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)
Hitchhiker
Pearl Jam Lyrics
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So you're lost, my problem, that's not
Conductor says, "off of my train"
We understood, guest/host relationships ain't my thing
Even if I could, you ain't the kind of person I would help anyway
I'm about to explode
Cause I can't carry your load
Hitchhiker, go, hitchhiker
We're friends, only because of my situation
I'm about to unload
Cause I can't carry your load
Hitchhiker, go, hitchhiker
Hitchhiker
So be gone, too soon is too late
I don't want no delay
So be gone, get your food off someone else's plate
Go tell all your friends
I'm an idiot and you're great
Hitchhiker, hitchhiker
Now go, hitchhiker, go, hitchhiker
The lyrics of Pearl Jam's song Hitchhiker off the album "Lost Dogs" is a story of a man who is hitchhiking and asks for assistance from the singer of the song. The singer immediately realizes that the hitchhiker is not the kind of person he would help even if he could. He begins to feel frustrated and annoyed with the hitchhiker's request for his help, and knows that he cannot carry the hitchhiker's burden any longer. The conductor tells the hitchhiker to leave the train, but the singer decides to take matters into his own hands and tells the hitchhiker to go away. The singer puts forth a message that the hitchhiker is not welcome to ride with them anymore and must leave. The lyrics demonstrate the singer's reluctance to help someone who appears to be manipulating him and using him for their personal gain.
Line by Line Meaning
You fool, dude what do what you think you're doing?
Asking the hitchhiker about his intentions and questioning the necessity for his action.
So you're lost, my problem, that's not
Refusing to take responsibility for the hitchhiker's situation of being lost.
Conductor says, "off of my train"
A reference to the rejection of the hitchhiker's request for a ride on a train.
We understood, guest/host relationships ain't my thing
Acknowledging that there is no symbiosis in the relationship between the hitchhiker and the artist.
Even if I could, you ain't the kind of person I would help anyway
Declining to offer help to the hitchhiker even if the artist had the ability to do so.
I'm about to explode
Feeling overwhelmed by the hitchhiker's presence and demands.
Cause I can't carry your load
Expressing that the singer is not willing to assume responsibility or burden of the hitchhiker.
Hitchhiker, go, hitchhiker
Urging the hitchhiker to seek assistance from someone else and leave the artist alone.
You're cool, and cold in your calculations
Highlighting the hitchhiker's lack of emotions and strategic approach in trying to obtain help from strangers.
We're friends, only because of my situation
Clarifying that the hitchhiker and the artist are not friends, but rather the hitchhiker is exploiting the artist's circumstances.
I'm about to unload
Feeling frustrated and close to venting out the emotions to the hitchhiker.
So be gone, too soon is too late
Requesting the hitchhiker to leave immediately as the delay is unwanted and unacceptable to the artist.
I don't want no delay
Stating firmly that the singer does not wish to experience any further interruptions due to the hitchhiker.
So be gone, get your food off someone else's plate
Telling the hitchhiker to stop draining the resources of the singer and seek assistance elsewhere.
Go tell all your friends
Sarcastically suggesting to the hitchhiker that he boasts about his failed attempt to seek help from the singer.
I'm an idiot and you're great
Mocking the hitchhiker's attempt to take advantage of the artist for personal gain.
Hitchhiker, hitchhiker
Repeating the message for the hitchhiker to seek help elsewhere and leave the artist alone.
Now go, hitchhiker, go, hitchhiker
Emphasizing the urgency for the hitchhiker to leave and not delay the singer any further.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: EDDIE JEROME VEDDER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind