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)
I've Just Seen a Face
Pearl Jam Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I can't forget the time or place where we just met
She's just the girl for me
I want all the world to see we've met
Da,da,da,da-da,da...
Had it been another day
I might have looked the other way
As it is I'll dream of her tonight
Da,da,da,da-da,da...
Oh,yeah,yes I'm fallin'
And she keeps callin' me back again
(X2)
The song I've Just Seen a Face by Pearl Jam is a cover of the Beatles' original, and it speaks about the feeling of love at first sight. The lyrics convey the suddenness and intensity of falling in love, as the singer begins by introducing the object of his affection, the girl he just met, and declares her to be perfect for him, someone he wants the world to see him with. He then reflects on how if it weren't for the circumstances that brought them together, he might not have noticed her, but instead, he is now dreaming of her that very night.
The chorus repeats twice and adds to the already powerful message of the song. As the singer admits to falling for this girl and being unable to resist her calls for his return, he conveys the helplessness that comes with the intensity of love. The phrase 'she keeps calling me back again' makes it seem as though he is unable to function without her, and she has a magnetic pull on him.
Overall, the song captures the raw emotion that comes with falling in love without any warning, presenting it in a catchy and upbeat tune. The lyrics focus on the immediacy and the all-consuming nature of first love, making it a relatable and timeless song.
Line by Line Meaning
I've just seen a face
I just saw someone who caught my attention.
I can't forget the time or place where we just met
The moment we met was memorable and impactful.
She's just the girl for me
I believe she's the perfect partner for me.
I want all the world to see we've met
I'm proud to be with her and want everyone to know.
Da,da,da,da-da,da...
End of verse/chorus.
Had it been another day
If I had seen her on another day.
I might have looked the other way
I may not have noticed her.
And I'd have never been aware
I wouldn't have realized what I was missing.
As it is I'll dream of her tonight
She left a lasting impression on me and I'll think of her as I sleep.
Oh,yeah,yes I'm fallin'
I'm falling in love with her.
And she keeps callin' me back again
She's the one drawing me back into her life.
(X2)
End of song.
Contributed by Molly H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.