Betterman
Pearl Jam Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Waitin', watchin' the clock, it's four o'clock, it's got to stop
Tell him, take no more, she practices her speech
As he opens the door, she rolls over
Pretends to sleep as he looks her over

She lies and says she's in love with him, can't find a better man
She dreams in colour, she dreams in red, can't find a better man
Can't find a better man
Can't find a better man
Oh

Talkin' to herself, there's no one else who needs to know
She tells herself, oh
Memories back when she was bold and strong
And waiting for the world to come along
Swears she knew it, now she swears he's gone

She lies and says she's in love with him, can't find a better man
She dreams in colour, she dreams in red, can't find a better man
She lies and says she still loves him, can't find a better man
She dreams in colour, she dreams in red, can't find a better man
Can't find a better man
Can't find a better man
Yeah

She loved him, yeah, she don't want to leave this way
She feeds him, yeah, that's why she'll be back again

Can't find a better man
Can't find a better man




Can't find a better man
Can't find a better man

Overall Meaning

Betterman by Pearl Jam is an emotionally charged song that depicts a woman's deep longing for love and affection. The song opens with the woman waiting for her partner, who seems to be constantly late. She has rehearsed what to say to him as he enters the door, but when he finally shows up, she pretends to be asleep. The woman is conflicted about her love for her partner as she tells herself that she cannot find a better man, but at the same time, she knows that she is lying to herself. The chorus is repetitive, emphasizing her desperation to find a better man.


The second verse is reflective as the woman talks to herself, telling herself that no one else needs to know about this inner turmoil. She remembers when she was once bold and independent, waiting for someone special to arrive. Now she swears that she has lost that special someone, and all she has is a memory of those happy times. The chorus is repeated twice more, and the lyrics reveal that the woman still loves her partner and will continue to feed him. She cannot find a better man.


Betterman is a song that speaks to the universal human experiences of love, loss, and the search for something better. The song's gentle and calming rhythm belies its haunting lyrics, and the result is a masterful piece of work that has stood the test of time.


Line by Line Meaning

Waitin', watchin' the clock, it's four o'clock, it's got to stop
She's tired of waiting and watching the clock, knowing that the relationship is not going anywhere.


Tell him, take no more, she practices her speech
She rehearses what she's going to say to end the relationship as she can't take it anymore.


As he opens the door, she rolls over
She's pretending to stay asleep because she doesn't want to deal with the situation at the moment.


Pretends to sleep as he looks her over
She's avoiding eye contact with him and pretending to be asleep.


She lies and says she's in love with him, can't find a better man
She tells a lie to herself that she's in love with him, despite knowing that there might be someone better for her.


She dreams in colour, she dreams in red, can't find a better man
She has colourful dreams, but still can't find anyone better than the man she is currently with.


Talkin' to herself, there's no one else who needs to know
She's talking to herself about her problems, as she feels that she has nobody else to talk to.


She tells herself, oh
She's trying to convince herself that she will be okay and doesn't need him.


Memories back when she was bold and strong
She looks back at the time she was confident and self-assured before the relationship took a toll on her.


And waiting for the world to come along
She was once optimistic about the future, hoping for something better to come along.


Swears she knew it, now she swears he's gone
She believed that she knew what she was getting into, but now she realizes that she has lost him.


She lies and says she still loves him, can't find a better man
She still tells herself that she loves him, despite wanting to end the relationship and not being able to find anyone better.


She loved him, yeah, she don't want to leave this way
She still has love for him, but doesn't want to end their relationship in a bad way.


She feeds him, yeah, that's why she'll be back again
She takes care of him, which makes her feel responsible for him and brings her back to him despite wanting to end the relationship.


Can't find a better man
She can't seem to find anyone better than him, even though she's not happy with the relationship.


Can't find a better man
She still can't find anyone better.


Can't find a better man
She feels stuck in a relationship with no way out.


Can't find a better man
She's still struggling to find someone who can make her happy.




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: EDDIE VEDDER

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comments from YouTube:

@JohnSmith-xt2dm

Waiting, watching the clock
It's four o'clock, It's got to stop
Tell him, take no more
She practices her speech
As he opens the door, she rolls over
Pretends to sleep as he looks her over

She lies and says she's in love with him,
Can't find a better man
She dreams in color,
She dreams in red,
Can't find a better man
Can't find a better man
Can't find a better man
Oh..

Talking to herself
There's no one else who needs to know
She tells herself

Memories back when she was bold and strong
And waiting for the world to come along
Swears she knew it,
Now she swears he's gone

She lies and says she's in love with him,
Can't find a better man
She dreams in color,
She dreams in red,
Can't find a better man

She lies and says she still loves him,
Can't find a better man
She dreams in color,
She dreams in red,
Can't find a better man
Can't find a better man
Can't find a better man

She loved him, yeah
She don't want to leave this way
She needs him, yeah
That's why she'll be back again

Can't find a better man (can't find a better man)
Can't find a better man (can't find a better man)
Can't find a better man (can't find a better man)
Can't find a better... man...



@pistolpetehurley

Waitin', watchin' the clock, it's four o'clock, it's got to stop
Tell him, take no more, she practices her speech
As he opens the door, she rolls over
Pretends to sleep as he looks her over

She lies and says she's in love with him, can't find a better man
She dreams in color, she dreams in red, can't find a better man
Can't find a better man
Can't find a better man
Oh

Talkin' to herself, there's no one else who needs to know; she tells herself
Oh
Memories back when she was bold and strong
And waiting for the world to come along
Swears she knew it, now she swears he's gone

She lies and says she's in love with him, can't find a better man
She dreams in color, she dreams in red, can't find a better man
She lies and says she still loves him, can't find a better man
She dreams in color, she dreams in red, can't find a better man
Can't find a better man
Can't find a better man
Yeah

She loved him, yeah... she don't want to leave this way
She feeds him, yeah... that's why she'll be back again
Can't find a better man
Can't find a better man
Can't find a better man
Can't find a better... man



@anitar2928

Waitin', watchin' the clock
It's four o'clock
It's got to stop
Tell him
"Take no more"
She practices her speech as he opens the door
She rolls over
Pretends to sleep as he looks her over

[Hook]
She lies and says she's in love with him
Can't find a better man
She dreams in color, she dreams in red
Can't find a better man
Can't find a better man
Can't find a better man
Oh

[Verse 2]
Talking to herself
"There's no one else who needs to know"
She tells herself
Memories back when she was bold and strong
And waiting for the world to come along
Swears she knew him, now she swears he's gone
[Hook]
She lies and says she's in love with him
Can't find a better man
She dreams in color, she dreams in red
Can't find a better man
She lies and says she still loves him
Can't find a better man
She dreams in color, she dreams in red
Can't find a better man
Can't find a better man
Can't find a better man

[Bridge]
She loved him, yeah
She don't want to leave this way
She feeds him, yeah
That's why she'll be back again

[Hook]
Can't find a better man (Can't find a better man)
Can't find a better man (Can't find a better man)
Can't find a better man (Can't find a better man)
Can't find a better man



All comments from YouTube:

@connormcdavid1196

People of good music taste. We are gathered once again

@Terrible_J

đŸ€Č

@jamiethered2119

Cool , Watch out for Nazgul though ....

@KawiAddict46

đŸ€˜

@collecttcg1122

Indeed we are

@LogdogMolehill

Hello peeps

148 More Replies...

@karagunis445

Unforgettable misterious intro --> Mythic guitar melody, amazing keyboard sound on the background --> Unmistakable Vedder's voice ... Yes, you're listening to a masterpiece

@emzzzz905

This comment made me cry. I'm so with you

@MrMcadamsaaron

100% it’s an organ though :)

@cliffolds6852

100 percent

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