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)
Hungerstrike
Pearl Jam Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Stealing Bread
From the mouths of decadence
But I can't feed on the powerless
When my cup's already overfilled
But it's on the table,
The fire's cooking
And the slaves are all working
Blood is on the table,
The mouths are choking
I'm going hungry
I don't mind
Stealing Bread
From the mouths of decadence
But I can't feed on the powerless
When my cup's already overfilled
But it's on the table,
The fire's cooking
And they're starving babies,
And the slaves are all working
And it's on the table,
The mouths are choking
I'm going hungry
The opening lines of the song "Hungerstrike" by Pearl Jam features the singer in a moral dilemma. The character doesn't seem to mind stealing bread from the mouths of decadents, but he is unwilling to feed off the powerless. He reckons that his cup is already overflowing, and he cannot exploit the vulnerable anymore. The next few lines describe a scene where babies are starving, and slaves are working. Blood is on the table, and the mouths are choking. These verses paint a grim picture of inequality, oppression, and exploitation.
The singer then declares that he's going hungry, which is a metaphor for his willingness to stand in solidarity with the oppressed and suffer the consequences. This action contrasts with his initial statement about stealing bread. The character realizes that survival is not just about satisfying one's hunger by any means necessary. It's about recognizing the humanity of the oppressed and standing in solidarity with them to bring about change. The song ends with the singer's determination to go hungry for social justice.
Line by Line Meaning
I don't mind
I'm comfortable with the act
Stealing Bread
Taking from the wealthy who can afford it
From the mouths of decadence
Taking from the mouths of the privileged
But I can't feed on the powerless
I can't take from the weak
When my cup's already overfilled
I already have enough
But it's on the table
The food is there
The fire's cooking
The meal is being prepared
And they're starving babies
Children are going hungry
And the slaves are all working
The oppressed are being forced to work without relief
Blood is on the table
Violence has occurred nearby
The mouths are choking
People are suffering and not being fed
I'm going hungry
I'm suffering from a lack of food or justice
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: CHRIS CORNELL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@AtomicMushroomz
I don't mind stealin' bread from the mouths of decadents
But I can't feed on the powerless when my cup's already overfilled, yeah
But it's on the table, the fire's cookin'
And they're farmin' babies, while slaves are workin'
The blood is on the table and the mouths are chokin'
But I'm goin' hungry, yeah
I don't mind stealin' bread from the mouths of decadents
But I can't feed on the powerless when my cup's already overfilled, uh huh
But it's on the table, the fire's cookin'
And they're farmin' babies, while the slaves are all workin'
And it's on the table, their mouths are chokin'
But I'm goin' hungry (goin' hungry)
I'm goin' hungry (goin' hungry)
I'm goin' hungry (goin' hungry)
I'm goin' hungry (goin' hungry)
I'm goin' hungry (goin' hungry)
I'm goin' hungry (goin' hungry)
uh, I don't mind
(No, I don't mind stealin' bread)
I'm goin' hungry (goin' hungry)
I'm goin' hungry (goin' hungry)
@Thedeafvisionary
I'm deaf, but luckily before losing my hearing, I was able to live through the 90s and know their voices still in my memory.
@steveainsworth3114
Love be with you brother
@57IAM
Yes, your memories will sustain y
@grumblesenrak4795
Patakanash Washnash nooch neeechee
@MTG1207
😥❤
@mauriciomalagutti3059
Te desejo paz meu amigo, abraços do Brasil
@bonzoshikisokuzekuu
I am a Japanese person who admired grunge and wanted to live in America and become an American. I was 21 years old at the time, and even though I didn't understand the meaning of the lyrics, my heart trembled. Now, at the age of 52, my heart trembles again.
@davemyers3553
I felt the same way about moving to Japan when I was that age, just turned 40. You are welcome at my house anytime.
@ol.delicious
These are beautiful words.
@rheahayes3149
I’d much prefer to Live In Japan Than In Canada 🇨🇦 Where I Was Born & Currently Live~I Love Your Culture & People. I’m Most Impressed With The Honour System Within Your Culture & Country❣️ Japan Is Truly A “One Of A Kind Culture/Country”~Cheers. 🎵🎶