Formed after the demise of Gossard and Ament's previous band, Mother Love Bone, Pearl Jam broke into the mainstream with their debut album, Ten, in 1991. Ten stayed on the Billboard 200 chart for nearly five years, and has gone on to become one of the highest-selling rock records ever, going 13× platinum in the United States. Released in 1993, Pearl Jam's second album, Vs., sold over 950,000 copies in its first week of release, setting the record for most copies of an album sold in its first week of release at the time. Their third album, Vitalogy (1994), became the second-fastest-selling CD in history at the time, with more than 877,000 units sold in its first week.
One of the key bands in the grunge movement of the early 1990s, Pearl Jam's members often shunned popular music industry practices such as making music videos or participating in interviews. The band also sued Ticketmaster, claiming it had monopolized the concert-ticket market. In 2006, Rolling Stone described the band as having "spent much of the past decade deliberately tearing apart their own fame."
Pearl Jam had sold more than 85 million albums worldwide by 2018, including nearly 32 million albums in the United States by 2012, making them one of the best-selling bands of all time. Pearl Jam was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2017 in its first year of eligibility. They were ranked eighth in a readers' poll by Rolling Stone magazine in its "Top Ten Live Acts of All Time" issue. Throughout its career, the band has also promoted wider social and political issues, from pro-abortion rights sentiments to opposition to George W. Bush's presidency. Vedder acts as the band's spokesman on these issues.
Full Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pearl_Jam
Studio albums
Ten (1991)
Vs. (1993)
Vitalogy (1994)
No Code (1996)
Yield (1998)
Binaural (2000)
Riot Act (2002)
Pearl Jam (2006)
Backspacer (2009)
Lightning Bolt (2013)
Gigaton (2020)
211-Do the Evolution
Pearl Jam Lyrics
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I'm ahead, I'm a man
I'm the first mammal to wear pants, yeah
I'm at peace with my lust
I can kill 'cause in god I trust, yeah
It's evolution, baby
I'm at piece, I'm the man
On the loose, I'm a truck
All the rolling hills, I'll flatten 'em out, yeah
It's herd behavior, uh huh
It's evolution, baby
Admire me, admire my home
Admire my son, he's my clone
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
This land is mine, this land is free
I'll do what I want but irresponsibly
It's evolution, baby
I'm a thief, I'm a liar
There's my church, I sing in the choir:
(Hallelujah, hallelujah)
Admire me, admire my home
Admire my son, admire my clones
'Cause we know, appetite for a nightly feast
Those ignorant Indians got nothin' on me
Nothin', why?
Because it's evolution, baby!
I am ahead, I am advanced
I am the first mammal to make plans, yeah
I crawled the earth, but now I'm higher
2010, watch it go to fire
It's evolution, baby
Do the evolution
Come on, come on, come on
The song "Do the Evolution" by Pearl Jam was released in 1998 and is a commentary on humanity and its evolution. The lyrics suggest that human evolution has led to a self-destructive nature, with humans becoming obsessed with power and money. The singer sees himself as ahead of the evolutionary curve and takes pride in his accomplishments, but acknowledges that he is capable of violence and killing, which he attributes to his belief in God. The lyrics also suggest that herd behavior contributes to this destructive nature, with people blindly following each other without question.
In the second verse, the singer boasts about his wealth and power, proclaiming that he can do whatever he wants with the land and the people on it. He also sings about his role in the church choir, perhaps suggesting the corrupt nature of organized religion. The singer brags about his clones, suggesting that he has replicated himself for his own benefit. He then compares himself to the European settlers who wiped out the native Indian tribes in America, suggesting that his own destructive behavior is just the latest incarnation of this pattern of violence.
The final verse is a warning that despite our advances, humanity is still capable of self-destruction. The line "2010, watch it go to fire" is a reference to the increasing tension and awareness of global warming and human impact on the planet. The repetition of "Do the evolution" throughout the song suggests a call to action and accountability, urging listeners to consider the consequences of our actions and to actively strive for a better future.
Line by Line Meaning
Woo
An expression of excitement and enthusiasm.
I'm ahead, I'm a man
I am superior, I lead, and I am a human being.
I'm the first mammal to wear pants, yeah
As humans, we have evolved far beyond any other mammal on Earth.
I'm at peace with my lust
I have no guilt or shame for my sexual desires.
I can kill 'cause in god I trust, yeah
I will do anything, regardless if it is right or wrong, as long as it aligns with my religious beliefs.
It's evolution, baby
Our behavior and actions are the result of our evolution.
I'm at peace, I'm the man
I'm content with who I am, and I'm superior.
Buying stocks on the day of the crash
I take advantage of other's misfortune for my own gain.
On the loose, I'm a truck
I am powerful, unstoppable, and I will keep going.
All the rolling hills, I'll flatten 'em out, yeah
I will conquer any obstacle that's in my way.
It's herd behavior, uh huh
I'm following the crowd, I'm a part of society, and I do what they do.
Admire me, admire my home
I want you to recognize and praise what I have earned.
Admire my son, he's my clone
My offspring will continue my legacy and be an extension of who I am.
This land is mine, this land is free
I control the resources, and I can do whatever I want with them.
I'll do what I want but irresponsibly
I'm reckless, I prioritize myself above others, and I act without thinking about the consequences.
I'm a thief, I'm a liar
I cheat and deceive to get what I want.
There's my church, I sing in the choir: (Hallelujah, hallelujah)
I use religion as a way to legitimize my wrongdoings.
Those ignorant Indians got nothin' on me
I am even superior to Native Americans, who are considered "primitive" or "uncivilized".
Nothin', why? Because it's evolution, baby!
I justify my actions and mindset based on the idea of evolution.
I am ahead, I am advanced
I am leading the pack when it comes to evolution, science, and technology.
I am the first mammal to make plans, yeah
I am the first animal to think, strategize and plan for the future.
I crawled the earth, but now I'm higher
I come from humble beginnings, but through evolution, I have grown and developed into an advanced creature.
2010, watch it go to fire
The future will be full of chaos and destruction.
Do the evolution, come on, come on, come on
Join the movement of achieving progress, power, and control over others because it's the way of evolution.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: EDDIE VEDDER, STONE GOSSARD
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind