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Better Man intro

made us starsmade us stars Posts: 166
edited August 2010 in The Porch
One of my favorite Pearl Jam songs, and always wondered this but have never seen any discussion about it on the board before. I'm talking about the album version, the 20 second or so kinda creepy, eerie, guitar thing before Ed lays in. Anyone know what the significance is (or have an opinion) and if it was ever performed live? I really like it and just wanting to know what others think.
Do you see the way that tree bends? Does it inspire?

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St. Louis 5/4/10 Hope for many more!
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Comments

  • Newch91Newch91 Posts: 17,560
    I think since the song is about abusive relationships and wanting to get out, I think that 20 seconds intro thing is to make it sound like all the times a woman has been beaten and abused by her man and how creepy and ugly it is.
    Shows: 6.27.08 Hartford, CT/5.15.10 Hartford, CT/6.18.2011 Hartford, CT (EV Solo)/10.19.13 Brooklyn/10.25.13 Hartford
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  • Tenzing N.Tenzing N. Posts: 466
    I'll take a stab at this-

    Theory one:
    I would put good money that Better Man was supposed to be song one of side two of the album and this little "extra" was supposed to welcome the listener to side two. Subsequently the album got rewroked but the song had been recorded already.

    Theory two:
    It's used to signify the hardship (in musical form) tha this woman has gone through.

    Theory three:
    This is a stretch but I wonder if they put it in there for radio play purposes. Often radio stations will slightly overlap music or talk over the first few seconds of a song. This extra would allow the overlap and prevent music or talk from overriding the actual song.

    Theroy four:
    Either this is used to signify that this is not a the same Bad Radio song it used to be or quite possibly it's just there to be there with no real meaning.

    I stand by theory number one.
  • Cradles Broken GlassCradles Broken Glass Posts: 1,409
    I guess I will give my two cents. I've always thought the song was about a woman in a relationship, not really an abusive relationship, but one in which she is taken for granted and gets walked all over. She knows she can do better, but at the same time is afraid of the change and she still does have those feelings (or memories of those feelings) for the guy that she had at the beginning of the relationship. To me the song also has a lot to do with everyday routine ("she feeds him"), it's her life and she drudges through it daily (she can't change it, or so she thinks, because it is all that she knows and has known for a long time...she only has faint, distant memories of her life without him). Ok, so this is how (if at all) that I think the beginning goes along with the meaning of the song. I think it could possibly symbolize the drudge through everyday life. Not a great life, just the one you know.
    Hearts and thoughts they fade....
    fade away...

    I am at peace with my lust.....for Eddie.
  • TheGhostTheGhost Posts: 536
    Check out the Vitalogy demos on Gremmie.net.. as I recall that intro is attached to another song...
    KORITFW
  • Tenzing N.Tenzing N. Posts: 466
    Well that kind of blows all of my theories out of the water. Except for the first one- I still think that might have wings.
  • Nittany1bnNittany1bn Near Philadelphia Posts: 214
    i think the song is about the woman's self esteem. she needs more from her life/relationship but doesn't think she could do better; doesn't think she's worthy of better. the routine drags her down, but has crippled her ability to feel she deserves more, or to even try. that's why she'll be back again.
  • i_lov_iti_lov_it Perth, Western Australia Posts: 4,007
    made us stars wrote:
    One of my favorite Pearl Jam songs, and always wondered this but have never seen any discussion about it on the board before. I'm talking about the album version, the 20 second or so kinda creepy, eerie, guitar thing before Ed lays in. Anyone know what the significance is (or have an opinion) and if it was ever performed live? I really like it and just wanting to know what others think.

    The 2000 Tour Eddie played that little INTRO "Riff"...But it was different to the Album version though!...:)
  • kirkerjkirkerj Posts: 69
    Eddie has said in concert before that this is for the man that married his mother. Not sure what there relationship was like but I always got more of the impression that it was about a woman who had settled into an emotionally abusive relationship and was too scared to leave as she did not think she could do better.

    Vedder has always said he wants people to make their own interpretation of their songs, so I suppose it can mean different things to different people.
  • JoJo Posts: 2,098
    What about if the song is about a woman who wants to get out of a relationship
    because it is not the lovey dovey fairytale that is portrayd in the movies?
    She realises this is an unattainable goal and that the man she is with is awesome and deserves better than her,
    so she now returns to the man and tries not to be a bitch?

    my 2c.
  • DewieCoxDewieCox Posts: 11,431
    i_lov_it wrote:
    made us stars wrote:
    One of my favorite Pearl Jam songs, and always wondered this but have never seen any discussion about it on the board before. I'm talking about the album version, the 20 second or so kinda creepy, eerie, guitar thing before Ed lays in. Anyone know what the significance is (or have an opinion) and if it was ever performed live? I really like it and just wanting to know what others think.

    The 2000 Tour Eddie played that little INTRO "Riff"...But it was different to the Album version though!...:)

    That's completely different and sound that way too. Vitalogy has like some feedback-ish type thing. The 2000 he was playing a small part of song called Romanza.
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