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)
My Way
Pearl Jam Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm thumbing my way back to heaven
Counting steps, walking backwards on the road
I'm counting my way back to heaven
I can't be free with what's locked inside of me
If there was a key, you took it in your hand
There's no wrong or right, but I'm sure there's good and bad
No matter how cold the winter, there's a springtime ahead
I'm thumbing my way back to heaven
I wish that I could hold you
I wish that I had
Thinking 'bout heaven
I let go of a rope, thinking that's what held me back
And in time I've realized, it's now wrapped around my neck
I can't see what's next, from this lonely overpass
Hang my head and count my steps, as another car goes past
All the rusted signs we ignore throughout our lives
Choosing the shiny ones instead
I turned my back, now there's no turning back
No matter how cold the winter, there's a springtime ahead
I smile, but who am I kidding?
I'm just walking the mile, every once in a while I'll get a ride
I'm thumbing my way back to heaven
Thumbing my way back to heaven
I'm thumbing my way back to heaven
The lyrics of My Way by Pearl Jam tell the story of a person who is searching for a way back to heaven after being separated from a loved one. The singer speaks of how they have not been back home since the person they loved left, and they are trying to find their way back. They are counting their steps and walking backwards on the road as they try to retrace their steps. The lyrics suggest that there is a key to unlocking what is holding the singer captive, but the person they loved took that key with them.
The lyrics touch on themes of regret, loss, and the search for a higher power. The singer talks about the good and bad decisions that they have made, and how the questions of life and love linger over them. They speak about the changing of seasons and how even in the darkest moments, there is a sense of hope.
At the heart of these lyrics is the idea of holding on and letting go. The singer recognizes that they must let go of the things that are holding them back, but they also acknowledge the fear of moving forward into the unknown. The repetition of the phrase "thumbing my way back to heaven" conveys a sense of determination, even in the face of uncertainty and adversity.
Overall, My Way by Pearl Jam is a beautifully written and introspective song that explores the complexities of human relationships and the search for meaning in our lives.
Line by Line Meaning
I have not been home since you left long ago
It's been a long time since you left me, and I haven't been able to find my way back to the life I had before.
I'm thumbing my way back to heaven
I'm trying to find my way back to a better place, where everything feels good again.
Counting steps, walking backwards on the road
I'm retracing my steps and going back the way I came, hoping to find the right path again.
I can't be free with what's locked inside of me
There's something inside me that's holding me back, and I can't be truly happy or free until I face and conquer it.
If there was a key, you took it in your hand
You have the power to unlock what's inside of me, to free me from my own limitations.
There's no wrong or right, but I'm sure there's good and bad
It's hard to know what's right or wrong in life, but I know that some things are better than others and I want to choose the best path.
The questions linger overhead
I have a lot of unanswered questions about life and where it's taking me.
No matter how cold the winter, there's a springtime ahead
No matter how difficult life gets, I know that there's always hope for a better future.
I wish that I could hold you
I miss and long for the connection and love that I once had with someone.
I let go of a rope, thinking that's what held me back
I tried to let go of something that was holding me back, but I realized later that it was actually helping me in some way.
And in time I've realized, it's now wrapped around my neck
The thing that I thought was holding me back has actually become a burden and is choking the life out of me now.
I can't see what's next, from this lonely overpass
I feel lost and alone, unable to see what's coming next in my life.
Hang my head and count my steps, as another car goes past
I'm stuck in place, watching other people move on with their lives while I feel like I'm standing still.
All the rusted signs we ignore throughout our lives
There are many signs in life that we ignore or don't pay attention to, and they can have a big impact on our future.
Choosing the shiny ones instead
We often choose the things that look good on the outside, but don't pay enough attention to what's inside.
I turned my back, now there's no turning back
I made a choice that I can't undo, and it's leading me down a path that I'm not sure I want to follow anymore.
I smile, but who am I kidding?
I try to act like everything is okay, but deep down I know that I'm struggling and not really happy.
I'm just walking the mile, every once in a while I'll get a ride
I'm trying to make it through life, relying on the kindness of others to get me through the tough times.
I'm thumbing my way back to heaven
I'm still trying to find my way back to a better, happier place, even though it's a struggle.
Thumbing my way back to heaven
I'll keep pushing forward and trying to find my way, even though it's a long and difficult journey.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: EDDIE VEDDER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@charlie-lz7sn
I have not been home since you left long ago
I'm thumbing my way back to heaven
Counting steps, walking backwards on the road
I'm counting my way back to heaven
I can't be free with what's locked inside of me
If there was a key, you took it in your hand
There's no wrong or right, but I'm sure there's good and bad
The questions linger overhead
No matter how cold the winter, there's a springtime ahead
I'm thumbing my way back to heaven
I wish that I could hold you
I wish that I had
Thinking 'bout heaven
I let go of a rope, thinking that's what held me back
And in time I've realized, it's now wrapped around my neck
I can't see what's next, from this lonely overpass
Hang my head and count my steps, as another car goes past
All the rusted signs we ignore throughout our lives
Choosing the shiny ones instead
I turned my back, now there's no turning back
No matter how cold the winter, there's a springtime ahead
I smile, but who am I kidding?
I'm just walking the mile, every once in a while I'll get a ride
I'm thumbing my way back to heaven
Thumbing my way back to heaven
I'm thumbing my way back to heaven
@nicolasriveros943
terribly underrated song
@nicolasriveros943
specially album
@alanrodrigo1474
Totalmente de acuerdo man, Thumbing my Way es mil veces mejor que cualquier Just Breathe o future Days... Tendrian que tocarla mas seguido, y si es posible la proxima que vengan a Argentina.
@jeff7764
Actually it isn’t
@marcoguarracino2833
Agree
@5against1radio58
Probably favourite pearl jam song
@Howdawg68
He could sing the phone book and make it good. PJ for life.
@caseybice6385
Howdawg68 damn right my friend
@od3817
Yes PJ for life!
@carolavigne92
🙏💖