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)
Can't Keep
Pearl Jam Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I want to wind out
I want to leave
This mind and shout
I've lived
All this life
Like an ocean
I don't live for ever
You can't keep
Me here
I want to race
With the sundown
I want a last breath
I don't let out
Forgive
Every being
The bad feelings
It's just me
I won't wait
For answers
You can't keep
Me here
I want to rise
And say goodnight
I want to take
A look on the other side
I've lived
All this life
It's been wonder
Full at night
I will live for ever
You can't keep
Me here
The lyrics to Pearl Jam's song "Can't Keep" convey a sense of restlessness and a desire to break free from constraints, whether they be mental or physical. The song begins with a series of wants: "I want to shake / I want to wind out / I want to leave / This mind and shout." The singer is tired of feeling limited and wants to experience life more fully. The lyrics also touch on the idea of mortality, with the line "I don't live forever / You can't keep me here," suggesting that the singer is aware of the finite nature of life and wants to make the most of the time they have.
The second verse urges forgiveness, asking to "forgive every being / the bad feelings." This could be interpreted as the singer wanting to let go of past hurts and move on from negativity. The last lines of the song are particularly poignant: "I've lived all this life / It's been wonder / Full at night / I will live forever / You can't keep me here." The singer seems to have found some peace or resolution, recognizing the beauty in life even as they acknowledge its impermanence. Overall, the lyrics to "Can't Keep" suggest a deep yearning for freedom and a sense of coming to terms with mortality.
Line by Line Meaning
I want to shake
Expressing a desire to move or vibrate vigorously with excitement.
I want to wind out
Desiring to extend or stretch out physically or emotionally.
I want to leave
Expressing a need to depart from one's current state or situation.
This mind and shout
Feeling the need to release frustration or pent-up emotions through verbal expression.
I've lived
Acknowledging the passage of time and experiences that have been accumulated.
All this life
Reflecting on the entirety of one's existence so far.
Like an ocean
Comparing oneself to the vastness and depth of the sea.
In disguise
Feeling as though one's true nature or identity is unknown or misunderstood.
I don't live for ever
Accepting mortality and the fact that life is finite.
You can't keep
Asserting independence and refusing to be held back or confined by others.
Me here
Rejecting the idea of being trapped or restricted to a certain place or mindset.
I want to race
Expressing a desire to move quickly and purposefully towards a goal.
With the sundown
Seeking to experience a moment of awe or beauty during the sunset.
I want a last breath
Desiring to savor and appreciate the final moments of life.
I don't let out
Expressing a tendency to hold back or suppress emotions or thoughts.
Forgive
Choosing to release resentment or anger towards others.
Every being
Extending compassion and forgiveness to all living entities.
The bad feelings
Referring to negative emotions or experiences that have caused pain or distress.
It's just me
Acknowledging that one's personal experiences and reactions are unique to themself.
I won't wait
Taking initiative and refusing to delay progress or change.
For answers
Refusing to rely on external sources or other people for guidance or solutions.
You can't keep
Reasserting independence and autonomy over one's own decisions and actions.
Me here
Refusing to be held back or confined by others or circumstances.
I want to rise
Expressing a desire to transcend limitations and elevate oneself.
And say goodnight
Acknowledging the end of the day, the end of one's life, or the end of a particular era or relationship.
I want to take
Desiring to experience or possess something meaningful or significant.
A look on the other side
Expressing curiosity about the unknown or unexplored aspects of life or death.
I've lived
Reflecting on the experiences and memories accumulated over the course of one's life.
All this life
Acknowledging the entirety of one's existence and the various phases and stages that have been experienced.
It's been wonder
Reflecting on the beauty, joy, and magic of life.
Full at night
Feeling a sense of contentment and satisfaction with life's experiences, even in the face of mortality.
I will live for ever
Asserting that one's legacy and impact will endure beyond their physical death.
You can't keep
Refusing to be contained or limited by others' expectations or beliefs.
Me here
Asserting independence and refusing to be held back or confined by others or circumstances.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: EDDIE VEDDER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind