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)
Wash
Pearl Jam Lyrics
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Oh
Oh please let it rain today
This city's so filthy like my mind in ways
Oh it was the time like a clean new taste
Smiling eyes before me
And tears from my face
Wash my love
Wash my love, yeah
Sin for sale buying just a need just
Oh who planted all the devils seeds?
And what's the truth? And the truth that lies at home
It's on the inside and I can't get it off yeah
Wash my love
Wash my love
Wash my love, yeah
What's clean is pure but hey, I'm white on the outside
Though I stray
What she don't know today might kill us both tomorrow
Bring it back someday
Bring it back, bring it back back to
To the clean form to the pure form
Wash my love
Wash my love
Wash my love
Wash my love
Wash my, wash my, wash my love, yeah
The song 'Wash' by Pearl Jam is a deep introspection on the complexities of the human mind, the city life, and the struggle to maintain purity as an individual in a society that is not always conducive to it. The song starts with a plea for rain to wash away the filth in the city, which the singer likens to the dirt in his own mind. He reminisces on a time where he saw beauty in the world with "smiling eyes before me," but subconsciously knew the truth and the reality of the world's darkness as reflected in "tears from my face." This is where the refrain "wash my love" comes into play - it seems to serve as a plea for purification and a fresh start.
The lyrics take a darker turn in the second verse, where the singer reflects on the nature of sin and evil in the world. He questions the origins of evil - "who planted all the devil's seeds?" - and wonders about the truth that lies within himself. The internal struggle to maintain purity is reflected in the line "it's on the inside and I can't get it off." The lyrics metaphorically tie the human psyche to the environment, with both being polluted and requiring a "wash."
The refrain of "wash my love" serves as a plea for salvation of sorts, with the singer aware of the potential consequences of not getting a fresh start. He acknowledges his own flaws and subversion in the world, acknowledging that he is "white on the outside" but "strays" from the path of righteousness. The song seems to end on an optimistic note, with a potential return to a "clean form" or "pure form."
Line by Line Meaning
Oh yeah
Excited and affirming statement, possibly indicating eagerness or anticipation for what is to come.
Oh
Exclamation or vocalization of emotion, indicating a strong feeling in the moment.
Oh please let it rain today
Hopeful request for rain to wash away the dirt and grime of the city, as well as the negative thoughts and emotions that linger in the singer's mind.
This city's so filthy like my mind in ways
Comparison between the dirtiness of the city and the negative thoughts that dwell in the singer's mind, suggesting a need for cleansing.
Oh it was the time like a clean new taste
Recollection of a pleasant memory of a fresh experience, possibly indicating a desire to return to that state of mind.
Smiling eyes before me
Description of a person or people with happy and welcoming expressions.
And tears from my face
Emotional response triggered by the sight of the smiling eyes, possibly indicating a deep and meaningful connection.
Wash my love
Repetitive plea for the cleansing and purification of the singer's love, suggesting a need for renewal and revitalization.
Sin for sale buying just a need just
Commentary on the tendency to seek out temporary gratification and pleasures through sinful actions, possibly indicating the corrupt nature of society and its values.
Oh who planted all the devils seeds?
Questioning the origin of evil and the temptations that lead to sin, indicating a need for understanding and clarity.
And what's the truth? And the truth that lies at home
Query about the nature of truth and its relevance to one's personal life, suggesting an introspective examination of values and beliefs.
It's on the inside and I can't get it off yeah
Realization that the truth is internal and cannot be erased, indicating a possible sense of guilt or responsibility.
What's clean is pure but hey, I'm white on the outside
Maxim about the relationship between cleanliness and purity, and how the singer may appear pure on the outside but not on the inside.
Though I stray
Admission of wandering from a path or standard, indicating a sense of regret.
What she don't know today might kill us both tomorrow
Acknowledgment of the dangers of keeping secrets and not being truthful, as it can lead to negative consequences down the line.
Bring it back someday
Expression of hope that something lost or forgotten will eventually return to the present.
Bring it back, bring it back back to
Repetitive plea for the return of something that has been lost, indicating a longing for the past or a desire for redemption.
To the clean form to the pure form
Specific reference to the importance of cleanliness and purity, and how they relate to the return of something lost or forgotten.
Wash my love
Final plea for the cleansing and purification of the singer's love, suggesting its importance as a driving force throughout the song.
Wash my, wash my, wash my love, yeah
Repetitive plea for the cleansing and purification of the singer's love, emphasizing its central role in the song's themes and messages.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Dave Krusen, Eddie Vedder, Jeff Ament, Mike Mccready, Stone C. Gossard
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind