There will be no objectivity here.
Pearl Jam is my favorite band of all-time, and a major reason is Eddie Vedder's lyrics. Vedder is the best lyricist ever. That's right, ever. He can take simple, everyday feelings and make them sound incredibly eloquent. He also has the ability to take extremely complicated situations and boil them down to one perfectly-stated line. Also, despite being best known as a leader of the angst-filled early 90s grunge era, Vedder's lyrics are overwhelmingly positive.
What follows is Vedder's most brightly-shining moments; his best lyrics from throughout Pearl Jam's career. For each lyric, I've included a simplified, layman's version of the same concept. I've also included some random thoughts, for the casual fan's enjoyment.
If you think 50 lyrics is excessive, well, you're probably right. Now get the hell out of here, you softcore fan.
Here they are, the 50 best Pearl Jam lyrics ever...
50)
Saw things so much clearer
Once you were in my rearviewmirror
-"Rearviewmirror"
Simply Put: I'm outta here.
Interesting Sidenote: Eddie's father is a dick. Also, pretty sure rear view mirror is actually 3 words, but when you're Eddie Vedder, it doesn't matter.
49)
I got scratches all over my arms
One for each day since I fell apart
-"Footsteps"
Simply Put: Emotions can drive you to do crazy things, and you'll regret those things eventually. Next time you're upset, take a deep breath and think things over.
Interesting Sidenote: This song is about a serial killer. It is the third and final chapter of the Mamasan Trilogy, which also includes the songs "Alive" and "Once." In chapter one ("Alive"), a man learns that his father is dead and the man he thought was his father was really a stepfather. Then his mom tries to rape him. In chapter two ("Once") he goes on a killing spree, and in this final chapter, he's on death row. Fun times. Let's be happy Eddie Vedder became a famous singer, otherwise, well, who knows?
48)
Everyone's practicing
But this world's an accident
I was a fool because I thought the world
Turns out the world thought me
-"Cropduster"
Simply Put: Everything doesn't happen for a reason.
Interesting Sidenote: This song was off the Riot Act album. The album came out a year after September 11th. Much of the lyrical content dealt with love, knowing what's really important, and moving on from tragedy. Oddly, a lot of this was coincidence; some of the songs, including the most heartfelt, "Love Boat Captain," were about a tragedy at a PJ show in Denmark (we'll get to that).
47)
I got memories, I got shit
-"I Got ID"
Simply Put: This one is pretty straightforward.
Interesting Sidenote: Great line to say when looking at pictures. Speaking of memories, Pearl Jam has to have the worst Wikipedia page of any major artist. Check it out. Toad the Wet Sprocket's page is almost as extensive. I was trying to look something up on The Sky I Scrape (the premiere PJ lyrical source) and found out it's down for remodeling. I guess I'll have to do this whole list from the top of my head. Hopefully I don't mess anything up.
46)
Restless souls, enjoy your youth
Like Muhammed, hits the truth
Can't escape from the common rule
If you hate something, don't you do it too
-"Not For You"
Simply Put: Don't be a dick.
Interesting Sidenote: Muhammed's gotta be pretty happy about the shout out. Jesus and God usually hog the musical spotlight.
45)
Oh please, let it rain today
This city's so filthy, like my mind in ways
-"Wash"
Simply Put: I need a vacation.
Interesting Sidenote: Like a big city, the brain can become cluttered, dirty, and difficult to navigate. Once in awhile it needs a good cleansing. I mean that in the metaphorical way, not a Nazi Party type of way, so relax. This song was originally called "Speed Wash." It was the same thing, but about three times as fast. And... it sucked.
44)
Seek my part, devote myself, my small self
Like a book among the many on a shelf
-"Sometimes"
Simply Put: We're all in this together, people.
Interesting Sidenote: No Code is commonly regarded as PJ's best album by fans and even by some critics. It was also a commercial disaster. That's discouraging, but on the bright side, at least we weeded out the softcore fans.
43)
Walking tightrope high, over moral ground
Walk the bridges before you burn them down
-"Marker in the Sand"
Simply Put: Before you judge someone, walk a mile in their shoes.
Interesting Sidenote: "Before you judge someone, walk a mile in their shoes. That way, when you judge them, you'll be a mile away and you'll have their shoes." -Jack Handy
42)
Hold tight the thread
The current will shift
Glide me toward you
-"Oceans"
Simply Put: Wait for me, baby.
Interesting Sidenote: This song is about a long distance relationship. Sadly, you know the chick is going to hook up with the first meathead who comes along in Eddie's absence. Also, "Oceans" is off the Ten album, PJ's first (named so in honor of the legendary Mookie Blaylock). If you compare guitarist Stone Gossard in this video to pictures of the current Stone Gossard, it's not the same guy. The "Paul is Dead" theory has nothing on this, I swear to God.
41)
Like weeds, with big leaves, stealing light from what's beneath
Where they have more, still they take more
-"Green Disease"
Simply Put: Politicians are greedy.
Interesting Sidenote: This song starts off with Eddie railing against greedy politicians. Later in this song, he sings "I guess there's nothing wrong with what you [politicians] say, but don't sell me there can't be better ways." Way to stand your ground, Ed.
40)
So this life is sacrificed
To a stranger's bottom line
I've seen the light
I'm scared alive
-"Unemployable"
Simply Put: Work sucks.
Interesting Sidenote: Eddie Vedder can sum up the plight of corporate America better than anyone else. Also, Eddie Vedder has never had a real job.
39)
Here's a selfless confession
Leading me back to war
Can we help that our destinations
Are the ones we've been before?
-"All or None"
Simply Put: Actions speak louder than words. People say they want to change, then repeat the same old habits over and over.
Interesting Sidenote: For all the slack Pearl Jam has taken for "dropping off since Vitalogy," Eddie has really stepped up his game with lyric writing lately. The last couple of PJ albums are lyrically flawless (well, at least close).
38)
It's out of my hands, making all hands meet
Stumbling as it's crumbling out of reach
-"God's Dice"
Simply Put: You can only do so much.
Interesting Sidenote: The last line of this song is "resignate my God," but when Eddie sings it live, he often changes it to "resignate my dog." How exactly do you resignate a dog? And why would you even want to? Puppies are adorable.
37)
Some die just to live
-"Immortality"
Simply Put: Drugs are bad, mmmkay?
Interesting Sidenote: This song/lyric is believed to be about Kurt Cobain.
36)
Troubled souls unite
We got ourselves tonight
-"Leash"
Simply Put: Outcasts of the world, unite!
Interesting Sidenote: If a bunch of losers get together, it's almost as if they aren't losers anymore. This kind of advanced social theory is the type of thinking that allowed "Jackass" and "Harry Potter" to become popular.
35)
Model, role model, roll some models in blood
Get some flesh to stick so they look like us
I shit and I stink, I'm real, join the club
I'd stop and talk, but I'm already in love
-"Satan's Bed"
Simply Put: This is an anti-groupie song, but it also speaks volumes about superficiality and image vs. reality.
Interesting Sidenote: Later in this song, Ed sings "I'll never suck Satan's dick / again you'd see it, you know, right ‘round the lips." Fucking disgusting.
34)
And I listen, for the voice inside my head...
Nothing...
I'll do this one myself
-"State of Love and Trust"
Simply Put: This song is about suicide, but damn does that line sound cool.
Interesting Sidenote: My friend Allison always loved this song because she thought the chorus was "Allison, you're the voice inside my head." I told her the truth and completely ruined it for her. This happened like 6 years ago. She's still mad about it.
33)
My appetite, for nightly feast
Those ignorant Indians got nothing on me
Nothing!
Why?
Because...
It's evolution, baby!
-"Do the Evolution"
Simply Put: Just because you have a so-called greater social status than someone, it doesn't mean you're better than them.
Interesting Sidenote: This doubles as a great rally cry when you're on the way to the casino.
32)
It echoes, nobody hears, it goes, it goes, it goes
We're faithful, we all believe, we all believe
-"Faithful"
Simply Put: Why do people continue to believe things when evidence points to the contrary? (This isn't necessarily about religion, but it certainly has religious undertones.)
Interesting Sidenote: At the end of this song, Eddie sings "you are everything," only it sounds like he's saying "you are a furry thing," which is hilarious.
31)
Don't need a helmet, got a hard, hard head
Don't need a raincoat, I'm already wet
Don't need a bandage, cause there's too much blood
After awhile, seems to roll right off
-"Whipping"
Simply Put: The U.S. health care system sucks.
Interesting Sidenote: Once, the kitchen ceiling in my NYC apartment collapsed due to flooding on the floor above. I was about to go in there and clean up when my roommate said, "maybe you should wear a helmet." I looked at her and replied, "I don't need a helmet, I got a hard, hard head." She paused for a second, then said, "What the hell are you talking about?" She was a Maroon 5 fan.
30)
Up here in my tree
Newspapers matter not to me
No more crowbars to my head
I'm trading stories with the leaves instead
-"In My Tree"
Simply Put: Critics suck. If you're famous, you're best to avoid all reviews, critics, etc.
Interesting Sidenote: Truly one of the most underrated songs ever. I could tell you the meaning of life before I could tell you why so many people think No Code sucks.
29)
Once divided, nothing left to subtract
Some words, when spoken, can't be taken back
-"Nothingman"
Simply Put: Apologies only get you so far. Sometimes you can mess up so bad that there's no way back.
Interesting Sidenote: Look kids, math can be used for something interesting!
28)
Tamper if you like between the doors
Can't expect to go out with anything, with anything more
-"Breath"
Simply Put: Life is about the journey, not the destination.
Interesting Sidenote: This song appears on the Singles soundtrack along with "State of Love and Trust," making Pearl Jam pretty much the best thing about Singles.
27)
I rub my eyes, for he has returned
Seems my preconceptions are what should have been burned
For he still smiles, and he's still strong
Nothing's changed but the surrounding bullshit, that has grown
-"Off He Goes"
Simply Put: You're my BFF.
Interesting Sidenote: This song is about the relationship between Eddie Vedder and Stone Gossard, and it's one of the few songs in history written lyrically from two different alternating perspectives. It's also one of the only songs ever to use the phrase "his perfectly unkempt clothes."
26)
Is there room for both of us?
Both of us apart?
Are we bound out of obligation?
Is that all we got?
-"Hail Hail"
Simply Put: Being in a relationship of convenience can be more discouraging than being in no relationship at all.
Interesting Sidenote: I almost went with the famous line from this song, "Are you woman enough to be my man?," just because I've been trying to figure out what that means for 10 years and I have no fucking clue.
25)
We all walk the long road
-"Long Road"
Simply Put: If you can't get this, then you probably travel your long road on a very short bus.
Interesting Sidenote: This song was used in the end of a "Scrubs" episode, when Zach Braff used the knowledge he had gained throughout that episode's comedic plot twists to come up with a semi-intelligent but pretty obvious lesson (much like every episode of "Scrubs").
24)
For every tool they lend us
A loss of independence
-"Grievance"
Simply Put: Don't depend on anyone but yourself. Especially don't depend on the U.S. government, since they will inevitably screw you over with an unfair one-sided trade treaty.
Interesting Sidenote: This song is about the NATO treaty, which was protested heavily in Seattle. Isn't it funny that the capital of this anti-commercial grunge movement ended up being the same home as Starbucks, Microsoft, Philips and Amazon?
23)
When he was six he believed the moon overhead followed him
By nine he had deciphered the illusion
Trading magic for fact, no trade back
So this is what it's like to be an adult
-"I'm Open"
Simply Put: Ignorance is bliss.
Interesting Sidenote: I love this lyric, but it loses serious points because this "song" is really a spoken-word piece set to music, and I feel like I should be at a coffee shop smoking a hand-rolled and wearing a beret whenever it comes on.
22)
Little secrets, tremors, turn to quakes
The smallest oceans still get big, big waves
-"Tremor Christ"
Simply Put: Cheating, lying, gossiping, etc, can have a serious effect, no matter how insignificant you may think it is.
Interesting Sidenote: In the late 90s, the band Local H wrote a song called "Eddie Vedder." One of the lyrics was "If I was Eddie Vedder, would you like me any better?" Sorry, I got nothing else for this one.
21)
All the rusted signs we ignored throughout our lives
Choosing the shiny ones instead
I turned my back, now there's no turning back
-"Thumbing My Way"
Simply Put: The most attractive choices are not always the best.
Interesting Sidenote: Apparently girls have brains somewhere above their chests, and apparently you should take those brains into consideration when picking a girl, lest you end up with a hot retard. Who woulda thought?
20)
Fuck me if I say something you don't wanna hear
And fuck me if you only hear what you wanna hear
Fuck me if I care, but I'm not leaving here
-"Save You"
Simply Put: Friends know when to say when.
Interesting Sidenote: My friends and I used to joke around about guitarist Mike McCready's drug use, saying that he alternated being clean and drugged-up for each PJ record. The math doesn't work out perfectly, but Riot Act was one of the drugged-up records. Drug use is sad, except when it inspires songs as awesome as "Save You," then it's great. You can read all about this in my upcoming book, The 0.0001% of Times When Drugs Lead To Something Amazing. It's got a foreword from Scott Weiland.
19)
The lights of this city
They only look good when I'm speeding
-"Gone"
Simply Put: Big city life can be a pain at times. All the fun benefits are countered by overpopulation, cost and hassles.
Interesting Sidenote: "Gone" is the perfect song for New York City and its surrounding areas.
18)
To this day she's glided on
Always home, but so far away
Like a word misplaced
Nothing said, what a waste
-"Dissident"
Simply Put: Speak up or you'll never be heard.
Interesting Sidenote: They should have used this song in that stupid English Patient movie.
17)
Hold me and make it the truth
That when all is lost, there'll be you
-"Love Boat Captain"
Simply Put: All you need is love.
Interesting Sidenote: This song is about the Roskilde Festival, in which 9 PJ fans were trampled to death as fans tried to get up close during "Daughter." To die in such a manner is horrible. On the Riot Act CD, there's a song called "Arc," which is 9 random chants of "AHHHH AH AH AH AH AAHHHHHHH." This is dedicated to the Roskilde victims. Of course, no one knew that at first, so I called the song "stupid" about 1,000 times before someone told me the meaning. Then I felt like a huge dick.
16)
You're always saying that there's something wrong
I'm starting to believe it's your plan all along
-"Life Wasted"
Simply Put: Misery is a self-fulfilling prophecy.
Interesting Sidenote: This sounds like something my dad would've told me when I was 14, only much more eloquently put, and not followed by a beating.
15)
A thinktank of aloof multiplication
A nicotine wish and a Columbus decanter
Retrenchment and hoggishness
The aristocrat choir sings, "What's the ruckus?"
The haves have not a clue
The immenseness of suffering
And the odd negotiation, a rarity
With onionskin plausibility of life
And a keyboard reaffirmation
-"Bushleaguer"
Simply Put: I have no clue what this means, but I'm pretty sure it's derogatory towards the President. The vocab is off the hook though... silver-dollar words all over this piece.
Interesting Sidenote: Once I went to UConn to visit some friends, right after this song had come out. We kept quoting this song as a joke. At the end of the weekend, a girl I knew told me, and I quote, "I never knew you were so smart... you have such an extensive vocabulary." That's right, baby.
14)
I will hold the candle til it burns up my arm
I'll keep taking punches until their will grows tired
I will stare the sun down until my eyes go blind
I won't change direction, and I won't change my mind
How much difference does it make?
-"Indifference"
Simply Put: Death is difficult, especially when you know it's coming and there's nothing you can do about it.
Interesting Sidenote: Ben Harper covers this song, only his version is slightly hippie-er.
13A)
Do you see the way that tree bends? Does it inspire?
Leaning out to catch the sun's rays... A lesson to be applied
-"Present Tense"
13B)
Makes much more sense to live in the present tense
-"Present Tense"
Simply Put: These two need to be together, but the second quote says it all.
Interesting Sidenote: In the weeks before I graduated college, all of my friends had lame quotes in their IM profiles, like "we'll never forget these times" (only much lamer). I had the chorus of this song: "Makes much more sense to live in the present tense." This was a completely coincidence, since I hadn't changed my IM profile in like 2 years. Anyway, some guy IM'ed me and said something like, "man, you've got the right attitude, we have to appreciate these last few weeks and we can't spend the time crying that college is over. It does make more sense to live in the present tense." Ummm, yeah, that's exactly what I was going for.
12)
If I don't fall apart, will my memory stay clear?
So you had to go, and I had to stay here
But the strangest thing to date
So far away, and yet you feel so close
I'm not gonna question any other way
There must be an open door
For you to come back
-"Come Back"
Simply Put: Absence makes the heart grow fonder.
Interesting Sidenote: This song makes me think of my friend Krissy, and I have no idea why.
11)
They said timing was everything
Made him want to be everywhere
There's a lot to be said for nowhere
-"MFC"
Simply Put: Relax.
Interesting Sidenote: MFC stands for "mini fast cars." It was inspired by the tiny cars they drive in Italy. Once my friends and I went to a PJ concert and decided we were going to use fake names to entertain ourselves. My friend, for that whole day, was Mike Francis Cirrillo. Get it? I was Jeremy Ledbetter. No one was fooled.
10)
When he reached the shore of his clip-on world, he resurfaced to the norm
Organized his few things, his coat and keys
Any realizations would have to wait until he had more time, more time
A time to dream to himself
He waves goodbye to himself
"I'll see you on the other side"
Another man moved by sleight of hand
-"Sleight of Hand"
Simply Put: Corporate America is like a black hole, slowly sucking your will to live. Recent college grads, take note.
Interesting Sidenote: This song inspired me to quit my old job. I mean, there were other factors involved... but... yeah.
9)
You can't be neutral on a moving train
-"Down"
Simply Put: Take a stand. Pick a side. Vote or die.
Interesting Sidenote: There's a section of the Pearl Jam TenClub (fan club) Message Board called "A Moving Train." I especially love the site when PJ isn't doing anything; people argue over stuff like, "What song on Binaural would you most like to hear while you were free-base jumping off Mt. Everest?"
8)
It's been about three days now since I've been aground
No longer overwhelmed, it seems so simple now
It's funny when things change so much
It's all state of mind
-"In Hiding"
Simply Put: Most of living done is done in your head.
Interesting Sidenote: I remember Jay Mohr singing this on "Conan," or "Letterman," or one of the late night talk shows. Whatever it was, it was random.
7)
With heavy breath, awakened regrets
Back pages and days alone that should've been spent
Together, but we were miles apart
Every inch between us becomes light years now
No time to be void, or to save up on life
You've got to spend it all
-"Light Years"
Simply Put: We could be gone tomorrow, so savor the time you have.
Interesting Sidenote: My friends have been instructed to play this song at my funeral, along with Nada Surf's "Popular" or Beck's "Loser," depending on the turnout.
6)
The north is to south as the clock is to time
There's east and there's west and there's everything mine
I know I was born and I know that I'll die
The in-between is mine
-"I Am Mine"
Simply Put: Carpe diem.
Interesting Sidenote: This is my favorite post-9/11 song, unless you count Alan Jackson, but that's for totally different reasons. I also love the solo at the end of this song, plus Vedder always gives a great speech before this one when playing live.
5)
I'll ride the wave where it takes me
-"Release"
Simply Put: Go with the flow.
Interesting Sidenote: This song is about loss. However, this phrase can be used as a verbal alternative to the shoulder shrug/"whatever" combo.
4)
Everything has chains
Absolutely nothing's changed
Take my hand, not my picture
-"Corduroy"
Simply Put: The more things change, the more they stay the same.
Interesting Sidenote: These last few are the cream of the crop; the most universal yet still meaningful Vedder lyrics. "Corduroy" is about Eddie's struggle with fame. He owned a corduroy jacket that he bought for a dollar. Then, one day, he saw the same jacket at a designer store for over a hundred bucks, advertised as "Eddie Vedder's jacket." He didn't like being idolized, so he went home and wrote one of the best songs ever, and put it on one of the best albums ever. Surprisingly, that didn't help his cause.
3)
He floated back down cause he wanted to share
The keys to the locks on the chains he saw everywhere
But first he was stripped and then he was stabbed
By faceless men, but fuckers, he still stands
And he still gives his love, he just gives it away
The love he receives is the love that is saved
And sometimes is seen a strange spot in the sky
A human being that was given to fly
-"Given to Fly"
Simply Put: Don't mess with them playa-haters.
Interesting Sidenote: Some believe this song is about Jesus. I take it as a story about Vedder and the way he was bashed by the media. Either way, it's a great message about rising above the negativity. This would be my favorite song ever, except the studio version is a little weak. Live, this song is absolutely unreal. For further reference, look up the 2000 St. Louis show where they had a girl named Kim do sign language to this song. It's both amazing and hilarious.
2)
I change by not changing at all
-"Elderly Woman Behind the Counter in a Small Town"
Simply Put: What's that poem about the guy who grew up, and thought his hometown was changing, but really he was the one who had changed, and now he was looking at the hometown through a brand new set of eyes? This is kinda like that, but it's one line instead of a whole poem.
Interesting Sidenote: When you can state something so thought-provoking in just one simple line, it's an incredible feat.
1)
I know someday you'll have a beautiful life
I know you'll be a star in somebody else's sky
But why can't it be mine?
-"Black"
Simply Put: The most beautiful break-up line ever.
Interesting Sidenote: Do you know how much pussy Vedder must have gotten for this line alone? It's gotta be ridiculous.
