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)
Not for You
Pearl Jam Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Like Muhammad hits the truth
Can't escape from the common rule
If you hate something, don't you do it, too
Small my table, sits just two
Got so crowded, I can't make room
Oh, where did they come from?
And you dare say it belongs to you, to you
This is not for you
This is not for you
This is not for you
Oh, not for you ah, you
Scream my friends don't call me
Friends, they don't scream
My friends don't call my friends don't
All that's sacred comes from youth
Dedications, naive and true
With no power, nothing to do
I still remember, why don't you?
Don't you
This is not for you
This is not for you
This is not for you
Oh, never was for you, fuck you
This is not for you
Oh, this is not for you yeah, you
This is not for you
Oh, not for you
Oh, you
The song "Not for You" by Pearl Jam is a powerful piece that reflects the feeling of being restless, ignored, and disrespected. The opening lines, "Restless soul, enjoy your youth/Like Muhammad hits the truth/Can't escape from the common rule/If you hate something, don't you do it too," highlight the idea of wanting to live life to the fullest and follow one's beliefs, just as Muhammad did in spreading the truth. However, the common rule, meaning society's expectations and conventions, can often hold one back from doing so. The second verse, "Small my table, sits just two/Got so crowded, I can't make room/Oh, where did they come from?/Stormed my room/And you dare say it belongs to you, to you," speaks to the theme of feeling suffocated and having one's space invaded by others who claim ownership.
The chorus, "This is not for you," is a repeated reminder to those who do not understand or appreciate the struggles and values of the singer. Pearl Jam then continues the song with, "Scream my friends don't call me/Friends, they don't scream/My friends don't call my friends don't," revealing the loneliness and isolation that come with feeling misunderstood. The last lines, "All that's sacred comes from youth/Dedications, naive and true/With no power, nothing to do/I still remember, why don't you?/Don't you," emphasize the importance of youthful commitments and the introspection needed to stay true to oneself.
Overall, "Not for You" is a passionate and expressive song that showcases Pearl Jam's musical talent and lyrical prowess. It conveys the emotions of a person who is trying to break free from societal norms and have their voice heard.
Line by Line Meaning
Restless soul, enjoy your youth
Live freely and enjoy your youth, while you can.
Like Muhammad hits the truth
Live truthfully and with conviction, like Muhammad's teachings.
Can't escape from the common rule
We all have to follow the same societal norms and expectations.
If you hate something, don't you do it, too
Don't do something you hate or find morally reprehensible, just because others are doing it.
Small my table, sits just two
My life is simple, and I only need the company of one other person.
Got so crowded, I can't make room
My life has become too hectic and busy for new people or experiences.
Oh, where did they come from?
I'm confused as to how my life has suddenly become so full and overwhelming.
Stormed my room
Others have infiltrated my personal space and taken over my life.
And you dare say it belongs to you, to you
Others have the audacity to claim ownership or control over my life, despite not being invited or welcome.
Scream my friends don't call me
I don't want my friends to call me or try to contact me, as I'm overwhelmed and need space.
Friends, they don't scream
Real friends respect my boundaries and won't push me beyond my comfort level.
All that's sacred comes from youth
The most important and meaningful experiences come from our younger years.
Dedications, naive and true
Our youthful passions and dedications may seem naive, but they come from a pure and honest place.
With no power, nothing to do
As we get older and lose our youthful innocence, we may feel powerless to change the world around us.
I still remember, why don't you? Don't you
I still hold onto the memories and ideals of my youth, and question why others have abandoned them.
This is not for you
This situation or experience is not meant for you.
Oh, not for you ah, you
This is not something you should be a part of or involved in.
Oh, never was for you, fuck you
This experience was never meant for you and I'm angry at you for trying to take it over.
Oh, this is not for you yeah, you
I'm reiterating that this experience is not meant for you.
Oh, not for you
I'm emphasizing that this situation is not meant for you, and you should stay out of it.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: DAVID ABBRUZZESE, EDDIE VEDDER, JEFF AMENT, MIKE MCCREADY, STONE GOSSARD
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind