--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I'm going to keep thinking about topping…" description: "\"I'm going to keep thinking about topping myself every time. I can say very confidently that Alice In Chains have done that on every record. It surprise..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/476/jerry-cantrell-23468_alice-in-chains_i-m-going-to-keep-thinking-about-topping_2862829.png" --- # I'm going to keep thinking about topping myself every… ![“I'm going to keep thinking about topping myself every time. I can say very confidently that Alice In Chains have done that on every record. It surprises me. I don't go in there expecting that, but I do go in there hoping for it.” quote by Jerry Cantrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/476/jerry-cantrell-23468_alice-in-chains_i-m-going-to-keep-thinking-about-topping_2862829.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/476/jerry-cantrell-23468_alice-in-chains_i-m-going-to-keep-thinking-about-topping_2862829.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/476/jerry-cantrell-23468_alice-in-chains_i-m-going-to-keep-thinking-about-topping_2862829.png) > “I'm going to keep thinking about topping myself every time. I can say very confidently that Alice In Chains have done that on every record. It surprises me. I don't go in there expecting that, but I do go in there hoping for it.” [Jerry Cantrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-cantrell/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He believes each album should surpass the previous, expecting continual improvement and surprise. **In simple terms:** Always aim to outdo past work. Key Takeaway Push for constant artistic growth. Themes creativity music self‑improvement Mood determined reflective Type inspirational musical When to use this quote - album production - songwriting - live performance - career planning Key Concepts artistic evolution expectation management Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance ambition with sustainability? - What signs indicate you’re over‑extending? A Different Perspective Risk of burnout if expectations become unrealistic. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Alice Chains](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alice-chains-685922/) [Alice in chains](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alice-in-chains/) [Chains](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chains/) [Chains Record](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chains-record-2942559/) [Done](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/done/) [Expecting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/expecting/) [I can](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/i-can/) [Record Surprises](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/record-surprises-3872832/) [Records](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/records/) [Surprise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/surprise/) [Surprise me](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/surprise-me/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Thinking Topping](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking-topping-3872831/) [Topping](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/topping-363552/) [Toppings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/toppings/) ## Related quotes > [I've been a fan of Metallica and friends with those guys for a long time and that was just great - half Alice In…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-cantrell/i-ve-been-a-fan-of-metallica-and-friends-with-those-guys-for-a-long/) [Jerry Cantrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-cantrell/) > [My influences are Alice in Chains and Elton John.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-kane/my-influences-are-alice-in-chains-and-elton-john/) [Christian Kane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-kane/) > [I hate The Police so much I'd probably assassinate Sting, My System of a Down Rages Against the Machine. Tie you up in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chino-xl/i-hate-the-police-so-much-i-d-probably-assassinate-sting-my-system-of/) [Chino XL](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chino-xl/) > [Unlike a lot of my cohorts from the '80s and '90s who totally blamed the shortness of their careers on bands like Nirvana and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-corabi/unlike-a-lot-of-my-cohorts-from-the-80s-and-90s-who-totally-blamed/) [John Corabi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-corabi/) > [Of all the grunge bands to come out of Seattle, Alice in Chains were the greatest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dimebag-darrell/of-all-the-grunge-bands-to-come-out-of-seattle-alice-in-chains-were/) [Dimebag Darrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dimebag-darrell/) > [We're not like Alice In Chains where somebody dies and the band breaks up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-wilson/we-re-not-like-alice-in-chains-where-somebody-dies-and-the-band/) [Ann Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-wilson/) > [I remember hearing songs from the Mother Love Bone album, and hearing Alice in Chains, and feeling like this is more than just a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-cornell/i-remember-hearing-songs-from-the-mother-love-bone-album-and-hearing/) [Chris Cornell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-cornell/) > [Part of it is, I think, just to let people know you've got a record out there and that you're still alive requires more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-earle/part-of-it-is-i-think-just-to-let-people-know-you-ve-got-a-record-out/) [Steve Earle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-earle/) > [My favorite topping is one that a lot of people don't like. I love anchovies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/parker-j-palmer/my-favorite-topping-is-one-that-a-lot-of-people-don-t-like-i-love/) [Parker J. Palmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/parker-j-palmer/) > [I've told you before,” he said huskily. “I'll take you however I can get you.” “Whatever. Don't think I don't know you're topping from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-day/i-ve-told-you-before-he-said-huskily-i-ll-take-you-however-i-can-get/) [Sylvia Day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-day/) > [If you think in terms of topping, you're in the wrong business. You can't think that way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lin-manuel-miranda/if-you-think-in-terms-of-topping-you-re-in-the-wrong-business-you-can/) [Lin-Manuel Miranda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lin-manuel-miranda/) > [“For you the cup isn't half full or half empty, you're always topping it up.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rowena-cory-daniells/for-you-the-cup-isn-t-half-full-or-half-empty-you-re-always-topping/) [Rowena Cory Daniells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rowena-cory-daniells/) > [“You know, you’re topping from the bottom,” he murmurs against my lips. “What?” I don’t understand what he’s talking about. “Don’t worry. I’ll live…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-l-james/you-know-you-re-topping-from-the-bottom-he-murmurs-against-my-lips/) [E.L. James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-l-james/) > [When you're having trouble and topping the ball, it means the ground is moving on you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chi-chi-rodriguez/when-you-re-having-trouble-and-topping-the-ball-it-means-the-ground/) [Chi Chi Rodriguez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chi-chi-rodriguez/) > [Topping the ball is a problem that usually afflicts only beginning golfers, and it is quickly left behind once a player has learned to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-beard/topping-the-ball-is-a-problem-that-usually-afflicts-only-beginning/) [Henry Beard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-beard/) ## More by Jerry Cantrell > [Success has a lot to do with luck, but it also involves a lot of real hard work. The thing about success is you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-cantrell/success-has-a-lot-to-do-with-luck-but-it-also-involves-a-lot-of-real/) [Jerry Cantrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-cantrell/) > [Like everybody, I'm making up my life as I go along.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-cantrell/like-everybody-i-m-making-up-my-life-as-i-go-along/) [Jerry Cantrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-cantrell/) > [In '98, I locked myself in my house, went out of my mind and wrote 25 songs. I rarely bathed during that period of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-cantrell/in-98-i-locked-myself-in-my-house-went-out-of-my-mind-and-wrote-25/) [Jerry Cantrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-cantrell/) > [Times change and you have to adapt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-cantrell/times-change-and-you-have-to-adapt/) [Jerry Cantrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-cantrell/) > [I've never been a big soloist; I just put in what needs to be there. I'm more of a rhythm player who plays lead…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-cantrell/i-ve-never-been-a-big-soloist-i-just-put-in-what-needs-to-be-there-i/) [Jerry Cantrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-cantrell/) > [That's always been a dream for me, to be able to collaborate and make music with the people that inspired you to make music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-cantrell/that-s-always-been-a-dream-for-me-to-be-able-to-collaborate-and-make/) [Jerry Cantrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-cantrell/) > [Bands don't last. Bands don't last forever - it's a rarity when they do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-cantrell/bands-don-t-last-bands-don-t-last-forever-it-s-a-rarity-when-they-do/) [Jerry Cantrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-cantrell/) > [To me not one thing is better than anything else, I'm completely proud of everything I've written and recorded.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-cantrell/to-me-not-one-thing-is-better-than-anything-else-i-m-completely-proud/) [Jerry Cantrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-cantrell/) > [There's not a word that describes us. We’re not alternative, metal or grunge - we’re not any of that. We’re just what we are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-cantrell/there-s-not-a-word-that-describes-us-we-re-not-alternative-metal-or/) [Jerry Cantrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-cantrell/) > [Part of the healing process is sharing with other people who care.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-cantrell/part-of-the-healing-process-is-sharing-with-other-people-who-care/) [Jerry Cantrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-cantrell/) > [I can sing fine and I can play guitar fine, but put 'em together and it becomes a thoughtful effort.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-cantrell/i-can-sing-fine-and-i-can-play-guitar-fine-but-put-em-together-and-it/) [Jerry Cantrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-cantrell/) > [I didn't really know Kurt that well, but there was a guy I always admired. We didn't spend much time together, but the few…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-cantrell/i-didn-t-really-know-kurt-that-well-but-there-was-a-guy-i-always/) [Jerry Cantrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-cantrell/) > [Every record that you do man, is sooo different in every way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-cantrell/every-record-that-you-do-man-is-sooo-different-in-every-way/) [Jerry Cantrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-cantrell/) > [One thing that you hope for when you want to be a musician is that you have that recognizable sound.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-cantrell/one-thing-that-you-hope-for-when-you-want-to-be-a-musician-is-that/) [Jerry Cantrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-cantrell/) > [Every record, you've got more experiences to draw on as a writer and a musician.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-cantrell/every-record-you-ve-got-more-experiences-to-draw-on-as-a-writer-and-a/) [Jerry Cantrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-cantrell/) [Explore all 26 Jerry Cantrell quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-cantrell/) ## More Alice in chains quotes > [Every day, I hear a song and I think, 'This would be great to cover on Glee.' I like Led Zeppelin, of course, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-salling/every-day-i-hear-a-song-and-i-think-this-would-be-great-to-cover-on/) [Mark Salling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-salling/) > [When we came out, the kind of music that was popular was Nirvana, Soundgarden and Alice In Chains, all that stuff. That was when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-petrucci/when-we-came-out-the-kind-of-music-that-was-popular-was-nirvana/) [John Petrucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-petrucci/) > [I remember hearing songs from the Mother Love Bone album, and hearing Alice in Chains, and feeling like this is more than just a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-cornell/i-remember-hearing-songs-from-the-mother-love-bone-album-and-hearing/) [Chris Cornell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-cornell/) > [We're not like Alice In Chains where somebody dies and the band breaks up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-wilson/we-re-not-like-alice-in-chains-where-somebody-dies-and-the-band/) [Ann Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-wilson/) > [“Steve Isaacs (MTV VJ): When I was hired at MTV, in August of '91, I was "musician guy." I had long hair, and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-yarm/steve-isaacs-mtv-vj-when-i-was-hired-at-mtv-in-august-of-91-i-was/) [Mark Yarm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-yarm/) > [Of all the grunge bands to come out of Seattle, Alice in Chains were the greatest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dimebag-darrell/of-all-the-grunge-bands-to-come-out-of-seattle-alice-in-chains-were/) [Dimebag Darrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dimebag-darrell/) > [Growing up, I was into that '90s grunge movement like Alice in Chains, Pearl Jam and Nirvana. I've gone through every phase, I'll be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-salling/growing-up-i-was-into-that-90s-grunge-movement-like-alice-in-chains/) [Mark Salling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-salling/) > [When you're a musician, you are around your peers a lot, like Slipknot and Alice In Chains... you name the band. We're all just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/duff-mckagan/when-you-re-a-musician-you-are-around-your-peers-a-lot-like-slipknot/) [Duff McKagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/duff-mckagan/) > [Unlike a lot of my cohorts from the '80s and '90s who totally blamed the shortness of their careers on bands like Nirvana and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-corabi/unlike-a-lot-of-my-cohorts-from-the-80s-and-90s-who-totally-blamed/) [John Corabi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-corabi/) > [I hate The Police so much I'd probably assassinate Sting, My System of a Down Rages Against the Machine. Tie you up in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chino-xl/i-hate-the-police-so-much-i-d-probably-assassinate-sting-my-system-of/) [Chino XL](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chino-xl/) > [Soundgarden signing to a major, then Mother Love Bone, and seeing the same happen to Alice in Chains. We were all suddenly making music…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-cornell/soundgarden-signing-to-a-major-then-mother-love-bone-and-seeing-the/) [Chris Cornell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-cornell/) > [I love nineties stuff like Alice in Chains and Nine Inch Nails. It'd be my dream to have a Radiohead-themed episode of 'Glee.' I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-salling/i-love-nineties-stuff-like-alice-in-chains-and-nine-inch-nails-it-d/) [Mark Salling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-salling/) > [My influences are Alice in Chains and Elton John.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-kane/my-influences-are-alice-in-chains-and-elton-john/) [Christian Kane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-kane/) > [I've been a fan of Metallica and friends with those guys for a long time and that was just great - half Alice In…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-cantrell/i-ve-been-a-fan-of-metallica-and-friends-with-those-guys-for-a-long/) [Jerry Cantrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-cantrell/) > [A lot of times I wind up playing songs like (Alice in Chains') "Down in a Hole" that make me scream at the top…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bronson-arroyo/a-lot-of-times-i-wind-up-playing-songs-like-alice-in-chains-down-in-a/) [Bronson Arroyo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bronson-arroyo/) [Browse all 16 Alice in chains quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alice-in-chains/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I'm going to keep thinking about topping myself every time. 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