World Wide Suicide
Pearl Jam(???) Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It moved beneath my feet
In the form of a morning paper
Laid out for me to see
Saw his face in a corner picture
I recognized the name
Could not stop staring at the
Face I'd never see again
It's a shame to awake in a world of pain
What does it mean when
A war has taken over?
It's the same every day
I heard my name
What can be saved and
Who will be left to hold her?
The whole world
World over
It's a world wide suicide
The whole world
World over
It's a world wide suicide
Medals on a wooden mantle
Next to a handsome face
That the president took for granted
Writing checks the whole world pays
And in all the madness
Thought becomes numb and naive
Too much to talk about
And nothing for to say
It's the same every day
And the wave won't break
Tell you to pray while
The devil's on his shoulder
Laying claim to the take
That our soldiers save
Does not equate, and
The truth's already out there
The whole world
World over
It's a world wide suicide
The whole world
World over
It's a world wide suicide
Looking in the eyes of the fallen
You've got to know there's another
Another
Another
Another
Another
Way
It's a shame to awake in a world of pain
What does it mean when
The war has taken over
It's the same every day
And the wave won't break
Tell you to pray while
The devil's on his shoulder
The whole world
World over
It's a world wide suicide
The whole world
World over
It's a world wide suicide
The whole world
World over
It's a world wide suicide
The whole world
World over
It's a world wide suicide
The lyrics to Pearl Jam's "World Wide Suicide" describe the emotional turmoil and frustration felt by an individual in a world plagued by war and suffering. The opening lines refer to a physical sensation of the world moving beneath the singer's feet, as if they can feel the weight of the world's problems. The mention of a morning paper suggests that the news of the current state of affairs in the world is overwhelming and inescapable. When the singer sees the face of a fallen soldier, they are struck by the senselessness of war and the loss of human life.
The chorus of the song repeats the phrase "It's a world wide suicide," which can be interpreted in a few different ways. One possible interpretation is that the world is slowly self-destructing through conflicts and turmoil that affect everyone. Another possible interpretation is that individuals are metaphorically committing suicide by buying into the systems and societal structures that perpetuate war and injustice. The song also questions the purpose of war and what can be saved or gained through it.
The lyrics for "World Wide Suicide" are poignant and thought-provoking, and they demonstrate Pearl Jam's commitment to addressing social and political issues through their music.
Line by Line Meaning
I felt the earth on Monday
The singer experienced a significant event that shook their world.
It moved beneath my feet
This event was tangible and physically felt by the singer.
In the form of a morning paper
The event was presented to the singer through the media.
Laid out for me to see
The media made this event easily accessible and impossible to ignore.
Saw his face in a corner picture
The artist saw an image of someone involved in this event.
I recognized the name
The singer had some prior awareness of this person who was involved.
Could not stop staring at the
The image and event had a strong emotional impact on the singer.
Face I'd never see again
The person in the image is no longer alive or present.
What does it mean when A war has taken over?
The artist questions the impact and meaning of war.
It's the same every day
The constant violence and suffering caused by war is a never-ending cycle.
I heard my name
The singer is personally impacted by the war.
What can be saved and Who will be left to hold her?
The artist questions what can be salvaged from the destruction of war and who will be left to care for those affected.
The whole world World over It's a world wide suicide
The singer believes that the violence and destruction of war is leading to the destruction of the world as a whole.
Medals on a wooden mantle
The singer observes a display of honors and achievements related to war.
Next to a handsome face
The display is associated with an individual who is perceived as physically attractive or admirable.
That the president took for granted Writing checks the whole world pays
The artist criticizes the actions of those in power who make decisions that impact the whole world and future generations.
And in all the madness Thought becomes numb and naive
The constant violence and destruction caused by war leads to a lack of rational thinking and understanding.
Too much to talk about And nothing for to say
The magnitude of the destruction and suffering caused by war is beyond verbal description and there are no words to convey the horror.
And the wave won't break Tell you to pray while The devil's on his shoulder
The singer feels powerless to stop the never-ending cycle of war and the world's destruction caused by it, while those in power continue to make decisions that cause misery.
Laying claim to the take That our soldiers save Does not equate, and The truth's already out there
The beneficial outcomes of war that those in power claim are actually not equivalent to the harm and destruction caused.
Looking in the eyes of the fallen You've got to know there's another Another Another Another Another Way
The artist acknowledges the reality of the violence and destruction caused by war, but emphasizes that there must be alternative ways to approach conflict and achieve peace.
The whole world World over It's a world wide suicide
The artist reiterates the idea that the violence and destruction caused by war is leading to the destruction of the world as a whole.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: EDDIE VEDDER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Callum S
[Verse 1]
I felt the earth on Monday, it moved beneath my feet
In the form of a morning paper, laid out for me to see
Saw his face in a corner picture, I recognized the name
Could not stop staring at the face I'd never see again
It's a shame to awake in a world of pain
What does it mean when a war has taken over
It's the same everyday in a hell man made
What can be saved, and who will be left to hold her?
[Chorus]
The whole world
World over
It's a worldwide suicide
[Verse 2]
Medals on a wooden mantle, next to a handsome face
That the president took for granted
Writing checks that others pay
And in all the madness
Thought becomes numb and naive
So much to talk about, nothing for to say
It's the same everyday and the wave won't break
Tell you to pray, while the devils on their shoulder
Laying claim to the take that our soldiers save
Does not equate, and the truth's already out there
[Chorus][x2]
[Verse 3]
Looking in the eyes of the fallen
You got to know there's another, another, another, another
Another way
It's a shame to awake in a world of pain
What does it mean when a war has taken over
It's the same everyday and the wave won't break
Tell you to pray, while the devils on their shoulder
[Chorus][x2]
Adam Cheek
Awesome song. I don't think anyone can hate Pearl Jam, or Soundgarden for that matter. Two of my favorite bands of all time.
kailo O'Neal
I love grunge my pearl the best grunge band nirvana is my #1 band there just not a good grunge band Chris Cornell is my favorite singer of grunge he has 3 awsome bands soundgarden auidoslave temple of the dog
Dena Meneades
rite on brothah!!!
John
Don't forget Alice in Chains. They're a good grunge band and their music is still pretty awesome even though they have a different lead singer now.
EDIT: Also, it's sad to think Eddie Vedder is the last singer left out of the Big 4 grunge bands (Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Soundgarden and Alice in Chains.)
Lyra Frost
Hate to break it to ya but theres this thing called my mom.
Raul Gaete Sepulveda
I love when the band returns to its original sound, Eddie's voice I hope is eternal
Natasha Pereira
Pearl Jam's Worldwide suicide is currently ringing in my head! Hail Pearl Jam!
Luke Rupa
Hail, Hail !!!
Derrick Sanford
@luke I was about to say the same thing! 😂
Norek Family Explosion
This song really connected with me when it came out in 2006. I had lost two high school classmates in an idiotic war for oil in Iraq, and whether or not the song directly addressed that subject, I felt like Vedder was pleading for sanity and smarter leadership.