Meanings behind PJ lyrics...

PJLaur
PJLaur Posts: 78
edited July 2008 in The Porch
Does anyone know of what or whom some of the songs were about. I'd be interested to know what you know. I heard something on the lines that "Oceans" was for/about Beth. Not sure, though.
Post edited by Unknown User on

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  • 2-feign-reluctance
    2-feign-reluctance TigerTown, USA Posts: 23,462
    PJLaur wrote:
    Does anyone know of what or whom some of the songs were about. I'd be interested to know what you know. I heard something on the lines that "Oceans" was for/about Beth. Not sure, though.


    that book "Five Against One" might shed some light. though i really don't know how credible the writing is throughout.
    i've heard about "Oceans" about Ed missing home and that he was locked out of the studio and heard Jeff doing the bassline and so Ed wrote the lyrics in the alleyway waiting to be let in.
    www.cluthelee.com
  • restlesssoul
    restlesssoul Posts: 6,952
    thats a pretty big task, they have a massive catalogue.

    oceans is about a surfboard, as stated in the unplugged version i believe.

    i would recommend doing your own research by googling the songs and finding some interpretations. or give us some specific songs youd like to know about, some inspirations/meanings are more famous than others.
    Van '98, Sea I+II '00, Sea '01, Sea II '02, Van '03, Gorge, Van, Cal, Edm '05, Bos I+II, Phi I+II, DC, SF II+III, Port, Gorge I+II '06, DC, NY I+II '08, Sea I+II, Van, Ridge , LA III+IV' 09, Indy '10, Cal, Van '11, Lond, Van, Sea '13, Memphis '14, RRHOF '17, Sea I+II '18, Van I+II, Vegas I+II, Sea I+II '24
  • slightofjeff
    slightofjeff Posts: 7,762
    restlesssoul wrote:
    thats a pretty big task, they have a massive catalogue.

    oceans is about a surfboard, as stated in the unplugged version i believe.

    Aw, that's just Ed being coy. Like when he told Dave A "Go" was about his pickup truck.
    everybody wants the most they can possibly get
    for the least they could possibly do
  • Stone Irons
    Stone Irons Posts: 430
    If you give me some songs that you are seeking meanings for, I might be able to give you some direct quotes from the band members regarding song meanings.
    Can't escape from the common rule...
    If you hate something, don't you do it too
  • Stone Irons
    Stone Irons Posts: 430
    Regarding "Oceans", at Unplugged Ed said "[that was] a little love song I wrote about my surfboard...no actually it's to somebody named Beth who hopefully I'll see tomorrow."
    Can't escape from the common rule...
    If you hate something, don't you do it too
  • 2-feign-reluctance
    2-feign-reluctance TigerTown, USA Posts: 23,462
    Stone Irons wrote:
    Regarding "Oceans", at Unplugged Ed said "[that was] a little love song I wrote about my surfboard...no actually it's to somebody named Beth who hopefully I'll see tomorrow."


    or you can read Five Against One
    www.cluthelee.com
  • restlesssoul
    restlesssoul Posts: 6,952
    oceans will remain about a surfboard to me thank you!
    Van '98, Sea I+II '00, Sea '01, Sea II '02, Van '03, Gorge, Van, Cal, Edm '05, Bos I+II, Phi I+II, DC, SF II+III, Port, Gorge I+II '06, DC, NY I+II '08, Sea I+II, Van, Ridge , LA III+IV' 09, Indy '10, Cal, Van '11, Lond, Van, Sea '13, Memphis '14, RRHOF '17, Sea I+II '18, Van I+II, Vegas I+II, Sea I+II '24
  • meme
    meme Posts: 4,695
    One that was quite eye-opening for me is Go being about Ed's own body.
    It started making so much more sense to me after I heard that...
    ... and the will to show I will always be better than before.
  • SENROCK
    SENROCK Posts: 10,736
    restlesssoul wrote:
    oceans will remain about a surfboard to me thank you!

    YES!!!! Lets not get it twisted like morons thinking comeback is about a break up!
    ~~~~~~ALWAYS HAVE A GOOD TIME~~~~~~
    Sir Mike McCready is....THE MASTER!!! WAHHH!!!
    EVENFLOW PSYCHOS H.N.I.C~FEEL THE FLOW!!!

    "Pearl Jam fans are obsessed, they'd see the boys in HELL if tickets were sold."-CROJAM95

    It takes balls to put out a UKE album!
  • melva02
    melva02 Posts: 298
    I like the site songmeanings.net, which has the lyrics and people can leave comments below. The lyrics can be corrected by members which makes them better than the top Google results for lyrics.

    I haven't looked at too many Pearl Jam lyrics there though. Some bands have a lot of fans contributing, some don't, so it kind of depends. I remember several songs having quotes from Eddie so it's not all just people guessing.

    Melissa
  • GOSSArDgEEK
    GOSSArDgEEK Posts: 245
    There's a token of my openness.
    Of my need to not disappear.
    How I'm feeling, so revealing to me.
    I found my mind too clear.
    I just need someone to be there for me.
    I just want someone to be there for me.

    All the static in my attic-a.
    Shoots down my Sciatic Nerve
    To the ocean of my platitudes, longitudes, latitudes.
    It's so absurd.
    I just need someone to be there for... Yeah.
    I just want someone to be there for...
    Someone to be there for...

    Cause I'll stop trying to make a difference.
    I'm not trying to make a difference.
    I'll stop trying to make a difference. No way.
    I'll stop trying to make a difference.
    I'm not trying to make a difference.
    I'll stop trying to make a difference. No way.

    Ooh, let's call it an angel... (x3)

    Cause I'll stop trying to make a difference.
    I'm not trying to make a difference.
    I'll stop trying to make a difference. No way.
    Cause I'll stop trying to make a difference.
    I'm not trying to make a difference.
    I'm not trying to make a difference. No way.
    No way. No way.

    Let's call in an angel.
    Who's calling an angel?

    U think this is a song about Stone looking for his best friend for life? Maybe even a wife?
    Here’s a question you might need to ask
    What’s self destruction and how can we last?

    "I cannot stop the thought of running in the dark.
    Coming up a which way sign. All good truants must decide."
    __________________________________________

    McCain, America's scariest grandpa!
  • Stone Irons
    Stone Irons Posts: 430
    Here's what Stone said about the meaning of "No Way":

    "The chorus ended up saying maybe you, maybe we all need to just live life and quit trying to prove something. For me, the funnest part is the fact that Eddie's singing the line about not making a difference. . . . I think he gets off on not being responsible for it."

    Source: http://pearljamhistory.no.sapo.pt/PJArticles_Interviews_02-08-98_-_philadelphia_inquirer.htm
    Can't escape from the common rule...
    If you hate something, don't you do it too
  • GOSSArDgEEK
    GOSSArDgEEK Posts: 245
    ..
    Here’s a question you might need to ask
    What’s self destruction and how can we last?

    "I cannot stop the thought of running in the dark.
    Coming up a which way sign. All good truants must decide."
    __________________________________________

    McCain, America's scariest grandpa!
  • GOSSArDgEEK
    GOSSArDgEEK Posts: 245
    Here's what Stone said about the meaning of "No Way":

    "The chorus ended up saying maybe you, maybe we all need to just live life and quit trying to prove something. For me, the funnest part is the fact that Eddie's singing the line about not making a difference. . . . I think he gets off on not being responsible for it."

    Thanks, that puts things in a better perspective, so as goes the song...
    Here’s a question you might need to ask
    What’s self destruction and how can we last?

    "I cannot stop the thought of running in the dark.
    Coming up a which way sign. All good truants must decide."
    __________________________________________

    McCain, America's scariest grandpa!

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