Mind Your Manners
Pearl Jam Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I feel I don't believe and now the truth is coming out
What they've taken is more than a vow
They've taken your innocence and then they throw them on a burning fire
All along they're sayin' mind your manners
I caught myself believin' that I needed God
Try my patience, my patience tried
This world's no longer good enough that makes me wanna cry
All along they're sayin' mind your manners
Silence save him
Self-realized and metaphysically redeemed
May not live another life
May not solve a mystery
Right around the corner
Could be bigger than ourselves
We could will it to the sky
Or we could something else
No longer sayin' mind your manners
Always burning
Self-realized and metaphysically redeemed
May not live another life
May not solve a mystery
Right around the corner
Could be bigger than ourselves
We could will it to the sky
Or we could something else
Go to Heaven
That's swell
How do you like it
Livin' Hell
Go to Heaven
That's swell
How do you like it
Livin' Hell
Go to Heaven
That's swell
How do you like it
Livin' Hell
Livin' Hell!
The lyrics of "Mind Your Manners" by Pearl Jam are complex and full of meaning. The opening lines of the song depict the feeling of being beaten down and losing faith in beliefs that were once held closely. The truth starts to come out about what has been taken away, specifically innocence. The line "they've taken your innocence and then they throw them on a burning fire" suggests a sense of guilt or betrayal by those who have taken this innocence. Throughout the song, there's an overarching theme of authority dictating how we should behave and the importance of breaking free from that control.
The chorus of the song, "All along they're sayin' mind your manners," seems to directly address this theme of authority and control. The phrase "mind your manners" is often used to imply that someone needs to behave in a certain way and follow society's expectations. The song is urging people to think for themselves and not blindly follow what authority figures tell them to do. There's a sense of frustration and anger in the tone of the song when speaking about this authority.
The song concludes with a final repetition of the phrase "Go to Heaven, that's swell, how do you like it livin' Hell?" This line seems to question the dichotomy of good and evil, and whether blindly following authority is actually leading us to a good place.
Overall, "Mind Your Manners" is a powerful song that challenges listeners to think for themselves and question authority. It speaks to the importance of self-realization and standing up for oneself.
Line by Line Meaning
I've got an unfortunate feelin', I've been beaten down
I have a feeling of despair and defeat.
I feel I don't believe and now the truth is coming out
I have lost faith and now reality is being revealed.
What they've taken is more than a vow
They have taken more than a promise.
They've taken your innocence and then they throw them on a burning fire
They have taken your purity and destroyed it completely.
All along they're sayin' mind your manners
Throughout it all they are telling you to behave and be respectful.
I caught myself believin' that I needed God
I was once convinced that I needed a higher power.
And if it's hard for some we sure could use it now
Even if it's difficult, we could benefit from faith at this moment.
Try my patience, my patience tried
My patience is being tested greatly.
This world's no longer good enough that makes me wanna cry
The world we live in is unsatisfactory and it brings me to tears.
Silence save him
Staying quiet can help save someone from harm.
Self-realized and metaphysically redeemed
Achieving true self-awareness and spiritual liberation.
May not live another life
We may not get another chance at life.
May not solve a mystery
We may not uncover the secret to life.
Right around the corner
The answers we seek may be closer than we think.
Could be bigger than ourselves
The truth may be grander than anything we can imagine.
We could will it to the sky
We have the power to make our dreams come true.
Or we could something else
Alternatively, we could choose a different path.
No longer sayin' mind your manners
We are no longer being told to be polite and well-behaved.
Always burning
There is always something being destroyed or consumed by flames.
Go to Heaven
The idea of going to a paradise after death.
That's swell
That sounds great.
How do you like it
Do you feel pleased with it?
Livin' Hell
Living in a state of intense pain or suffering.
Livin' Hell!
Living in a state of intense pain or suffering!
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: EDDIE JEROME VEDDER, MICHAEL DAVID MCCREADY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@Surfermain
I love how Pearl Jam doesn't give a crap about what their music sounds like to other people, they produce what they want to produce. Which is clear from this album. You get this song, and then you get a song like Sleeping By Myself which is almost the polar opposite.
@wonderwomansays5885
This was the best Pearl Jam song i've heard in years! An absolute rocker from start to finish!
@awspuppets
I love this song. Everything they do blows me away. Pearl Jam is the perfect band.
@derdi93
it's incredible how every song by them is a rare piece of art
@PPikes
Eddie STILL does that "pole dance" with the mic stand! ^_^ dam i love him!
@MrSkotty1992
Pearl Jam's and Eddie's punk rock influences come through in this song,
@muzuhope4206
It also has abit of an alternative rock feel.
@gludiousmaximus7918
Spin the black circle-esque
@eouroshopper4423
@@muzuhope4206 i see alternative rock as a term for music that can stretch from punk to post punk to heavy metal to grunge and etc. As far as i know, It was a synonym for underground hard rock bands in the 80s with a heavy influence from Punk, and up untill the 90s it was grunge.
@whoisdjsmoke
@@eouroshopper4423 the truth