Whale & Wasp" (Track 5) "Don't Follow" (Track 6) "Swing on This" (Track 7)

"Don't Follow" is a song by American rock band Alice in Chains; it is the third single on the studio EP Jar of Flies released on January 25, 1994 through Columbia Records.

Composition

The song is known to be very melancholic and soft; this is largely due to the lack of electrically amplified instruments—replaced by the gentle wail of a harmonica, and especially the lack of a rhythm section during the first half of the song. Lead guitarist Jerry Cantrell sings during most of the song except the bridge, which vocalist Layne Staley sings.

Release and reception

"Don't Follow" was released as a single in 1994 and peaked at number 25 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks chart.

Ned Raggett of Allmusic called the song "one of the best" by Alice in Chains, referred to Cantrell's vocals on the song as "some of his best work ever," and said that the song "finds the band at its most calm, reflective, and gently warning."

Personnel

• Layne Staley – vocals,
• Jerry Cantrell – guitars, vocals
• Mike Inez – bass
• Sean Kinney – drums, percussion
• David Atkinson – harmonica

Chart positions

Chart (1994)	Peak position
US Mainstream Rock Tracks	7

External links

• Review of "Don't Follow" at Allmusic