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)
Mankind
Pearl Jam Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Going out with disco...going out like bacchanal...
I'll be...going out with telephone...
Going out alone...to the radar zone...
It's all just inadvertent imitation and I don't mean mine
It's all across this nation...
If it's just inadvertent simulation a pattern in all mankind
What's got the whole world fakin' it?
Using up my Listerine...Like Ovaltine...
And you'll be...you're dippin' in your battleship...
For the latest tip...for the latest dream...
It's all just inadvertent, imitation, and I don't mean mine
It's all across this nation...
If it's just inadvertent, simulation, a pattern in all mankind
What's got the whole world fakin' it?
If it's just inadvertent, imitation, a pattern in all mankind
What's got the whole world fakin' it?
What's got the whole world fakin'? (4x)
What's got the whole world fakin' it, yeah?
The lyrics of Pearl Jam's song Mankind describe the inauthenticity and imitation present in modern society. The singer contrasts their own solitary activities, such as playing with a magazine and using mouthwash, with the shallow, surface-level experiences of others such as going out to clubs and chasing the latest trends. The repetition of the phrase "inadvertent imitation" emphasizes the idea that people are unconsciously copying each other, instead of being true to themselves.
The chorus questions what is causing this widespread phenomenon, asking "What's got the whole world fakin' it?". This could be interpreted as a criticism of the media and consumer culture that pressures individuals to conform to certain standards of appearance and behavior. The final repetition of this question is particularly striking, emphasizing the overwhelming nature of this collective imitation.
Overall, the lyrics of Mankind suggest that many people are not truly living their lives, but instead are going through the motions of what they think they should be doing. It is a critique of superficiality and conformity, and a call to reject these pressures and strive for authenticity.
Line by Line Meaning
You'll be...going out with radio...
You will be socializing with the latest trends in music and culture.
Going out with disco...going out like bacchanal...
Following in the footsteps of the wild and excessive party lifestyle of disco and bacchanalian revelry.
I'll be...going out with telephone...
I will be the one staying home, using the telephone as my primary means of communication.
Going out alone...to the radar zone...
Going out into social isolation, to the extent of being almost invisible to society.
It's all just inadvertent imitation and I don't mean mine
All of these behaviors are just automatic copying of what's popular, done without personal intention.
It's all across this nation...
This phenomenon is happening throughout the country.
If it's just inadvertent simulation a pattern in all mankind
If this is just a natural tendency for humans to imitate what they see in society, then it is a universal pattern.
What's got the whole world fakin' it?
What is causing people all around the world to act in this inauthentic way?
I'll be...playing with my magazine...
I will entertain myself with something as simple and mundane as a magazine.
Using up my Listerine...Like Ovaltine...
Taking care of my hygiene, as well as consuming everyday products such as mouthwash and Ovaltine.
And you'll be...you're dippin' in your battleship...
You will be engaging in activities that are more immersive, almost like entering into your own fantasy world.
For the latest tip...for the latest dream...
Seeking out the latest trends and fads, as well as the newest and most exciting dreams and aspirations.
What's got the whole world fakin' it?
The question remains: What is causing this global tendency towards imitation and simulation?
If it's just inadvertent, imitation, a pattern in all mankind
If this pattern of imitation is just an inherent human trait, then it represents a universal part of our nature.
What's got the whole world fakin' it?
Ultimately, the song asks us to reflect on what is driving our behavior and whether it is truly authentic.
What's got the whole world fakin'?
What is it that's compelling us to act in ways that are inauthentic and imitative?
What's got the whole world fakin' it, yeah?
The song challenges us to consider the impact of our actions and identities, and whether they are grounded in truth or just facsimiles of the culture around us.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: STONE GOSSARD
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Emerson Facão
without a doubt, this is one of Pearl Jam's deepest lyrics. The music speaks of something universal about humanity. that's philosophy through music. amazing Gossard. you are an amazing lyricist. I Love this Song. 🤟
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using all my listerine like ovaltine
Victor Novaes
Sensacional de se ouvir.
Marcelo Ribeiro
Com Stone Gossard nos vocais, sensacional.
Atom Lotus
Kick ass band. Kick ass song
time mashine
Very good lucky song.
Henning Tacey
Pearl Jam had me at Here We Are, World. Listen to this.
Vitalogy brings me to the struggle of my fav album/song.
Everything. Ever. But Bugs...
GÖKHAN RAGNAR
Great new version
Stanislaw Dunin
a pattern to all mankind
María Nuez
Ese Stone Gossard , que grande es 🥰😘