Porch
Pearl Jam Lyrics


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What the fuck is this world
Running to?

You didn't leave a message
At least I could have
Heard your voice one last time.

Daily minefield
This could be my time
How 'bout you?
Would you hit me?
Would you hit me?

All the bills go by
And initiatives are taken up
By the middle
There ain't gonna be any middle any more

And the cross I'm bearing home
Ain't indicative of my place
Left the porch
Left the porch

Hear my name
Take a good look
This could be the day
Hold my hand
Walk beside me
I just need to say...

Hear my name
Take a good look
This could be the day
Hold my hand
Lie beside me
I just need to say
What can I take?
I just want to be
I know that I would not ever touch you
Hold you
Feel you




Ever hold
Never again

Overall Meaning

The song "Porch" by Pearl Jam starts off with the lyrics "What the fuck is this world running to?", a statement questioning the direction of the world. This is followed by regret that someone didn't leave a message and the desire to hear their voice one last time. The lyrics also reference a daily minefield and how this could be one's time to die. The singer then asks if the listener would hit him before stating that initiatives are taken up by the middle and that there won't be a middle anymore.


The song then shifts to the singer's personal struggles, referring to the cross he's bearing home, which doesn't reflect his place. He left the porch and is now questioning his purpose in life. The lyrics "Hear my name, take a good look, this could be the day, hold my hand, walk beside me, I just need to say" show the need for connection and understanding during a moment of uncertainty. The last few lines of the song express the desire to not touch, hold, or feel someone ever again.


Line by Line Meaning

What the fuck is this world Running to?
Expressing frustration and confusion about the direction in which the world is heading.


You didn't leave a message At least I could have Heard your voice one last time.
Regretting that no message was left by someone who has already passed away and wishing to hear their voice for one last time.


Daily minefield This could be my time How 'bout you? Would you hit me? Would you hit me?
Recognizing the risks of daily life and wondering if others are experiencing the same thing, even to the point of questioning if someone else would intentionally harm them.


All the bills go by And initiatives are taken up By the middle There ain't gonna be any middle any more
Acknowledging the passing of time, the actions taken by those in power, and the belief that there will no longer be any neutral ground or in-between in the future.


And the cross I'm bearing home Ain't indicative of my place Left the porch Left the porch
Feeling burdened by something that does not align with one's identity or purpose and the decision to leave that behind.


Hear my name Take a good look This could be the day Hold my hand Walk beside me I just need to say...
Asking someone to pay attention to them and be present for a moment that could be significant, and expressing a need to communicate something important.


Hear my name Take a good look This could be the day Hold my hand Lie beside me I just need to say What can I take? I just want to be I know that I would not ever touch you Hold you Feel you Ever hold Never again
Desiring intimacy and connection while also recognizing that it is impossible due to external factors or past events that have permanently separated them.




Contributed by Adeline N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Most interesting comments from YouTube:

@agustinasoto7615

LETRA DE PORCH

What the fuck is this world
Running to? You didn't
Leave a message at least I
Coulda' learned your voice one last time
Daily minefield this could
Be my time how 'bout you?
Would you hit me?
Would you hit me?
Ohhh, ohh ohh
Ohhh woah oh
All the bills go by and
Initiatives are taken up
By the middle
There ain't gonna be any middle any more
And the cross I'm bearing home
Ain't indicative of my place
Left the porch
Left the porch
Hear my name
Take a good look
This could be the day
Hold my hand
Walk beside me
I just need to say
Hear my name
Take a good look
This could be the day
Hold my hand
Lie beside me
I just need to say
What can I take?
I just want to be
I know that I would not ever
Touch you
Hold you
Feel you
In my arms
Never again



@pecosbill3336

What the fuck is this world
Running to? You didn't
Leave a message at least I
Coulda' learned your voice one last time
Daily minefield this could

Be my time how 'bout you?
Would you hit me?
Would you hit me?

Ohhh, ohh ohh
Ohhh woah oh

All the bills go by and
Initiatives are taken up
By the middle
There ain't gonna be any middle any more

And the cross I'm bearing home
Ain't indicative of my place
Left the porch
Left the porch

Hear my name
Take a good look
This could be the day
Hold my hand
Walk beside me
I just need to say

Hear my name
Take a good look
This could be the day
Hold my hand
Lie beside me
I just need to say
What can I take?

I just want to be
I know that I would not ever
Touch you
Hold you
Feel you
In my arms
Never again



@user-vq7ui6pt2g

Hear my name
Take a good look
At my word
This could be the day
Of my return
Hold my hand
And walk beside me
I just need to say
Through me you will
Be saved
Hold fast thy wounds oh weeping one
Fear not thy judgement of our true God, but look upon thy wounds of this world as a testament of the truth of thy saviours word.
Our words are but observations
Compared to the truth of our god words, for to feel by word is of God. And to leave the words of God behind is to leave God behind
Works of wood



All comments from YouTube:

@asdf1234fggggggggggg

One of the best debut albums of all time imo, no filler, still holds up decades later

@_Shadoh_

The first album I ever bought in my life(was 14 back then) and still one of my absolute favourite, I chose wisely 😊 second was the Black Album by Metallica, third the Nevermind by Nirvana. Man, music was so fantastic in those days.

@Jolgeable

​@@_Shadoh_ I listened to those records you mentioned a lot, plus Blood Sugar Sex Magic by RHCP, the following year Check Your Head by the Beastie Boys. Some Guns'n'Roses - I heard more from the people around, but GnR were big at that moment too. So many bombastic albums in such a short time. I was 13 back then.

@AcrylicGoblin

​@@_Shadoh_i hope you have gone back and listened to Metallica before the black album. I remember buying that on release day and being profoundly disappointed. The good stuff is everything before that.

@americaisafascistcountry5492

It's so weird that I've been listening to PJ for 30 years. I couldn't of made it through without them.

@alanzielinski7738

All the hot girls at shows utopia.... heaven on stage...

@aryansigrid

America is a Fascist Country 100%

@_Shadoh_

So true.

@dejanko

i know how you feel,same story here ,only ...it's for RHCP

@virginiaknighten4687

1992 PinkPop was the ultimate!! When Eddie jumped from the crane into the crowd!!

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