The Fixer lyrics...

fortyshades · July 2009

The song has been aired, I believe...

Anyone a take on the lyrics?

kapsolas · July 2009

few seconds of it was played from what I heard. not whole song.

WhyNotSweden · July 2009

When something’s on let me shed a little light on it
When something’s cold let me put a little fire on it
If something’s old I wanna put a bit of shine on it
When something’s gone I wanna fight to get it back again
Yeah Yeah Yeah Yeah
Fight to get it back again
Yeah Yeah Yeah Yeah

When something’s broke I wanna put a bit of fixin on it
If something’s bored I wanna put a little excited on it
If something’s low I wanna put a little high on it
If something’s lost I wanna fight to get it back again
Yeah Yeah Yeah Yeah
Fight to get it back again
Yeah Yeah Yeah Yeah

When signals cross, i want to put a bit of straight on it.
if there's no love, i want to try to love again.
I’ll say your prayers I’ll take your side
I promise a way to make light
I'll dig your grave
We'll dance and sing
What's saved could be one last lifetime

Yeah Yeah Yeah Yeah
Fight to get it back again
Yeah Yeah Yeah Yeah

BadRadio16 · July 2009

The Fixer Lyrics

When something’s dark let me shed a little light on it
When something’s cold let me put a little fire on it
If something’s old I wanna put a bit of shine on it
When something’s gone I wanna fight to get it back again
Yeah Yeah Yeah Yeah
Fight to get it back again
Yeah Yeah Yeah Yeah

When something’s broke I wanna put a bit of fixin on it
When something’s bored I wanna put a little excited on it
If something’s low I wanna put a little high on it
When something’s lost I wanna fight to get it back again
Yeah Yeah Yeah Yeah
Fight to get it back again
Yeah Yeah Yeah Yeah

When signals cross I wanna put a little straight on it
If there’s no love I want to try to love again
I’ll say your prayers I’ll take your side
I'll burn as a way to make light
I'll dig your grave
We'll dance and sing
What's saved could be
One last lifetime

Yeah Yeah Yeah Yeah
Fight to get it back again
Yeah Yeah Yeah Yeah

mauichick · July 2009

Is it for sure that Ed wrote them? Are there credits (lyrics/songwriting) listed anywhere?

ForrestTheFish · July 2009

I doubt that these lyrics were written by Eddie himself. However they do actually have a lot of meaning. The lyrics' message is how one must have balance in life and how one's energy must resignate with the energy of the universe in order to live a life with a complete inner peace (happiness). It goes into how, in the present state of our societies, most people have to go through an inner battle in order to find that balance. Some of the other messages include how you must never stop trying and doing your best, how it is never too late to make changes and improvements to your lifestyle and perspective, how to sustain a balance, how it is important to accept the way that others live and the perspectives of our fellow peers, how it is important to shine as much light into the world as possible in order to "fix" the dysfunction inside of it, and how the lives that we live now may be our last lifetimes as individuals on Planet Earth. But most importantly, it shows that we all have the capability of changing the world and making it a better place! We are ALL fixers!

So although they do not seem like they were written by Eddie himself, I still believe that they have a lot of meaning behind them!!!!

weenie · July 2009

ForrestTheFish wrote:

I doubt that these lyrics were written by Eddie himself. However they do actually have a lot of meaning. The lyrics' message is how one must have balance in life and how one's energy must resignate with the energy of the universe in order to live a life with a complete inner peace (happiness). It goes into how, in the present state of our societies, most people have to go through an inner battle in order to find that balance. Some of the other messages include how you must never stop trying and doing your best, how it is never too late to make changes and improvements to your lifestyle and perspective, how to sustain a balance, how it is important to accept the way that others live and the perspectives of our fellow peers, how it is important to shine as much light into the world as possible in order to "fix" the dysfunction inside of it, and how the lives that we live now may be our last lifetimes as individuals on Planet Earth. But most importantly, it shows that we all have the capability of changing the world and making it a better place! We are ALL fixers!

So although they do not seem like they were written by Eddie himself, I still believe that they have a lot of meaning behind them!!!!

Looks like Matt wrote them......

EDIT: Looks like Matt wrote the music, but not the words....

fortyshades · July 2009

I just read the lyrics and they can also have a very dark interpretation as in getting "a fix"; drug related. (Would explain somewhat the vocal delivery.) I have the feeling that there is more than meet the eyes here. Just like in Wishlist; looks like a simple song until you sense the lonelines in the lyrics "i wish I was the pedal break that you depended on" or "I wish I was the verb to trust and never let you down" (look at the contradiction: meaning I will let you down; for I wish to be the verb, but I'm not..) It sounds positive but there is an hidden edge there... In the same way with You. (Especially the "negative" version on Lost Dogs, compared to the "positive" version on the b-side.)

I think that if we truly analyse these lyrics, especially in context of the album they may be a bit darker than expected. On the other hand I may just be blowing smoke out of my ass.

Either way, I like the song

weenie · July 2009

fortyshades wrote:

I just read the lyrics and they can also have a very dark interpretation as in getting "a fix"; drug related. (Would explain somewhat the vocal delivery.) I have the feeling that there is more than meet the eyes here. Just like in Wishlist; looks like a simple song until you sense the lonelines in the lyrics "i wish I was the pedal break that you depended on" or "I wish I was the verb to trust and never let you down" (look at the contradiction: meaning I will let you down; for I wish to be the verb, but I'm not..) It sounds positive but there is an hidden edge there... In the same way with you. (Especially the "negative" version on Lost Dogs, compared to the "positive" version on the b-side.)

I think that if we truly analyse these lyrics, especially in context of the album they may be a bit darker than expected. On the other hand I may just be blowing smoke out of my ass.

Either way, I like the song

Terrific analysis. I like your depth.

I will definitely listen with a different ear.

weenie · July 2009

UPDATE: I have to admit the song is growing on me. I can't get the hook out of my brain and I love how Ed uses his voice. It is very commercial, but I'm starting to be able to live with that. Gotta see how the rest of the CD hits me.

brianrchapin · July 2009

My interpretation of these lyrics for both the Fixer (and Got Some) is quite the opposite from the poster who was trying to find something DARK in the song. I think this song is hopeful and optimistic. This song, as well as Got Some, follow a path from "Avocado". With songs like Inside Job and Come Back at the end of the album, we saw Pearl Jam's message changing from most of the rest of the album. After expressing anger and depression over the state of the country and the world and certain personal relationships in Wasted Life, Worldwide Suicide, Severed Hand, Marker in the Sand, Unemployable, etc., we saw the band in the last two songs turn toward expressing hope for the future and a generally more optimistic outlook on life.

Now, we see the band leading the fight for hope and optimism. In Got Some, it's "I got some if you need it," "Turn it up, set it off," "The situation, which side are you on, are you on the rise...", and concluding with "I got some if you need it...Carry on, let's go". You can hear the band saying, "Come on, life is getting better, our country is getting better, let's go, let's carry this momentum forward!"

Then, in The Fixer, it's just one positive message after another. "When somethin's cold, let me put a little fire on it", "When somethin's broke, I wanna put a little fixin' on it," "When somethin's dark, let me shine a little light on it," then, the line leading into the refrain, "When something's lost, I want to FIGHT TO GET IT BACK AGAIN," and then that refrain, repeated over and over, punctuated with "Yeah, Yeah, Yeah, Yeah".

I attribute the positivity to a couple of factors. First, as we all know, Pearl Jam has been very politically active, supported Vote For Change, etc. They can't have been unaffected by the groundswell of hope and optimism that swept Barack Obama to victory and gave many of us the feeling that for the first time in a long time, our country was turning the corner toward a more positive state of being. It must have given the guys from PJ the sense that their years of activism were bearing fruit at the national level.

Second, Eddie in particular has been flourishing, having found love again and having fathered two daughters in the last several years. Being the father of a sweet, beautiful 3 year-old girl myself, I can vouch for how much happiness a little girl (not to mention two!) can bring into her dad's life.

I think the band is happy, optimistic, hopeful, and is wanting to use these songs to carry those sentiments forward and spread them among the community of fans and music lovers in general.

weenie · July 2009

brianrchapin wrote:

My interpretation of these lyrics for both the Fixer (and Got Some) is quite the opposite from the poster who was trying to find something DARK in the song. I think this song is hopeful and optimistic. This song, as well as Got Some, follow a path from "Avocado". With songs like Inside Job and Come Back at the end of the album, we saw Pearl Jam's message changing from most of the rest of the album. After expressing anger and depression over the state of the country and the world and certain personal relationships in Wasted Life, Worldwide Suicide, Severed Hand, Marker in the Sand, Unemployable, etc., we saw the band in the last two songs turn toward expressing hope for the future and a generally more optimistic outlook on life.

Now, we see the band leading the fight for hope and optimism. In Got Some, it's "I got some if you need it," "Turn it up, set it off," "The situation, which side are you on, are you on the rise...", and concluding with "I got some if you need it...Carry on, let's go". You can hear the band saying, "Come on, life is getting better, our country is getting better, let's go, let's carry this momentum forward!"

Then, in The Fixer, it's just one positive message after another. "When somethin's cold, let me put a little fire on it", "When somethin's broke, I wanna put a little fixin' on it," "When somethin's dark, let me shine a little light on it," then, the line leading into the refrain, "When something's lost, I want to FIGHT TO GET IT BACK AGAIN," and then that refrain, repeated over and over, punctuated with "Yeah, Yeah, Yeah, Yeah".

I attribute the positivity to a couple of factors. First, as we all know, Pearl Jam has been very politically active, supported Vote For Change, etc. They can't have been unaffected by the groundswell of hope and optimism that swept Barack Obama to victory and gave many of us the feeling that for the first time in a long time, our country was turning the corner toward a more positive state of being. It must have given the guys from PJ the sense that their years of activism were bearing fruit at the national level.

Second, Eddie in particular has been flourishing, having found love again and having fathered two daughters in the last several years. Being the father of a sweet, beautiful 3 year-old girl myself, I can vouch for how much happiness a little girl (not to mention two!) can bring into her dad's life.

I think the band is happy, optimistic, hopeful, and is wanting to use these songs to carry those sentiments forward and spread them among the community of fans and music lovers in general.

Another excellent analysis. You would make a fine English Lit Professor

It's not necessary to debate ONE correct interpretation. As mentioned on this board many times, the words mean what the words mean to each and every individual.

I think that you may have correctly focused on where the band, particularly Ed, are at this point in time which resonates with the words of both songs. The poster who interpreted the song with a "dark" connotation is correct also. Only the writer could say with certainty which correlation most closely represents his state of mind while composing the words. Unlike numbers, words are not absolute and have many permutations IMHO. Great job brianchapin!

riCotokYo · July 2009

brianrchapin wrote:

My interpretation of these lyrics for both the Fixer (and Got Some) is quite the opposite from the poster who was trying to find something DARK in the song. I think this song is hopeful and optimistic. This song, as well as Got Some, follow a path from "Avocado". With songs like Inside Job and Come Back at the end of the album, we saw Pearl Jam's message changing from most of the rest of the album. After expressing anger and depression over the state of the country and the world and certain personal relationships in Wasted Life, Worldwide Suicide, Severed Hand, Marker in the Sand, Unemployable, etc., we saw the band in the last two songs turn toward expressing hope for the future and a generally more optimistic outlook on life.

Now, we see the band leading the fight for hope and optimism. In Got Some, it's "I got some if you need it," "Turn it up, set it off," "The situation, which side are you on, are you on the rise...", and concluding with "I got some if you need it...Carry on, let's go". You can hear the band saying, "Come on, life is getting better, our country is getting better, let's go, let's carry this momentum forward!"

Then, in The Fixer, it's just one positive message after another. "When somethin's cold, let me put a little fire on it", "When somethin's broke, I wanna put a little fixin' on it," "When somethin's dark, let me shine a little light on it," then, the line leading into the refrain, "When something's lost, I want to FIGHT TO GET IT BACK AGAIN," and then that refrain, repeated over and over, punctuated with "Yeah, Yeah, Yeah, Yeah".

I attribute the positivity to a couple of factors. First, as we all know, Pearl Jam has been very politically active, supported Vote For Change, etc. They can't have been unaffected by the groundswell of hope and optimism that swept Barack Obama to victory and gave many of us the feeling that for the first time in a long time, our country was turning the corner toward a more positive state of being. It must have given the guys from PJ the sense that their years of activism were bearing fruit at the national level.

Second, Eddie in particular has been flourishing, having found love again and having fathered two daughters in the last several years. Being the father of a sweet, beautiful 3 year-old girl myself, I can vouch for how much happiness a little girl (not to mention two!) can bring into her dad's life.

I think the band is happy, optimistic, hopeful, and is wanting to use these songs to carry those sentiments forward and spread them among the community of fans and music lovers in general.

i totally agree, even the chord progressions (says a drummer?!) seem to be more uplifting!....

fortyshades · July 2009

brianrchapin wrote:

My interpretation of these lyrics for both the Fixer (and Got Some) is quite the opposite from the poster who was trying to find something DARK in the song. I think this song is hopeful and optimistic. This song, as well as Got Some, follow a path from "Avocado". With songs like Inside Job and Come Back at the end of the album, we saw Pearl Jam's message changing from most of the rest of the album. After expressing anger and depression over the state of the country and the world and certain personal relationships in Wasted Life, Worldwide Suicide, Severed Hand, Marker in the Sand, Unemployable, etc., we saw the band in the last two songs turn toward expressing hope for the future and a generally more optimistic outlook on life.

Now, we see the band leading the fight for hope and optimism. In Got Some, it's "I got some if you need it," "Turn it up, set it off," "The situation, which side are you on, are you on the rise...", and concluding with "I got some if you need it...Carry on, let's go". You can hear the band saying, "Come on, life is getting better, our country is getting better, let's go, let's carry this momentum forward!"

Then, in The Fixer, it's just one positive message after another. "When somethin's cold, let me put a little fire on it", "When somethin's broke, I wanna put a little fixin' on it," "When somethin's dark, let me shine a little light on it," then, the line leading into the refrain, "When something's lost, I want to FIGHT TO GET IT BACK AGAIN," and then that refrain, repeated over and over, punctuated with "Yeah, Yeah, Yeah, Yeah".

I attribute the positivity to a couple of factors. First, as we all know, Pearl Jam has been very politically active, supported Vote For Change, etc. They can't have been unaffected by the groundswell of hope and optimism that swept Barack Obama to victory and gave many of us the feeling that for the first time in a long time, our country was turning the corner toward a more positive state of being. It must have given the guys from PJ the sense that their years of activism were bearing fruit at the national level.

Second, Eddie in particular has been flourishing, having found love again and having fathered two daughters in the last several years. Being the father of a sweet, beautiful 3 year-old girl myself, I can vouch for how much happiness a little girl (not to mention two!) can bring into her dad's life.

I think the band is happy, optimistic, hopeful, and is wanting to use these songs to carry those sentiments forward and spread them among the community of fans and music lovers in general.

Love your interpretation... (Even though I was the original poster who "tried to find something dark".) I made a whole analysis once on ST and the progression of the songs. (I think the post was called "going back to meaning"; it's 1 o'clock in the morning here, so I'm a bit too tired to find it; but it's here on the forum.) And I couldn't agree with you more on Come Back and Inside Job. (Even tho here also there is a hidden meaning in here - see my former post...)

All I was trying to point out in the original post, especially in reaction to all the negativity on the forum, that there is - most often than not - an underlying hidden meaning or interpretation in PJ songs and lyrics. (For example in You and Wishlist.) There is a surface and than something more... What that something more is, well, that is open for interpretation.

Regarding to Fixer however, I do concur that it is screams positivity. (Including the drums.) The title bugs me tho, it's ambigous at best. (Love the Turn it up, set it off, metaphore btw I love and your interpretation of it.) I do not think these lyrics are political, as like ST was political. I think they are political in a more philosophical sense: of internalized politics, as in "where do you stand".

Either way, I love these debats on lyrics. Too badly that they don't happen enough on this forum... :(

Keep the interpretations going...

CitizenPJ · August 2009

I think it is relatively simple. If something's broke, put a little fixin' on it. Take action. Don't just wait for the world to change, move, do, work, fix it.

NotForYou91 · August 2009

"When something's dull, let me shed a little light on it"

Otherwise the first two go's at the lyrics look/sound correct.

But listen carefully on the line I put above, it's definitely "Dull" not "on" or "dark"

fortyshades · August 2009

CitizenPJ wrote:

I think it is relatively simple. If something's broke, put a little fixin' on it. Take action. Don't just wait for the world to change, move, do, work, fix it.

Agreed. +1. Ed Vedder says smae thing in last interview.

grazman · August 2009

NotForYou91 wrote:

"When something's dull, let me shed a little light on it"

Otherwise the first two go's at the lyrics look/sound correct.

But listen carefully on the line I put above, it's definitely "Dull" not "on" or "dark"

dont agree. Its definately 'dark' not dull or on. Can hear the 'k' sound at the end of the line as he goes into 'let me shed a little light on it'

NotForYou91 · August 2009

grazman wrote:

NotForYou91 wrote:

"When something's dull, let me shed a little light on it"

Otherwise the first two go's at the lyrics look/sound correct.

But listen carefully on the line I put above, it's definitely "Dull" not "on" or "dark"

dont agree. Its definately 'dark' not dull or on. Can hear the 'k' sound at the end of the line as he goes into 'let me shed a little light on it'

youtube "The Fixer - Calgary" - It has to be "Dull"

Amplify the song loud, it is definitely Dull.

I'll argue until I get proved right once we get the liner notes in the album, lol.

helplessdancer · August 2009

BadRadio16 wrote:

The Fixer Lyrics

When something’s dark let me shed a little light on it
When something’s cold let me put a little fire on it
If something’s old I wanna put a bit of shine on it
When something’s gone I wanna fight to get it back again
Yeah Yeah Yeah Yeah
Fight to get it back again
Yeah Yeah Yeah Yeah

When something’s broke I wanna put a bit of fixin on it
When something’s bored I wanna put a little excited on it
If something’s low I wanna put a little high on it
When something’s lost I wanna fight to get it back again
Yeah Yeah Yeah Yeah
Fight to get it back again
Yeah Yeah Yeah Yeah

When signals cross I wanna put a little straight on it
If there’s no love I want to try to love again
I’ll say your prayers I’ll take your side
I'll burn as a way to make light
I'll dig your grave
We'll dance and sing
What's saved could be
One last lifetime

Yeah Yeah Yeah Yeah
Fight to get it back again
Yeah Yeah Yeah Yeah

i love the internet. this song is realll fine. such a wonderful UP feeling/vibration. makes me smile.

omg, here i go again...

damn those new music addictions

justam · August 2009

BadRadio16 wrote:

The Fixer Lyrics

When something’s dark let me shed a little light on it
When something’s cold let me put a little fire on it
If something’s old I wanna put a bit of shine on it
When something’s gone I wanna fight to get it back again
Yeah Yeah Yeah Yeah
Fight to get it back again
Yeah Yeah Yeah Yeah

When something’s broke I wanna put a bit of fixin on it
When something’s bored I wanna put a little excited on it
If something’s low I wanna put a little high on it
When something’s lost I wanna fight to get it back again
Yeah Yeah Yeah Yeah
Fight to get it back again
Yeah Yeah Yeah Yeah

When signals cross I wanna put a little straight on it
If there’s no love I want to try to love again
I’ll say your prayers I’ll take your side
I'll burn as a way to make light
I'll dig your grave
We'll dance and sing
What's saved could be
One last lifetime

Yeah Yeah Yeah Yeah
Fight to get it back again
Yeah Yeah Yeah Yeah

These seem like the right words to me.

I really like the positive mood of this song very much.

WhyNotSweden · September 2009

Helping J

Dollar Short · September 2009

this song is also played on Monday night football when they go to commercial. Just the beginning. Love it!!

PB67692 · October 2009

The only difference I see is that he is singing:
...I wanna fight to get it back again
Yeah Yeah Yeah Yeah
If I could get it back again
Yeah Yeah Yeah Yeah

and then at the end again it's

Yeah Yeah Yeah Yeah
Fight to get it back again
Yeah Yeah Yeah Yeah
If I could get it back again
Yeah Yeah Yeah Yeah
If I could get it back again
Yeah Yeah Yeah Yeah

When something’s dark let me shed a little light on it
When something’s cold let me put a little fire on it
If something’s old I wanna put a bit of shine on it
When something’s gone I wanna fight to get it back again
Yeah Yeah Yeah Yeah
If I could get it back again
Yeah Yeah Yeah Yeah

When something’s broke I wanna put a bit of fixin on it
When something’s bored I wanna put a little excited on it
If something’s low I wanna put a little high on it
When something’s lost I wanna fight to get it back again
Yeah Yeah Yeah Yeah
If I could get it back again
Yeah Yeah Yeah Yeah

When signals cross I wanna put a little straight on it
If there’s no love I want to try to love again
I’ll say your prayers I’ll take your side
I'll burn as a way to make light
I'll dig your grave
We'll dance and sing
What's saved could be
Our last lifetime

Yeah Yeah Yeah Yeah
Fight to get it back again
Yeah Yeah Yeah Yeah
If I could get it back again
Yeah Yeah Yeah Yeah
If I could get it back again
Yeah Yeah Yeah Yeah

Ms. Haiku · October 2009

If it's about a typewriter, then it does what it does. I can put shine on something that did not have shine before by backspacing and then adding a new word.

See I write cold if I backspaced 4 I could write fire instead.

I like how it adds a reference to an inanimate object by giving it the ability to change things, when it's really at the will of the typist.

The Fixer lyrics...

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