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)
Green Disease
Pearl Jam Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
(G-are-E-E-D)
(G-are-E-E-D)
It's a disease and they're all green
It emanates from their being
A satiation with occupation
And like weeds with big leaves
Stealing light from what's beneath
Still they take more
I know, then I don't
There's a stow-away with my throat
It's deceiving, I don't believe him
We can scream out our doors
Behind the wall, a fat man snores
In his dreams, he's choking ti leaves
Well I guess there's nothing wrong with what you say
But don't sell me, "there can't be better ways"
Tell the captain, "the boat's not safe, and we're drowning"
Turns out he's the one making waves, waves, waves...
I said there's nothing wrong with what you say
Believe me, I'm just asking you to sway
No white or black, just grey
Can you feel this world with your heart and not your brain?
Brain...
(G-are-E-E-D)
(G-are-E-E-D)
The song "Green Disease" by Pearl Jam is a commentary on the greed and corruption that exists in society. In the first verse, the lyrics describe the "disease" as being green, which is a metaphor for money and greed. The disease emanates from those who are so consumed by their occupation or position of power that they become like weeds stealing light from what's below. The greed of these individuals is insatiable and they take more than they need, leaving others with less. The second verse describes the frustration of being in a situation where someone is deceiving you and making you feel unsafe. The chorus is a call to action, urging people to speak up and demand change. The lyrics suggest that the people in power are the ones creating the problems, and they need to be held accountable for their actions.
Line by Line Meaning
It's a disease and they're all green
The attitude and behaviour of people who are consumed by their occupations, and take more than they need, is likened to a disease that infects them, turning them green
It emanates from their being
This disease is a fundamental part of their nature and character
A satiation with occupation
They are so deeply involved and invested in their occupations that they have become satisfied to the point of being self-serving
And like weeds with big leaves
Just like weeds grow and cover everything around them to get more sunlight, these people take more than they need, leaving nothing for the others beneath them
Stealing light from what's beneath
They take advantage of those below them and take their rightful place in the sun, leaving them in the shadows
Where they have more
They already have enough, but they still want more
Still they take more
Their greed and self-interest knows no bounds
I know, then I don't
Sometimes I have a clear understanding of their motives, but other times I am uncertain
There's a stow-away with my throat
There is a feeling inside of me that I can't express or communicate
It's deceiving, I don't believe him
I can't trust that feeling because it has misled me before
We can scream out our doors
We have the power to speak out against the injustice and greed we see around us
Behind the wall, a fat man snores
Despite our cries for help, there are those in power who are ignorant and apathetic to our pleas
In his dreams, he's choking on leaves
Those in power are not immune to the consequences of their actions, even if they don't see them now
Well, I guess there's nothing wrong with what you say
I understand your point of view, and it's valid
But don't sell me, "there can't be better ways"
Don't try to convince me that the status quo is the only way things can be
Tell the captain, "the boat's not safe, and we're drowning"
We need to speak up and demand change, even if it means challenging those in power
Turns out he's the one making waves, waves, waves...
The very person in charge is the one causing the problems we're facing
I said there's nothing wrong with what you say
Again, I agree with your point of view
Believe me, I'm just asking you to sway
I'm not trying to convince you to take my side, just to consider other perspectives
No white or black, just grey
Not everything is starkly good or bad, right or wrong - there are complexities and nuances that need to be considered
Can you feel this world with your heart and not your brain?
Can we approach the world with empathy and emotion, not just logic and reason?
Brain...
(Repetition of the word 'brain' to emphasize the contrast between the heart and brain)
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: EDDIE VEDDER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind