Footsteps. Best PJ song ever?

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pledgeagrievance
pledgeagrievance Posts: 2,874
in The Porch
I was listening to PJ radio on the way home and Footsteps came on. The case for it being the best song they've recorded is as follows:

The lyrics. "I've got scratches all over my arms/one for each day since I fell apart" encapsulates the universality of the song as a whole. Even if someone hasn't been through a bad breakup, the lyric can apply to just about any feeling of loss or hopelessness.

The history of the music. Its relation to temple of the dog and times of trouble

Please feel free to add more . . .

For me, present tense was on top for a long time but today it's got to be footsteps
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Comments

  • FrankY59
    FrankY59 Posts: 1,052
    With or without the harmonica?
  • iamloco724
    iamloco724 Brooklyn NY Posts: 1,441
    Its certainly my favorite!
  • FrankieG
    FrankieG Abingdon MD Posts: 9,100
    Close to best ever, but Breath is the best ever ;)
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  • mwplum
    mwplum Posts: 1,542
    It's definitely up there...I get chills just hearing that intro
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  • rummy
    rummy British Columbia, Canada Posts: 4,466
    FrankY59 said:

    With or without the harmonica?

    I prefer it without.
  • lazyjc22
    lazyjc22 Posts: 136
    Which came first, Foosteps, or Times of Trouble?
  • jlaustin
    jlaustin Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 2,355
    One of my all time favorites. Agree, OP, I get chills every time I hear "I got scratches..."
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  • RiotZact
    RiotZact Posts: 6,292
    It's about 5th or so for me but I'd probably say it's my favorite PJ guitar riff.
  • red mos
    red mos Posts: 4,953
    I think footsteps came first. Don't hate me if I am wrong.
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  • njnancy
    njnancy Posts: 5,096
    It's definitely in my top 5 - i love everything about the song. And the op is right; it can apply to more situations than a break-up. It's a beautiful mix of anger and sadness; deep wounds. I have times when i'll put Footsteps on loop and just let my pain and tears flow.
  • KC138045
    KC138045 Columbus, OH Posts: 2,716
    s="Quote" rel="red mos">I think footsteps came first. Don't hate me if I am wrong.

    I asked about this a while ago and I think I was told times of trouble was first. Either way I prefer Footsteps (with hormonica) over TOT.
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  • whofeelslikeadrank
    whofeelslikeadrank Posts: 2,702
    Footsteps is my favorite PJ song. momma-son.
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  • Wobbie
    Wobbie Posts: 31,238
    I'm partial to times of trouble...
    If I had known then what I know now...

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  • DewieCox
    DewieCox Posts: 11,432
    I love Footsteps, but it don't think it would be all that close to the top.
  • TheLuckyOnes
    TheLuckyOnes Posts: 476
    Now:it's good.
    Back in the day: put me over the top; this band is incredible. This is the song they're NOT putting on an album!?!?!?! WTF!!??!?!?

    cheers
  • FoxyRedLa
    FoxyRedLa Lauren / MI Posts: 4,810
    Footsteps came first - at the same time they were putting together TOTD. Chris rearranged it to fit his lyrics.
    Oh please let it rain today.
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  • BinFrog
    BinFrog MA Posts: 7,314
    rummy said:

    FrankY59 said:

    With or without the harmonica?

    I prefer it without.


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  • SVRDhand13
    SVRDhand13 Posts: 26,997
    Its third place for me, only behind Black and Present Tense.
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  • Spiritual_Chaos
    Spiritual_Chaos Posts: 31,445
    WHY GO is the perfect Pearl Jam song.

    But the best would be Release, Hard to Imagine or Breath I think. Footsteps is up there though.
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  • pjradio
    pjradio Posts: 6,704
    FoxyRedLa said:

    Footsteps came first - at the same time they were putting together TOTD. Chris rearranged it to fit his lyrics.

    "The music for the "Footsteps," which was written by Pearl Jam's Stone Gossard, was first used by Cornell and Gossard on the Temple of the Dog song "Times of Trouble." Footsteps" was later released by Pearl Jam as the B-side on the single for "Jeremy."
    aqo2t.jpg

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