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)
Hey...ma That's Me
Pearl Jam Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Don't you want people to love you?
My spanking, that's the only thing I want so much...
Spanking, that's the only thing I want so much...
That's the only thing I want so much...
Don't you want people to love you?
My spanking, that's the only thing I want so much...
Why is that better than being hugged?
Why is that better than being hugged?
Because you get closer to the person...
Closer to the person...
Why is that better than being hugged?
Because you get closer to the person...
Closer to the person...
Just like a person having sex feels cared for...
We wanna be loved, so we have sex together...
And they feel loved about that...
And this is the way it makes me feel...loved...
I want it, I dream about it, I think about it, I want it...
Just like a girl wants sex with a boy, you know?
It's the way I'll always be probably...
My last one was born in the system...
See, they're stupid, very stupid, those people over there...
They're stupid...
These people are so below mentality, honest to G-d, really...
You know what I mean, he got the nerve to bug me... (2x)
This mentality, honest to G-d, really...
You know what I mean, he got the nerve to bug me...
Honest to G-d, really...
You know what I mean, he got the nerve to bug me...
Bug me...bug me...he got the nerve to bug me...
Everything seems so eight ball... (2x)
And I, I don't know if that's my imagination, but, umm...
Hey foxymophandlemama, that's me...
And I don't know if that's my imagination, but, umm...
Hey foxymophandlemama, that's me... (2x)
Think they got me...
Hey foxymophandlemama, that's me...hmm...
Hey foxymophandlemama, that's me...
...Know if that's my imagination, but, umm...
Hey foxymophandlemama, that's me...
She prides herself on her cleaning habits... (2x)
Hey foxymophandlemama, that's me...
She prides herself on her cleaning habits... (2x)
It's a lovely stupid mop, it is...
There's something really screwey about no streaking...
Is it any old dumb mop? It streaks...
Come on mop, no streaking mop...
I don't mind mop the floor, my mop streaks, I don't like it...
It's not me, it's the mop...
Come, I bought some new mops...
Go away you stupid, dumb old sponge mop...
I don't believe it...now the floor looks beautiful... (2x)
I don't believe it...old sponge mop...
Dumb old sponge mop... (2x)
Old sponge mop...
Dumb old sponge mop...
You're right, this mop's stupid...
Dumb old sponge mop...
I don't believe it...now the floor looks beautiful...
That's why they call me mophandlemama...
Now the floor looks beautiful...
That's why they call me mophandlemama... (3x)
In two weeks, before she could see herself not dressed...
The twenty-third of May...you know she disturbed no one today...
The manager told her to completely forget...
If you ever go to bed, I'll kill you...
Do I tell the whole world that I'm mentally ill?
Go to the papers...yeah, why not?
Drum roll...
I want to show them that I can walk on my own without hands of theirs...
And, I can still fantasize, but I keep it to myself...
Keep it to myself...keep it to myself...
I think I deserve to be loved, don't you?
Very much so...
Think I deserve to be loved...
Keep it to myself...keep it to myself...
I think I deserve to be loved, don't you?
...To be loved, don't you?
But I keep it to myself...
Keep it to myself...keep it to myself...
I think I deserve to be loved, don't you?
And, I can still fantasize, but I keep it to myself...
Keep it to myself...keep it to myself...
I think I deserve to be loved, don't you?
Very much so...
Do you ever think that you would actually, really kill yourself?
Well, if I have thought about it real, uhh, real deep...
Yeas, I believe I would...
I have thought about it real, uhh, real deep...
Yes, I believe I would...
And, I can still fantasize, but I keep it to myself...
Keep it to myself...keep it to myself...
...that I can walk without hands of theirs... }
And, I can still fantasize, but I keep it to myself... } (2x)
Keep it to myself...keep it to myself... }
I think I deserve to be loved, don't you? }
Very much so...
Do you ever think that you actually would kill yourself?
Well, if I have thought about it real, uhh, real deep...
Yeas, I believe I would...
The lyrics to Pearl Jam's song Hey Foxymophandlemama That's Me are a stream of consciousness narrative that touch on themes such as love, sex, mental illness, and suicide. The song is written from the perspective of multiple characters, including a person who desires spanking instead of hugs, a woman who takes pride in her cleaning habits, and an individual struggling with mental illness who dreams of being loved but keeps their fantasies to themselves. The lyrics also contain references to abusive behavior, such as the ominous threat "If you ever go to bed, I'll kill you" and the observation that "These people are so below mentality."
The song's lyrics can be interpreted in a number of different ways, but they seem to be primarily focused on the darker aspects of the human experience, such as mental illness and abuse. The use of multiple perspectives and stream of consciousness writing style creates a disjointed and unsettling effect, contributing to the overall sense of unease.
Line by Line Meaning
hey foxymophandlemama, that's me
I am the subject of this song and I am speaking to you.
Don't you want people to love you?
Don't you desire love and affection from others?
My spanking, that's the only thing I want so much...
Being spanked is my deepest desire.
Why is that better than being hugged?
I find being spanked more intimate than being hugged.
Because you get closer to the person...
Being spanked brings you closer to the person spanking you.
Just like a person having sex feels cared for...
Sexual activity can make a person feel loved and cared for.
We wanna be loved, so we have sex together...
We engage in sexual activity in hopes of feeling loved.
And they feel loved about that...
The other person involved in sexual activity may feel the same way.
And this is the way it makes me feel...loved...
Being spanked during sexual activity makes me feel loved.
I want it, I dream about it, I think about it, I want it...
I desire being spanked during sexual activity more than anything else.
Just like a girl wants sex with a boy, you know?
My desire for being spanked is comparable to a girl's desire for sex.
It's the way I'll always be probably...
My desire for being spanked will likely never change.
My last one was born in the system...
My most recent child was born into the system (foster care or orphanage).
See, they're stupid, very stupid, those people over there...
I believe the people nearby are below average intelligence.
You know what I mean, he got the nerve to bug me... (2x)
Someone nearby is bothering me and I am annoyed.
This mentality, honest to G-d, really...
The mentality of those around me is truly concerning.
Bug me...bug me...he got the nerve to bug me...
Someone nearby is repeatedly bothering me.
Everything seems so eight ball... (2x)
Everything around me seems uncertain or unclear.
And I, I don't know if that's my imagination, but, umm...
I am unsure if what I am experiencing is real or just in my mind.
Think they got me...
I believe I have been caught or exposed.
She prides herself on her cleaning habits... (2x)
She values her cleaning habits and takes pride in them.
It's a lovely stupid mop, it is...
The mop is both lovely and stupid.
There's something really screwey about no streaking...
It feels wrong for there to be no streaking on the floor.
Come on mop, no streaking mop...
I am encouraging the mop to not leave any streaks on the floor.
I don't mind mop the floor, my mop streaks, I don't like it...
I do not mind cleaning the floor, but I dislike when the mop leaves streaks.
It's not me, it's the mop...
The streaks on the floor are not my fault, it is the mop's fault.
Come, I bought some new mops...
I have purchased new mops to hopefully prevent streaking.
Go away you stupid, dumb old sponge mop...
I am frustrated with the old mop and want it to go away.
I don't believe it...now the floor looks beautiful... (2x)
I am pleasantly surprised with how good the floor looks after using a new mop.
That's why they call me mophandlemama... (3x)
My love for cleaning and using mops has earned me the nickname 'mophandlemama'.
In two weeks, before she could see herself not dressed...
Two weeks ago, she may not have been able to picture herself not dressed.
The twenty-third of May...you know she disturbed no one today...
On May 23rd, she did not disturb anyone.
The manager told her to completely forget...
Her manager instructed her to forget something.
If you ever go to bed, I'll kill you...
If you go to bed, someone threatened to kill you.
Do I tell the whole world that I'm mentally ill?
Should I publicly share my struggles with mental illness?
Go to the papers...yeah, why not?
Someone suggests going to the media to share their story.
Drum roll...
A drum roll sound effect is heard.
I want to show them that I can walk on my own without hands of theirs...
I want to prove my independence and ability to function without assistance.
And, I can still fantasize, but I keep it to myself... (2x)
I still have fantasies, but I keep them private.
I think I deserve to be loved, don't you?
I believe I am deserving of love and affection.
Very much so...
I completely agree.
Do you ever think that you would actually, really kill yourself?
Have you ever considered or contemplated ending your own life?
Well, if I have thought about it real, uhh, real deep...
If I have thought about suicide deeply, then yes, I believe I would consider it.
...that I can walk without hands of theirs... }
I have the ability to walk without assistance.
And, I can still fantasize, but I keep it to myself... } (2x)
I still have fantasies, but I do not share them.
Keep it to myself...keep it to myself... }
I keep my thoughts and fantasies private.
I think I deserve to be loved...to be loved, don't you?
I continue to believe that I am deserving of love and affection.
But I keep it to myself...
Regardless, I still keep my thoughts and feelings to myself.
Do you ever think that you actually would kill yourself?
Have you ever seriously considered the idea of ending your own life?
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Tina Trivett
I used to love to put this song on back in the day, if a bar had it on their jukebox. We’d sit back and watch peoples reactions. Good stuff. Lol
Blair Fischer
I used to do the same with "Revolution #9"
Abel Casey
i know Im kinda off topic but do anybody know a good website to watch new series online?
Marlon David
@Abel Casey flixportal :P
Abel Casey
@Marlon David Thank you, signed up and it seems to work =) I really appreciate it!
Marlon David
@Abel Casey happy to help =)
samsquanch1996
i don't think they've ever played this live. they should, that would be epic!
Kleber Santos
***** Totally agree!
Jon Luther
They haven’t, but I’d love to see it. I at least got to see them do “Bugs” for the first time ever
Jon Luther
Is that the only thing you want so much?