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)
iamapatriot
Pearl Jam Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And the rivers shall open for the righteous
And the rivers shall open for the righteous, someday
I went walking, with my brother
And he wondered, oh, how I am
Said what I believe with my soul
Ain't what I see with my eyes
I am a patriot, and I love my country
Because my country is all I know
I want to be with my family
People who understand me
I got no place else to go...
I am a patriot...
I was walking with my girlfriend.
She looked so fine, I said
"Baby, what's on your mind?"
Said I want to run like the lions
Released from their cages...
Released from the rages
Burning in my soul tonight.
I am a patriot, and I love my country
Because my country is all I know
And I ain't no communist,
And I ain't no socialist,
And I ain't no capitalist,
And I ain't no imperialist,
And I ain't no democrat,
Sure ain't no republican either,
I only know one party,
And that is Freedom.
I am... I am... I am...
I am a patriot, and I love my country,
Because my country is all I know.
And the rivers shall open for the righteous,
And the rivers shall open for the righteous,
And the rivers shall open for the righteous Someday...
Someday... Someday...
Pearl Jam's song "I Am a Patriot" is a poignant anthem that speaks to the singer's deep love for their country, while also acknowledging the faults and struggles that come with it. The song's chorus repeats the hopeful refrain that "the rivers shall open for the righteous someday," suggesting that even in the midst of difficulty, there is always hope for a better future.
In the verses, the singer reflects on their own personal relationships and experiences within their country. They describe walking with their brother and girlfriend, both of whom question their beliefs, but the singer remains unwavering in their conviction that they are a patriot. The lyrics also touch on the singer's disillusionment with traditional political affiliations, stating that they are not a communist, socialist, capitalist, imperialist, democrat, or republican, but rather believe in the single party of freedom.
Overall, "I Am a Patriot" is a song that celebrates the love and loyalty that many individuals feel towards their country, while also recognizing the complexities and challenges that come with it. It's a call to action to work towards a better future, to hope for a time when the righteous are rewarded, and to remain steadfast in one's beliefs and values.
Line by Line Meaning
And the rivers shall open for the righteous
The path to prosperity will become clear for those who are morally right.
I went walking, with my brother
I was walking together with my sibling.
And he wondered, oh, how I am
And he asked how I was doing.
Said what I believe with my soul
Expressed my deep-rooted convictions.
Ain't what I see with my eyes
It's not what I observe visually.
And there's no turning back this time
Cannot revert from this stance.
I am a patriot, and I love my country
I am a nationalist and have a strong affection for my homeland.
Because my country is all I know
Because my land is my only known identity.
I want to be with my family
I want to be with people who embody the same ideals as mine.
People who understand me
Individuals who comprehend my values.
I got no place else to go...
I have no other option or place to belong.
I was walking with my girlfriend.
I was strolling around accompanying my romantic partner.
She looked so fine, I said
She looked incredible, and I remarked.
"Baby, what's on your mind?"
I asked her what was bothering her.
Said I want to run like the lions
She conveyed her desire for unrestrained freedom, like lions.
Released from their cages...
Being set free from their constraints.
Released from the rages
Emancipated from their anger and frustration.
Burning in my soul tonight.
A burning sensation in my emotions at this moment.
And I ain't no communist,
I do not promote or adhere to Communism.
And I ain't no socialist,
I do not favor Socialism.
And I ain't no capitalist,
I do not endorse Capitalism.
And I ain't no imperialist,
I do not advocate Imperialism.
And I ain't no democrat,
I do not support the Democratic Party.
Sure ain't no republican either,
I am not a member of the Republican Party.
I only know one party,
I am only loyal to one brand of politics.
And that is Freedom.
And that is the ideal of being able to act, speak and think without any external restraint.
And the rivers shall open for the righteous,
The path to prosperity will become clear for those who are morally right.
Someday... Someday...
At some point in the future.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, BMG Rights Management
Written by: STEVEN VAN ZANDT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Cate Nystrom
Wow....just....wow. I'm SO proud to be a Pearl Jam fan, they never disappoint me.
Stephen Cornell
I Love Eddie & Pearl Jam. They stand on their beliefs and don’t give a damn about Money or fame. I LOVE HAMPTON COLISEUM 🙏🏽 the venue and the community bring the Best out of the Artists who play there. We Are One People ✊🏽
Laura Watters
I love Pearl Jam and I absolutely love Eddie!! Incredible performance!! Thank you for sharing this awesome video 😊💓🤘✌️
Eyal Sonego
All thanks to Miami steve,AKA little steven,AKA the Boss's sidekick.
I am an Israeli Patriot and love my country as well as the american true artistry as well, exhibited by this genius🍾
sfearll
awesome recording.. thanks for sharing this. I was there for that show (and probably captured in the audience in this video)... this was an incredible moment.
Your Uncle’s Mailman
We aren’t perfect but I love my country. I am a patriot. I miss my home state of NC. No one can box PJ into any label, always surprise us whether it was when last kiss was released or this cover.
DumbPunk
Homeboy filming in 4k my dude that's good shit, thanks!!!!
Zarifa Petersen
WTF - what is up with that VOICE! Been listening to this band since the first album and i STILL can't get over it :-)
Marz One
Now I love PJ even more in boycotting of NC terrible laws. 💪🏽
Jenna Harper
perfect audio and video NICE THANKS !!