Infallible's Clever lyrics

bk159954bk159954 Posts: 166
edited November 2013 in The Porch
Anyone else notice the lyric "time we best begin here at the ending(3x)" and the song begins and ends with the same lyrics….

"Keep on locking your doors
keep on building your floors
keep on just as before"

Only fucking Eddie...
Post edited by Unknown User on

Comments

  • PJammer4lifePJammer4life Los Angeles Posts: 2,660
    Yeah I see it as a call to stop being so apathetic..people worried about their homes and hardwood floors while the world goes to shit. Time to begin to do something at the end..Kind of a sequal to No Way.
    Bridge Benefit 1994, San Francisco 1995, San Diego 1995 1 & 2, Missoula 1998, Los Angeles 2000, San Diego 2000, Eddie Vedder/Beck 2/26/2002, Santa Barbara 2003, Irvine 2003, San Diego 2003, Vancouver 2005, Gorge 2005, San Diego 2006, Los Angeles 2006 1 & 2, Santa Barbara 2006, Eddie Vedder 4/10/08, Eddie Vedder 4/12/08, Eddie Vedder 4/15/08, 7/12/2008, SF 8/28/09, LA 9/30/09, LA 10/1/09, LA 10/06/09, LA 10/07/09, San Diego 10/09/09, Eddie Vedder 7/6/2011, Eddie Vedder 7/8/2011, PJ20 9/3/2011, PJ20 9/4/2011, Vancouver 9/25/2011, San Diego 11/21/13, LA 11/24/13, Ohana 9/25/21, Ohana 9/26/21, Ohana 10/1/21, EV 2/17/22, LA Forum 5/6/22, LA Forum 5/7/22, EV 10/1/22, EV 9/30/23
  • bk159954bk159954 Posts: 166
    It's definitely about how we've become numb to tragedy….probably because media coverage has desensitized us so much that a lot of people simply just look the other way. And if we all just DID NOT look the other way we could make a difference. It's a song about being disappointed in mankind in general. Thats just my opinion and interpretation.
  • I agree about the cleverness. I've understood it as being about the financial crisis of 2008.
    10/31/93 Berkeley (Baba!) • 10/1/94 Bridge School • 9/16/96 Seattle (In My Tree!) • 10/19/96 & 10/20/96 B. School (Alt Corduroy & Alt Porch!) • 10/25/03 B. School • 6/1/03 Mtnview (Crazy Mary! You Are!) • 11/29/13 Portland (All Those Yesterdays! Even Flow!) • 10/25/14 Bridge School (Rain! Fuckin Up! TOTD!) • 5/13/22 Oakland (had to leave early, but W.M.A.! Immortality!) • 5/13/24 Sacramento (Light Years! Picture in a Frame!) • 5/25/24 Bottle Rock (Last Kiss! Maybe It’s Time w/Bradley Cooper!)
  • ldent42ldent42 NYC Posts: 7,859
    I thought it was "forts"
    NYC 06/24/08-Auckland 11/27/09-Chch 11/29/09-Newark 05/18/10-Atlanta 09/22/12-Chicago 07/19/13-Brooklyn 10/18/13 & 10/19/13-Hartford 10/25/13-Baltimore 10/27/13-Auckland 1/17/14-GC 1/19/14-Melbourne 1/24/14-Sydney 1/26/14-Amsterdam 6/16/14 & 6/17/14-Milan 6/20/14-Berlin 6/26/14-Leeds 7/8/14-Milton Keynes 7/11/14-St. Louis 10/3/14-NYC 9/26/15
    LIVEFOOTSTEPS.ORG/USER/?USR=435
  • I couldn't resist because I love this song. I never took it as preaching or even as a warning to just a few so I'd be disappointed to find out if it's just a critique of capitalism. To me, it has a much, much wider scope. I interpreted it as anything human beings do (anything created in the hearts and minds of men) and how these greats accomplishments no matter how big or small can and will be ruined by the same beings that create them (our ship's come in and it's sinking.) What makes it so unique is that he's telling it as a story of all human beings, but at the same time, it's a story of anything or anybody. It's built on multiple dimensions. It's so complex, it's fucking awesome. Even better, the paradox of the whole thing is being played out like a murder mystery with twists and cliffhangers. You can feel it in the music. It's the same feeling you get when a movie or book turns on you. Then, he circles it back at the end that life will keep going (keep on just as before). Even if you're successful this time around, it doesn't mean you are faultless (infallible), because eventually it's going to catch up to all of us. It's like a film noir movie that ends with a bad guy getting away with it but the director shows you something at the very end that let's you know he will eventually get his.

    Like I said I love this song, and maybe I'm tripping out there a little bit, but to me, it's a clever way to tell the story of the mystery of life. We, as people, make this great shit with great highs, but remember we are all infallible and there will be great lows, also. Some of us who have tragedies realize it sooner than others, but those of you who have been lucky and don't realize it (pay disasters no mind...) and think you are faultless or smarter because you've had better luck, yours is coming, too. Furthermore if you think that way, you are on the wrong side of life (how's the view from the fence?). Once everybody understands you and I and everybody are the same, and when we all realize that life is full of these great accomplishments and great failures but they don't really mean a fucking thing, then progress will be plausible.
  • I think it's a song about America. You can narrow it down to the financial crisis if you want to, but I think it's much, much broader than that.

    "By thinking we're infallible, we are tempting fate instead" should replace "In God We Trust" on our national currency.
    everybody wants the most they can possibly get
    for the least they could possibly do
  • boyo79boyo79 Warrington, UK Posts: 6,525
    BlaylockM wrote:
    I couldn't resist because I love this song. I never took it as preaching or even as a warning to just a few so I'd be disappointed to find out if it's just a critique of capitalism. To me, it has a much, much wider scope. I interpreted it as anything human beings do (anything created in the hearts and minds of men) and how these greats accomplishments no matter how big or small can and will be ruined by the same beings that create them (our ship's come in and it's sinking.) What makes it so unique is that he's telling it as a story of all human beings, but at the same time, it's a story of anything or anybody. It's built on multiple dimensions. It's so complex, it's fucking awesome. Even better, the paradox of the whole thing is being played out like a murder mystery with twists and cliffhangers. You can feel it in the music. It's the same feeling you get when a movie or book turns on you. Then, he circles it back at the end that life will keep going (keep on just as before). Even if you're successful this time around, it doesn't mean you are faultless (infallible), because eventually it's going to catch up to all of us. It's like a film noir movie that ends with a bad guy getting away with it but the director shows you something at the very end that let's you know he will eventually get his.

    Like I said I love this song, and maybe I'm tripping out there a little bit, but to me, it's a clever way to tell the story of the mystery of life. We, as people, make this great shit with great highs, but remember we are all infallible and there will be great lows, also. Some of us who have tragedies realize it sooner than others, but those of you who have been lucky and don't realize it (pay disasters no mind...) and think you are faultless or smarter because you've had better luck, yours is coming, too. Furthermore if you think that way, you are on the wrong side of life (how's the view from the fence?). Once everybody understands you and I and everybody are the same, and when we all realize that life is full of these great accomplishments and great failures but they don't really mean a fucking thing, then progress will be plausible.

    Perfect.
    2000: Manchester
    2006: Dublin; Leeds; Arnhem
    2007: London
    2009: Manchester
    2012: Manchester I & II : EV Manchester : Soundgarden Shepherds Bush
    2013: Brad Manchester : Soundgarden Manchester
    2014: Amsterdam I & II; Berlin; Leeds; Milton Keynes
    2018: Berlin; London II; Boston II

    Bootleg Reviews: http://pjbootlegreviews.blogspot.com/
  • Yield98Yield98 Posts: 151
    "By thinking we're infallible, we are tempting fate instead" is the line that does it for me. Haven't stopped humming or singing this since I got the album!!

    "By thinking we're infallible, we are tempting fate instead" should replace "In God We Trust" on our national currency.

    This might make it even better!
    Peace, Love, Pearl Jam

    Alpine 98,00,03 TFC 99, Chicago 00,03,09(2X),23(2X) St. Louis 03, Champagne 03, St. Paul 03,06(2X),14,23(2X), Noblesville 03, Toledo 04, Grand Rapids 04,06, Thunder Bay 05, Cleveland 06, Lolla 07, Roo 08, PJ20 X2, Wrigley 13 & 16, Portland/Spokane/Seattle 13, Milwaukee 14, Fenway 18(2X),24(2X), Quebec City 22, Ottawa 22, MSG 24, Philly 24(2X), Auckland 24, Gold Coast 24
  • aurynsdad wrote:
    I agree about the cleverness. I've understood it as being about the financial crisis of 2008.

    I think it's ObamaLeaguer but they won't admit it. Keep on keepin on. Talk while nothing's changed.
    Sorry. The world doesn't work the way you tell it to.
  • I beleive this song is about Climate Change

    The words are saying that it is possible to change, but human's don't have the wherewithall to do it.

    It's time get started...here at the ending - is a comment about how human's have only ever changed out of necessity - never becuase it's the right thing to do.

    Pay disasters no mind
    Didn't get you this time
    No prints left at the crime

    (Ignore the signs, because you aren't affected)

    By thinking we're infallible
    We are tempting fate instead
    (self explanatory)

    He also shoots down any dispute over climate change: "you think we've been here before, you are mistaken".
  • weenieweenie Posts: 1,623
    BlaylockM wrote:
    I couldn't resist because I love this song. I never took it as preaching or even as a warning to just a few so I'd be disappointed to find out if it's just a critique of capitalism. To me, it has a much, much wider scope. I interpreted it as anything human beings do (anything created in the hearts and minds of men) and how these greats accomplishments no matter how big or small can and will be ruined by the same beings that create them (our ship's come in and it's sinking.) What makes it so unique is that he's telling it as a story of all human beings, but at the same time, it's a story of anything or anybody. It's built on multiple dimensions. It's so complex, it's fucking awesome. Even better, the paradox of the whole thing is being played out like a murder mystery with twists and cliffhangers. You can feel it in the music. It's the same feeling you get when a movie or book turns on you. Then, he circles it back at the end that life will keep going (keep on just as before). Even if you're successful this time around, it doesn't mean you are faultless (infallible), because eventually it's going to catch up to all of us. It's like a film noir movie that ends with a bad guy getting away with it but the director shows you something at the very end that let's you know he will eventually get his.

    Like I said I love this song, and maybe I'm tripping out there a little bit, but to me, it's a clever way to tell the story of the mystery of life. We, as people, make this great shit with great highs, but remember we are all infallible and there will be great lows, also. Some of us who have tragedies realize it sooner than others, but those of you who have been lucky and don't realize it (pay disasters no mind...) and think you are faultless or smarter because you've had better luck, yours is coming, too. Furthermore if you think that way, you are on the wrong side of life (how's the view from the fence?). Once everybody understands you and I and everybody are the same, and when we all realize that life is full of these great accomplishments and great failures but they don't really mean a fucking thing, then progress will be plausible.

    I, too, love your assessment. I will add to it my interpretation of the meter of the song, like a clock ticking in the background - which falls in line with what the words convey. It's my favorite on this CD. Thanks for sharing your thoughts. I enjoyed reading what you wrote. :thumbup:
    ~I want to realize brotherhood or identity not merely with the beings called human, but I want to realize identity with all life, even with such things as crawl upon earth.~
    Mohandas K. Gandhi

    ~I once had a sparrow alight upon my shoulder for a moment, while I was hoeing in a village garden, and I felt that I was more distinguished by that circumstance than I should have been by any epaulette I could have worn.~
    Henry David Thoreau
  • shetellsherselfshetellsherself New Jersey Posts: 8,835
    boyo79 wrote:
    BlaylockM wrote:
    I couldn't resist because I love this song. I never took it as preaching or even as a warning to just a few so I'd be disappointed to find out if it's just a critique of capitalism. To me, it has a much, much wider scope. I interpreted it as anything human beings do (anything created in the hearts and minds of men) and how these greats accomplishments no matter how big or small can and will be ruined by the same beings that create them (our ship's come in and it's sinking.) What makes it so unique is that he's telling it as a story of all human beings, but at the same time, it's a story of anything or anybody. It's built on multiple dimensions. It's so complex, it's fucking awesome. Even better, the paradox of the whole thing is being played out like a murder mystery with twists and cliffhangers. You can feel it in the music. It's the same feeling you get when a movie or book turns on you. Then, he circles it back at the end that life will keep going (keep on just as before). Even if you're successful this time around, it doesn't mean you are faultless (infallible), because eventually it's going to catch up to all of us. It's like a film noir movie that ends with a bad guy getting away with it but the director shows you something at the very end that let's you know he will eventually get his.

    Like I said I love this song, and maybe I'm tripping out there a little bit, but to me, it's a clever way to tell the story of the mystery of life. We, as people, make this great shit with great highs, but remember we are all infallible and there will be great lows, also. Some of us who have tragedies realize it sooner than others, but those of you who have been lucky and don't realize it (pay disasters no mind...) and think you are faultless or smarter because you've had better luck, yours is coming, too. Furthermore if you think that way, you are on the wrong side of life (how's the view from the fence?). Once everybody understands you and I and everybody are the same, and when we all realize that life is full of these great accomplishments and great failures but they don't really mean a fucking thing, then progress will be plausible.

    Perfect.

    Agreed. Awesome interpretation. Love this song. Lyrics that make us think! :clap:
    5/3/92 Omaha, NE
    6/19/95 Red Rocks
    9/11/98 MSG
    11/19/12 EV solo Tulsa
    7/19/13 Wrigley 10/19/13 Brooklyn 2 10/21/13 Philly 1 10/22/13 Philly 2 10/25/13 Hartford
    10/08/14 Tulsa 10/09/14 Lincoln
    9/26/15 NYC Global Citizen
    4/16/16 Greenville 4/28/16 Philly 1 4/29/16 Philly 2 5/1/16 MSG 1 5/2/16 MSG 2 8/7/16 Fenway 2 8/20/16 Wrigley 1
    4/7/17 RRHOF New York City
    9/2/18 Fenway 1 9/4/2018 Fenway 2
    9/18/21 Asbury Park
    2/4/22 EV Earthlings NYC 2/6/22 EV Earthlings Newark 9/11/22 MSG 9/14/22 Camden
    9/3/24 MSG 1 9/4/24 MSG 2 9/7/24 Philly 1 9/9/24 Philly 2
  • I beleive this song is about Climate Change

    The words are saying that it is possible to change, but human's don't have the wherewithall to do it.

    It's time get started...here at the ending - is a comment about how human's have only ever changed out of necessity - never becuase it's the right thing to do.

    Pay disasters no mind
    Didn't get you this time
    No prints left at the crime

    (Ignore the signs, because you aren't affected)

    By thinking we're infallible
    We are tempting fate instead
    (self explanatory)

    He also shoots down any dispute over climate change: "you think we've been here before, you are mistaken".

    this is the same way i read the lyrics, but it could be about anything with regard to making the world a better place depending on the perspective of the listener

    great pho king song!
    "...what a different life had i not found this love with you..."
  • lcusicklcusick Posts: 310
    I agree with Mr. Merkinball- I think Infallible is about Climate Change.
  • SwBkRn44SwBkRn44 Posts: 232
    lcusick wrote:
    I agree with Mr. Merkinball- I think Infallible is about Climate Change.

    I think it's definitely about the financial crisis.

    "Keep on locking your doors, keep on building your floors, keep on just as before". Essentially a very small segment of the financial sector brought the economy to its knees, but as long as those folks lock themselves away from the angry masses they can keep building their building taller and taller and nothing needs to change for them.

    "Pay disasters no minder, didn't get you this time, no prints left at the crime." Again, they were nearly immune for the market collapse (disaster) they created so they can pay it no mind as it didn't impact them. And despite the fact that there was a lot of shady stuff going on in the leadup to the crisis that created the bubble, virtually no one was held accountable (no prints left at the crime).
  • Last-12-ExitLast-12-Exit Charleston, SC Posts: 8,661
    infallible (adjective)

    1. incapable of human error
    2. not liable to mislead, decieve, or disappoint
    3. incapable of error in defining doctorines touching faith or morals


    I don't think the song is about one thing. I believe Eddie took the word and its definition and wrote the song around it based on current events.

    I don't care either way, what great fucking song!
  • RatherBeRatherBe Posts: 270
    I feel I get the gist of the song just from the title.

    On another note, I looked up the lyrics and I never fail to be disappointed by how these lyrics sites get lyrics wrong; at least two of these sites have the following lyrics:

    Didn't get you this time
    No friends left at the crime


    :fp:

    This despite the CD booklet having the lyrics. If I remembered the booklet, I wouldn't have bothered to look up the lyrics.

    :fp:
    It's a disease and they're all green, it emanates from their being...
  • TJ25487TJ25487 Posts: 1,495
    All I know is that I love this damn CD!
    I agree that the genius of Ed's lyrics have always been about the ambiguity of them. I've heard him say that he does not like to talk about the specifics of his songs so that everyone can take what they need or want from a song.
  • SwBkRn44 wrote:
    lcusick wrote:
    I agree with Mr. Merkinball- I think Infallible is about Climate Change.

    I think it's definitely about the financial crisis.

    "Keep on locking your doors, keep on building your floors, keep on just as before". Essentially a very small segment of the financial sector brought the economy to its knees, but as long as those folks lock themselves away from the angry masses they can keep building their building taller and taller and nothing needs to change for them.

    "Pay disasters no minder, didn't get you this time, no prints left at the crime." Again, they were nearly immune for the market collapse (disaster) they created so they can pay it no mind as it didn't impact them. And despite the fact that there was a lot of shady stuff going on in the leadup to the crisis that created the bubble, virtually no one was held accountable (no prints left at the crime).

    At Brooklyn 2, Ed dedicated it to Wall Street. It's not about climate change.
    Sorry. The world doesn't work the way you tell it to.
  • SwBkRn44SwBkRn44 Posts: 232
    SwBkRn44 wrote:
    lcusick wrote:
    I agree with Mr. Merkinball- I think Infallible is about Climate Change.

    I think it's definitely about the financial crisis.

    "Keep on locking your doors, keep on building your floors, keep on just as before". Essentially a very small segment of the financial sector brought the economy to its knees, but as long as those folks lock themselves away from the angry masses they can keep building their building taller and taller and nothing needs to change for them.

    "Pay disasters no minder, didn't get you this time, no prints left at the crime." Again, they were nearly immune for the market collapse (disaster) they created so they can pay it no mind as it didn't impact them. And despite the fact that there was a lot of shady stuff going on in the leadup to the crisis that created the bubble, virtually no one was held accountable (no prints left at the crime).

    At Brooklyn 2, Ed dedicated it to Wall Street. It's not about climate change.

    I was there and I heard that, but I had my above written theory BEFORE that ;) So Ed just confirmed it for me!
  • Save MeSave Me Posts: 147
    This song has grown on me and it was great live at both BK shows. I wish it was about climate change because that's an issue that is very dear to my heart. But Wall Street angst is good too!Great lyrics.
    "The Wild is chasing after me. Hot on my trail won't leave me alone. All I can see is your blood right in front of me, and I can't kill The Wild." Me
  • PJ51390PJ51390 Atlanta Posts: 728
    aurynsdad wrote:
    I agree about the cleverness. I've understood it as being about the financial crisis of 2008.

    I think it's ObamaLeaguer but they won't admit it. Keep on keepin on. Talk while nothing's changed.

    I agree.
  • mfc2006mfc2006 HTOWN Posts: 37,489
    awesome lyrics
    I LOVE MUSIC.
    www.cluthelee.com
    www.cluthe.com
  • "Floors"? I thought it was walls
  • RatherBeRatherBe Posts: 270
    Nope, it's "floors".
    It's a disease and they're all green, it emanates from their being...
  • evsgjammevsgjamm Posts: 2,108
    As cool as this thread is, why did you post on the Porch. Move lyrical discussion to where it clearly belongs: and that's not the Porch; it's "Words and music....Communication." You'll get replied to in there as well.

    C'mon guys 'n girls.
    Vancouver '03, Paramount Theatre '05, Saskatoon '05, Calgary '05, Edmonton '05, Saskatoon '11, Calgary '11, Calgary '13

    2010 WATCH IT GO TO FIRE!!
  • actonplpactonplp Maine Posts: 173
    I’m not sure if this song is speaking of global warming, or how the more we know as humans, the more damage we do to ourselves in the long run. I guess you could take Infallible a lot of different ways, to me, it says that by ignoring problems, nothing changes.

    It’s a great song no matter how you look at it.


    Oct. 15, 2013 Worcester, MA
    Aug. 05, 2016 - Fenway Park, Boston
    Oct. 15, 2013 - Worcester, Massachusetts
  • I love ambiguous lyrics. This is one of those songs that no matter what it was actually inspired by, I have been able to make it personally meaningful. This one in particular from LB. As I get older and reflect on the patterns in my life, high and low, and ponder how I often walk alone, claiming it's by choice, believing every end is a new beginning and each new wall serves a purpose... I realize it is dangerous to think I am without fault in my personal affairs. It's a great reminder to keep myself in check. Obvi I don't think it's really about me, but that's been the way I meditate when I listen to it. And I love the way his voice reaches and the music sort of sneaks along. Great tune.
Sign In or Register to comment.