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)
Thin Air
Pearl Jam Lyrics
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There's a light, when the window shades are drawn,
Hesitate, when I feel I may do harm to her,
Watch it all, cause this feeling we can share.
And I know she's reached my heart, in thin air.
There's a cloud, but the water remains calm,
Reaching in, the suns fingers clutch the dawn to pass,
Even out, it's a precious thing to bear.
And I know she's reached my heart, in thin air,
Yes I know she's reached my heart, in thin air.
It's not in my past to presume,
Love can keep on moving in both directions.
How to be happy and true,
Is the quest we're taking on together,
Taking on, on, on, on,
Taking on, on, on, on, on, on.
There's a light, when my baby's in my arms,
And I know she's reached my heart in thin air,
And I know she's reached my heart in thin air,
Yes I know she's reached my heart in thin air,
Yes I know she's reached my heart.
The lyrics to Pearl Jam's "Thin Air" tell a story of a deep and loving connection between two people. The light that is mentioned could represent the glow that emanates from the person's partner when they are near them, illuminating their world in a beautiful way. The hesitation that is felt could signify the fear that comes along with being vulnerable and opening oneself up to another. However, the feeling they share is worth being careful with, and the love they have is a precious thing that they both bear.
The second verse describes a moment captured in time, where the beauty of nature is reflected in a pond, despite the presence of a cloud. The sun's fingers clutching the dawn to pass could symbolize the fleeting nature of happiness and love, and that they should cherish every moment. The refrain "in thin air" suggests that the singer's love is so powerful and intangible that it feels like it's not even of this world.
In the final verse, the singer expresses how love is not something that belongs only in the past, but something that can continue to grow and develop over time. The quest to be happy and true with their partner is a difficult but worth-while one that they are taking on together. The song overall implies that love, though it may be scary and fleeting, is a precious thing that is worth fighting for.
Line by Line Meaning
There's a light, when my baby's in my arms,
I feel a warmth and brightness when I am holding my loved one.
There's a light, when the window shades are drawn,
Even when external darkness surrounds me, I find light and comfort within the walls of my home with my partner by my side.
Hesitate, when I feel I may do harm to her,
Sometimes I hold back in moments of possible emotional harm towards my loved one to protect them and our relationship.
Watch it all, cause this feeling we can share.
I cherish the moments we share and am careful not to push too hard or cause tension that may harm our relationship.
And I know she's reached my heart, in thin air.
My loved one has a profound impact on my emotions and well-being, even when we are apart.
Byzantine is reflected in our pond,
Our relationship is complex and deep, like the intricate patterns seen on the surface of a pond.
There's a cloud, but the water remains calm,
Despite external issues or conflicts, our love remains strong and brings peace to our lives.
Reaching in, the suns fingers clutch the dawn to pass,
We embrace the dawn of a new day and face it together, holding the warmth and positivity of the previous day within us.
Even out, it's a precious thing to bear.
Our love is something to be treasured, and we work together to balance each other and our relationship.
It's not in my past to presume,
I do not assume that I have all the answers or that I am always right based on past experiences.
Love can keep on moving in both directions.
Love is a two-way street, and we work together to keep our love for each other strong and balanced.
How to be happy and true,
Our shared goal is to find happiness and authenticity in our relationship.
Is the quest we're taking on together,
We are on a journey together to discover what it means to be happy and true in our love for each other.
Taking on, on, on, on,
We are fully committed to this journey and willing to face any challenges along the way.
And I know she's reached my heart in thin air,
My loved one has a profound impact on my emotions and well-being, even when we are apart.
Yes I know she's reached my heart in thin air,
My loved one's love transcends physical distance and has a powerful impact on my emotional well-being.
Yes I know she's reached my heart.
My loved one has a deep impact on my emotions and well-being, and our love is a powerful force in our lives.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: STONE GOSSARD
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind