Cantrell wrote the lyrics while staying at the home of Soundgarden’s in 1991. He wrote from his father's perspective, imagining the "stinging sweat," the "mosquito death" of the jungle, and the pain of seeing friends die in battle.
Cantrell Sr. served with this division. Their "Screaming Eagle" patch was often misidentified by the Vietnamese as a chicken, leading to the nickname "Chicken Men". Alice In Chains - The Rooster
"Rooster" was a common nickname for M60 machine gunners because the muzzle flash resembled a rooster's tail. Composition and Emotional Impact Cantrell wrote the lyrics while staying at the