Corduroy
Pearl Jam Featuring Soundgarden And Mad Season Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

The waiting drove me mad
You're finally here and I'm a mess
I take your entrance back

Can't let you roam inside my head
I don't want to take what you can give
I would rather starve than eat your bread
I would rather run but I can't walk
Guess I'll lay alone just like before

I'll take the varmint's path
Oh, and I must refuse your test
A-push me and I will resist
This behavior's not unique

I don't want to hear from those who know
They can buy but can't put on my clothes
I don't want to limp for them to walk
Never would have known of me before
I don't want to be held in your debt
I'll pay it off in blood let I be wed
I'm already cut up and half dead
I'll end up alone like I began

Everything has chains, absolutely nothing's changed
Take my hand, not my picture, spilled my tincture

I don't want to take what you can give
I would rather starve than eat your breast
All the things that others want for me
Can't buy what I want because it's free
Can't buy what I want because it's free
Can't be what you want because I

Why ain't it supposed to be just fun?
Oh, to live and die, let it be done




I figure I'll be damned
All alone like I began

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Pearl Jam's "Corduroy" seem to be addressing the idea of being able to control one's own life and emotions, and not wanting to let someone else into that space. The opening lines "The waiting drove me mad / You're finally here and I'm a mess / I take your entrance back" suggest that the singer has been waiting for someone and is now struggling to accept their presence. The stanza "Can't let you roam inside my head / I don't want to take what you can give / I would rather starve than eat your bread / I would rather run but I can't walk / Guess I'll lay alone just like before" speaks to the idea of not wanting to be influenced by someone else or take on their attributes. The singer would rather be alone and remain true to themselves, rather than be changed by someone else.


The lines "All the things that others want for me / Can't buy what I want because it's free" further emphasize this idea of personal freedom and not wanting to be controlled by external forces. The chorus "Can't be what you want because I / Why ain't it supposed to be just fun? / Oh, to live and die, let it be done / I figure I'll be damned / All alone like I began" suggests that the singer is happy being themselves and doesn't want to change for anyone else's sake. They don't want to be held in debt to anyone or have to conform to someone else's expectations. They would rather be alone than be something they're not.


Overall, "Corduroy" seems to be about the struggle for personal freedom and individuality. The singer doesn't want to be influenced or controlled by anyone else and would rather be alone than change who they are. The song is a powerful reminder to stay true to oneself, even in the face of pressure from others.


Line by Line Meaning

The waiting drove me mad
The anticipation was unbearable and it caused me mental anguish.


You're finally here and I'm a mess
Now that you're here, I'm overwhelmed with emotions and can't keep myself composed.


I take your entrance back
I regret letting you into my life and wish I could undo it.


Can't let you roam inside my head
I can't allow you to have control over my thoughts and emotions.


I don't want to take what you can give
I don't want to accept your offerings because it will create a debt I don't want to owe.


I would rather starve than eat your bread
I would rather go without than accept help from you.


I would rather run but I can't walk
I would prefer to escape this situation, but I feel trapped and unable to leave.


Guess I'll lay alone just like before
I'll end up isolated and lonely just as I was before you arrived.


I'll take the varmint's path
I'll take the route that's less traveled and not typical, even if it's more challenging.


Oh, and I must refuse your test
I won't accept your challenge or your expectations of me.


A-push me and I will resist
If you push me, I will push back and resist your demands.


This behavior's not unique
Defiant behavior is not unusual or surprising since others have acted similarly before.


I don't want to hear from those who know
I don't want advice or criticism from those who think they know what's best for me.


They can buy but can't put on my clothes
They may have money, but they can't understand or experience things from my perspective or situation


I don't want to limp for them to walk
I don't want to take a backseat or struggle so that others can benefit or easily get ahead.


Never would have known of me before
Others didn't care or recognize my worth before, but now that I'm in the public eye, they want to be involved.


I don't want to be held in your debt
I don't want to owe anyone or feel indebted to them.


I'll pay it off in blood let I be wed
I'll work to repay any debts or obligations, even if it's difficult or harmful to myself.


I'm already cut up and half dead
I'm already hurt and worn down from life's difficulties, and may not be able to withstand any more pain or suffering.


I'll end up alone like I began
Despite everything I've been through, I'll most likely end up alone and starting from scratch again.


Everything has chains, absolutely nothing's changed
All things are connected and everything has a price, so nothing meaningful or significant has actually changed.


Take my hand, not my picture, spilled my tincture
Take my help or guidance, not just something superficial like a photo, because I've already been hurt and scarred.


All the things that others want for me
Others have expectations or desires for me that may not align with my own wants or needs.


Can't buy what I want because it's free
The things I truly want in life can't be bought with money because they're intangible or priceless.


Can't be what you want because I
I can't please everyone and be the person they want me to be because I have my own identity and desires to fulfill.


Why ain't it supposed to be just fun?
Why can't the journey of life just be enjoyable and positive instead of constantly filled with conflict and hardship?


Oh, to live and die, let it be done
I just want to live out my life without excessive struggle and then pass away without any further problems.


I figure I'll be damned
I expect that no matter what I do or how I live my life, I'll still end up experiencing negative consequences or being judged harshly.


All alone like I began
Ultimately, I'll be left to face life's difficulties and trials on my own, just as I did when I was first born.




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: David Abbruzzese, Eddie Vedder, Jeff Ament, Mike Mccready, Stone Gossard

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

@Ariel_thenotsolittlemermaid

Well, if you keep calling it the last golden era of music, then you definitely won't hear music as good.

What you're doing here is 2 things:

1. Discouraging people from trying to make music as you're telling them there's no way they could be good.
2. Even if people ignore this statement (and other similar ones, of course I'm not blaming you specifically for anything) and do make music, you've already decided that it can't be good as we've already passed the LAST golden era... because of that, you're not likely to even give new music a chance, and even if you listen to it that mantra of 'music used to be better' would be so ingrained in your mind that you won't be able to enjoy it, even if otherwise you would have.

Of course, these guys deserve praise, but don't be so definitive and doom music- you're only ruining it for yourself.

*I'll say it again just to make sure it's clear: I'm not trying to attack or blame you. I've seen many comments like yours, and these are just my thoughts regarding this sentiment because I think it's a pity.



All comments from YouTube:

@seanmkmi

I met Chris Cornell randomly at the mall one day. I freaked out, I didn't know what to do, but he was SOO nice and invited me to go on a walk with him. It was the best day of my life. We miss you, Chris. Rest in peace forever.

@andrewdods2236

How cool is that?! I met a guy in Adelaide who says he met E.V in a pub and they played pool with Pearl Jam on the juke box. Eddie quietly listening to himself and grinning. “Sounds alright doesn’t it?” he says!

I would pay a grand to do that !! 🤘🏻🤘🏻🤘🏻🤘🏻🤘🏻

@andrewdods2236

You were lucky. Pre dimebag murder I would say? It’s a messed up world .. 😪

@davidfanara9400

Wow nice to hear that

@mikekras8649

Saw him play temple at alpine valley w eddie. OMG boy could wail

@brandonsteffen1749

@mike kras I was there too...amazing!

127 More Replies...

@xxn0thing

Eddie is the only vocalist left from a huge chunk of my life. Man, I feel old.

@SamS-bx7ed

It's okay, I'm in my 20's and feel the same way.

@TheSickNeeds

Listen to more Mudhoney.

@Chareeferrari

Sadly they all just passed away much too early

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