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)
Faithful
Pearl Jam Lyrics
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It's rare to come upon a bridge that has not been around
Or been stepped on
Whatever the notions we laced in our prayers
The man upstairs is used to all of this noise
I'm through with screaming
And echoes nobody hears it goes it goes it goes
We're faithful we all believe we all believe it {4X}
And echoes nobody hears, it goes, it goes, it goes {2X}
We're faithful, we all believe, we all believe it {3X}
So faithful, we all believe, we all believe it
M.Y.T.H. is?
Belief in the game controls that keeps us in a box of fear
We never listen
Voice inside so drowned out
Drowned you are, you are, you are a furry thing
And everything is you
Me you, you me, it's all related
What's a boy to do?
Just be darling and I will be too
Faithful to you
The lyrics of Pearl Jam’s song Faithful are a reflection on the nature of faith and belief. The song highlights the frustrating reality of religious belief, with the singer describing himself as “through with screaming” and feeling like his prayers are nothing but “echoes nobody hears”. The plaque on the wall is a symbol of the emptiness and lack of substance in this belief system. The singer consistently refers to the “man upstairs”, which is indicative of a religious figure, such as God, but the song questions the value of faith, asking whether it is just noise or if it truly means something.
The lyrics also touch on the concept of control, with the line “believe in the game controls that keeps us in a box of fear”. The singer uses the acronym M.Y.T.H. to represent this fear, which stands for “belief in the game controls that keeps us in a box of fear”. By doing this, he is stating that religion has become nothing but a system of control, creating a sense of fear and manipulation in those who believe in it. Despite this, the singer and the people around him are “faithful”, believing in the system and accepting it as a part of their lives without really questioning it.
Overall, Faithful is a song that questions the nature of faith and belief. It highlights the emptiness and lack of substance in these systems and questions the value of blind acceptance. The song is a reminder that we should always be questioning the things we believe in, and not be afraid to challenge the status quo.
Line by Line Meaning
Plaque on the wall says that no one's slept here
The absence of any signs of life on the wall indicates that nobody has found comfort or solace in this place.
It's rare to come upon a bridge that has not been around
Bridges are often symbols of connection and continuity, so finding one that has not been previously explored or crossed is an unusual occurrence.
Or been stepped on
The idea that something has not been used or taken advantage of, even in a small way, is unusual and noteworthy.
Whatever the notions we laced in our prayers
The specific content of our prayers is unknown and may be highly personal or idiosyncratic.
The man upstairs is used to all of this noise
The idea that God is able to tolerate or even embrace the chaos and uncertainty of human existence, including both literal and figurative noise.
I'm through with screaming
The singer is tired of expressing themselves in an emotional or melodramatic way and is looking to move on to a more measured approach.
And echoes nobody hears it goes it goes it goes
The idea that individual actions or words may be lost or obscured and that any impact is fleeting or ephemeral.
We're faithful we all believe we all believe it {4X}
Despite the challenges and uncertainties of life, the idea that we all share a belief in something greater than ourselves and strive to remain faithful to that belief.
M.Y.T.H. is?
The introduction of an abstract concept, potentially representing a theme or idea that will be explored in the remainder of the song.
Belief in the game controls that keeps us in a box of fear
The idea that irrational beliefs or superstitions may exert a powerful influence over our lives and limit our ability to take risks or pursue our goals.
We never listen
Despite evidence to the contrary, we often fail to pay attention or are resistant to changing our beliefs or behavior.
Voice inside so drowned out
The idea that our own inner voice or intuition may be largely ignored or obscured by other, louder voices or external pressures.
Drowned you are, you are, you are a furry thing
The use of unconventional or unexpected imagery to describe a person or idea, potentially emphasizing its complexity or depth.
And everything is you
The idea that our identity and experience are shaped by our relationship to others and the world around us.
Me you, you me, it's all related
The interconnectedness of all things and the idea that we are all part of a larger whole or system.
What's a boy to do?
A rhetorical question that may indicate a sense of frustration or uncertainty about how to proceed in a difficult situation.
Just be darling and I will be too
The idea that connection and empathy can be achieved through a simple and genuine expression of affection or care.
Faithful to you
The repeated use of the word 'faithful' throughout the song emphasizes the importance of remaining true to our beliefs and values, even in the face of uncertainty or difficulty.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: VEDDER, EDDIE / MCCREADY, MIKE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind