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)
Quick Escape
Pearl Jam Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
In the old world not so far
First we took an aeroplane
Then a boat to Zanzibar
Queen cranking on the blaster
And the Mercury did rise
Came along where we all belonged
You were yours, and I was mine
Yeah, yeah
Had to quick escape
Had to quick escape
Had to quick escape
Had
Crossed the border to Morocco
Kashmir to Marrakesh
The lengths we had to go to then
To find a place Trump hadn't fucked up yet
Living life on the back porch
Lifting rocks to make a wage
Every sunset paid attention to
Not a starry night went to waste
Had to quick escape
Had to quick escape
Had to quick escape
And here we are, the red planet
Craters cross the skyline
A sleep sack in a bivouac
And a Kerouac sense of time
Oh, and we think about the old days
Of green grass, sky and red wine
Should've known, so fragile
Avoided this one-way flight
Had to quick escape
Had to quick escape
Had to quick escape
Had
The lyrics to Pearl Jam's song "Quick Escape" convey a sense of adventure, exploration, and longing for a place of refuge. The song begins with the singer engaging in reconnaissance on a corner in the old world, not far away. They then embark on a journey, first taking an airplane and then a boat to Zanzibar. The mention of Queen cranking on the blaster and the rising Mercury adds to the atmosphere of excitement and anticipation.
As they continue their travels, they cross the border to Morocco, moving from Kashmir to Marrakesh. The lyrics suggest that they had to go to great lengths to find a place that had not been negatively impacted by Trump's actions. The reference to living life on the back porch and lifting rocks to make a wage implies a sense of simplicity and hard work.
The song then takes a shift to the current situation. They find themselves on the red planet, with craters crossing the skyline. The mention of a sleep sack in a bivouac and a Kerouac sense of time suggests a nomadic and transient existence. The longing for the old days, with green grass, sky, and red wine, indicates a nostalgia for a more stable and peaceful time. However, there is also a lament that they should have known, understanding the fragility of their situation and perhaps regretting the choices that led them to this point.
Overall, "Quick Escape" explores themes of escape, adventure, longing for stability, and the consequences of past decisions. It paints a vivid picture of a journey through various landscapes and reflects on the changing nature of the world.
Line by Line Meaning
Reconnaissance on the corner
Observing and assessing the situation from a strategic location
In the old world not so far
Referring to a past time or society that is relatively close in history
First we took an aeroplane
Initially embarking on a journey by air
Then a boat to Zanzibar
Continuing the travel by sea to Zanzibar
Queen cranking on the blaster
Playing powerful music through the artists
And the Mercury did rise
The energy and excitement increased
Came along where we all belonged
Arriving at a place where everyone felt a sense of belonging
You were yours, and I was mine
Emphasizing individual identity within a partnership
Crossed the border to Morocco
Traversing the border to enter Morocco
Kashmir to Marrakesh
Traveling from Kashmir to Marrakesh, covering a vast distance
The lengths we had to go to then
Describing the extensive effort and distance required
To find a place Trump hadn't fucked up yet
Searching for a location that had not been negatively impacted by Trump's actions
Living life on the back porch
Enjoying a simple and relaxed lifestyle
Lifting rocks to make a wage
Engaging in labor-intensive work for income
Every sunset paid attention to
Appreciating and valuing every sunset
Not a starry night went to waste
Making sure to fully experience and appreciate every starry night
And here we are, the red planet
Presently finding themselves on the red planet, symbolizing a foreign or unfamiliar place
Craters cross the skyline
Observing the landscape with its distinctive features
A sleep sack in a bivouac
Using simple camping gear for rest and shelter
And a Kerouac sense of time
Adopting a non-traditional or unconventional perception of time, like Jack Kerouac
Oh, and we think about the old days
Reflecting and reminiscing about the past
Of green grass, sky and red wine
Recalling a time filled with nature, freedom, and enjoyment
Should've known, so fragile
Expressing regret for not recognizing the vulnerability of the situation
Avoided this one-way flight
Wishing they had chosen a different path that didn't lead to irreversible consequences
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Eddie Vedder
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Hadar Klier
Budapest performance 12.7.22 was beyond words ♥️
Pearl Jam -you gave us your
heart, body and soul
and we loved you back for it
it was electrifying ⚡️⚡️.
We Came from Israel to see you and we will keep on traveling to see you you put so much intention ,respect for audience and efforts in your live music that’s such a magic!
(Yet we still keep hoping one day
you will stop by the Middle East …)
.
wblstudios
The longevity of this band is just stunning. So many bangers!
RicksTalentedTongue
Hunter Vonnegut Interesting theory!
Todd H
Hunter Vonnegut uhh that is your opinion not a fact.
Abraham Esparza
Hunter Vonnegut you're commenting on a good song. So you're theory is proven wrong
Bob Abooey
I say the same about Metallica.
Victory 539
Woman💚 Life🤍 Freedom❤️
Pear Jam🆒️✌️💪
Dopamine Drop
Eddie's voice aged like fine wine.
Dmitry
After all these years they still got that grungy vibe in music I love them
Jaqueline
True! I love this song 🎵!!!!
San Joaquin Valley Transparency
The fact that y’all keep making good music keeps all of us young, sorta. At least it feels like the old days. Thank you for still using real instruments!