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)
Breath
Pearl Jam Lyrics
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Shaft of a light, a warm breath and a scream
Ah, yeah
Oh, tamper if you like between the doors
Oh yeah huh huh
Oh, can't expect to go out, to go out with anything, anything more
Oh reach the door a breath and a
Life ain't what it's worth
A breath and a, oh reach the door
All these reaching hands out grabbing things, grabbing me
Day in, day out accumulating, ah yeah
Whoa, I suggest you step out on your porch
Oh yeah, huh, huh, huh, huh yeah
Run away my son, see it all, oh see the world
Oh reach the door, a breath and a
Oh reach the door, oh ah and a na na la la yeah
Life ain't what it's worth
A breath and a, oh reach the door
Come, here it comes, there it goes, when it comes
Where it goes, where it comes
Can't see through the faith, whoa
Ooh, come, here it comes, there it goes
Grasp what you can
Don't you know there's something inside your head, yeah
Oh, if I knew where it was I would take you there
But there's much more than this
Ooh, whoa, much more than this, whoa see the world, much more than
Much more than
Why?
The song "Breath" by Pearl Jam is an enigmatic and thought-provoking track that deals with the existential questions of human existence. The opening lines of the song, "Oh, tonight began with anything, a shaft of light, a warm breath, and a scream" hint towards the complexity of life's beginnings and the journey one takes during their lifetime. The lines also refer to the moment of birth, where the first breath and scream signify the beginning of life.
The lines, "Tamper if you like between the doors, can't expect to go out, to go out with anything, anything more" suggest the inevitability of death and the complexity of life. The reference to the doors represents the gateways of life, where humans can choose their path, but the ultimate outcome remains death. The verses also refer to the futility of acquiring material possessions, which is mentioned in the lines, "All these reaching hands out, grabbing things, grabbing me, day in, day out accumulating". The chorus of the song, "Oh reach the door, a breath, and a, oh reach the door, life ain't what it's worth", emphasizes the point that life is fleeting, and we must make the best of what we have.
Overall, "Breath" is a deep and introspective song that speaks to the transience of human life and the importance of living in the moment.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh, tonight began with anything
The start of the night was uncertain and unpredictable
Shaft of a light, a warm breath and a scream
The beginning of the night was marked by sudden noises and sensations
Oh, tamper if you like between the doors
One can explore and experiment with different paths or directions
Oh, can't expect to go out, to go out with anything, anything more
One should not have unrealistic expectations for the future
Oh reach the door a breath and a
The goal is to reach the door with perseverance
Oh reach the door and a na na la la yeah
The journey towards the door may involve distractions and diversions
Life ain't what it's worth
Life may not be valued or appreciated as much as it should be
All these reaching hands out grabbing things, grabbing me
There are many external forces trying to take control of one's life
Day in, day out accumulating, ah yeah
The accumulation of experiences and knowledge happens gradually over time
Whoa, I suggest you step out on your porch
It's important to take a break from routine and experience the outside world
Run away my son, see it all, oh see the world
One should have the freedom and opportunity to explore and discover the world
Come, here it comes, there it goes, when it comes
Life is unpredictable and constantly changing
Where it goes, where it comes
The direction of life can be unclear or unknown
Can't see through the faith, whoa
One may have to believe and trust in something beyond what they can see
Grasp what you can
One should seize opportunities and make the most of what is available
Don't you know there's something inside your head, yeah
Everyone has a unique perspective and desires that guide their actions
Oh, if I knew where it was I would take you there
If one had all the answers, they would help others find their way
But there's much more than this
There is always more to discover and experience in life
Ooh, whoa, much more than this, whoa see the world, much more than
The world is full of endless possibilities and opportunities for growth
Why?
The ultimate question that drives curiosity and exploration of the unknown
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: STONE C. GOSSARD, EDDIE JEROME VEDDER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind