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)
Just Breathe
Pearl Jam Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
That every life must end
As we sit alone
I know someday we must go
Oh, I'm a lucky man
To count on both hands
The ones I love
Yeah, others they got none
Stay with me
Let's just breathe
Practiced all my sins
Never gonna let me win
Under everything
Just another human being
Yeah, I don't want to hurt
There's so much in this world
To make me bleed
Stay with me
You're all I see
Did I say that I need you?
Did I say that I want you?
Oh, if I didn't, I'm a fool, you see
No one knows this more than me
As I come clean
I wonder every day
As I look upon your face
Everything you gave
And nothing you would take
Nothing you would take
Everything you gave
Did I say that I need you?
Oh, did I say that I want you?
Oh, if I didn't, I'm a fool you see
No one knows this more than me
As I come clean
Nothing you would take
Everything you gave
Hold me 'til I die
Meet you on the other side
The lyrics to Pearl Jam's song "Just Breathe" touch upon the temporary nature of life, the love and appreciation we have for the people close to us, and the vulnerability we feel as human beings. Lead singer Eddie Vedder sings about the inevitability of death and how it makes us cherish the time we have with loved ones even more. He acknowledges that he is fortunate to have many people in his life that he loves, while others may not be as lucky. The chorus "Stay with me, let's just breathe" is a comforting plea to stay grounded in the present moment and to appreciate the people and things we have in our lives.
The second verse acknowledges our imperfections as human beings, and how our flaws and mistakes can cause pain. Vedder expresses a desire to avoid causing harm to others and focuses on the beauty of life. The bridge features Vedder questioning his own vulnerability and need for connection with the person he is speaking to. He asks if he has expressed his needs and desires clearly and admits that he would be foolish not to need and want them.
The final verse returns to the theme of appreciation for the person he is speaking to, noting the generosity and selflessness they have shown him. The line "Hold me 'til I die, meet you on the other side" is a poignant and emotional statement of the depth of the love and connection they share, and a recognition that death is not an end to the relationship.
Line by Line Meaning
Yes I understand
I am aware of the fact that life is finite.
That every life must end
Death is inevitable for everyone.
As we sit alone
Sometimes we find ourselves isolated and alone.
I know someday we must go
We will all meet our end.
Oh, I'm a lucky man
I am fortunate to have many loved ones.
To count on both hands
I have more family and friends than most.
The ones I love
These people are very important to me.
Some folks just have one
Others are not so fortunate and only have a few close relationships.
Yeah, others they got none
There are also those who have no one to love at all.
Stay with me
Please accompany me and keep me company.
Let's just breathe
Let us rest and relax together.
Practiced on our sins
We often repeat our mistakes.
Never gonna let me win
It seems like our errors always hold us back from success.
Under everything
At the core of it all.
Just another human being
I am not immune to the difficulties of life that everyone else faces daily.
Yeah, I don't want to hurt
I do not want to cause pain or harm to anyone.
There's so much in this world
There is an overwhelming amount to experience and enjoy in this world.
To make me bleed
But there are also things that can cause us harm and pain.
You're all I see
I only have eyes for you.
Did I say that I need you?
Do you know how important you are to me?
Did I say that I want you?
Do you know how much I desire you?
Oh, if I didn't, I'm a fool you see
If I haven't expressed this to you, I would be foolish not to.
No one knows this more than me
I am more aware of my own feelings than anyone else.
As I come clean
I am admitting my true emotions to you.
I wonder everyday
I think about you constantly.
As I look upon your face
Seeing your face brings me joy and happiness.
Everything you gave
You have given so much to me.
And nothing you would take
You are selfless and do not expect anything in return.
Hold me 'til I die
Stay with me until the end of my life.
Meet you on the other side
I hope to see you again in the afterlife.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Eddie Vedder
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind