To me this song is about someone who is being held back by another person and theyre being told that their dreams are unattainable. "I will stand arms outstretched pretand im free to raom" this is the person not letting go of their dreams no matter what others say they know what they want and wont give up until its theirs you can hear that in the verse "I wont change directions and i wont change my mind" and the rest song is the person saying what they will do and go threw to reach their goals and accomplish thir dreams. And when Ed sing how much difference does it make in the song he is saying to the listener what difference does it make if others dont believe in you "fuck them" as long as you believe in yourself thats all that matters. And to never let go of your dreams and who you are, to me this is a very touching and inspirational song its a song about Hope.

To me this song speaks of a new self realization, by locking yourself out from the world. the first few lines of the song certainly speak that clearly, shutting and locking the doors, and pulling the curtains down. you need time to yourself to think over what it is that happened to you, sorta like a journey into your inner self. i don't think ed's lyrics suggest totally locking yourself in a room with no contact of any sorts, but some sorta self journey to explore your thoughts. after enduring what you given your time too. you can can re-enter "the world". and you see the problems you have just rolled off your back, ("it's been about three days now since i've been aground no longer, overwhelmed and it seems so simple now"). so you just need time to yourself, for yourself sometimes.

I love this song, it's one that you wouldn't immediately assume it's Pearl Jam. I find it speaking to us about overcoming all the conflicts being thrown at an individual, reading about the violence in the news: "newspapers matter not to me, yeah" and then actually witnessing the violence ourselves: "no more crowbars to my head, yeah". Just like In Hiding was seen as taking a time out to things through, I find the same thing with this song. When things are just spinning out of control, and you can't get a grasp on life, you might want to take time to re-collect yourself. Then being Up In My Tree, is being high a-top your own self, and finding yourself.

For a long time I didn't have any clue what this song could be about. Then someone said it was about Kurt's suicide, that got me thinking. Although it's been denied the lyrics about Kurt Cobain, I see this song about suicide in general. Early in the song the word vengeances comes up meaning to fight back, however the person in this song is seen as one without that strengh and doesn't feel he/she belongs in this world. Then the "truant finds home". A truant is a word to describe someone that leaves the war during action. The war is a metaphor for life, just like a war is a struggle, our daily lives are a constant struggle. The truant has now left the war (life) and found his home (could be the after life). The rest of the song is difficult for me to interept and several ideas jump into my mind including the whole Cobain thing. The line referring to being priviledged as a whore and victimes in the demand for a public show, make me think of Cobain. How the victims saw him as something holy, and a being far greater than us. Some considered him a god or what not, they made into something greater than an average musician. Kurt had trouble dealing with the success and he was so far into it, he couldn't just say I don't wanna be your rock star anymore. So Kurt finds the trapdoor in the sun, and just escapes this our world, thus remaining immortal among us. " i cannot stop the thought...i'm running in the dark... coming up a which way sign...all good truants must decide.." Once again this line I see tying in with Cobain, and constant struggle with his success and how to get away from it, he's at a crossroad, and what to do next. Then the next line shows the decision made, "truants move on...cannot stay long, some die just to live...", maybe this character sees that's the only choice he/she is left with, and they can't be among us anymore. They don't feel alive in the world, and maybe that they're only being used for whatever purpose. So they escape through suicide, and feel alive that they have left their burden that was within them when he/she was among us. I used the example of Kurt Cobain, then again this song could be about any other person feeling the stress of life, or great pressures they no longer can deal with and feel their only choice is to escape.

Follow-up by Buru7_Sadbeauty: It could very well be about Kurt since he did actually become immortal through suicide...one of fame's lost child... and the trapdoor in the sun could very well be the downside of fame, the small letter of the contract... that could very well push you to the edge. Then I think the lyrics: "Stripped and sold mom, auctioned forearm" make reference to the fact that everyone wants a piece of you when you suddenly find yourself in a pedestal, and it must be very hard to deal with that...so you escape, you find a way out...as a truant, you move on... So anyway, I think your analysis was really good.

you all know this song is based on the true story of that boy named jeremy who killed himself in school like 10 years ago. this story really hit Eddie home because he always thought he would end up like this boy did. i know because i read that in a book once. the words in the song really make lots of sense. the boy seemed like a harmless fuck. so by his peers he's seen as something little and just a fuck. so it shows the boy as meaning nothing to anyone and just another fuck who can't harm anyone. and we are all better than him. while he's at home drawing mountain tops with him on top. and his parents do not care much for the young boy either. so he is isolated by his peers and also his own parents. so he lives in his own world where he rules. and back at school he is picked on because he seems weak to the rest. but in the end he fights back. and with all the trouble at school and home. jeremy finally comes out of his own little world and "speaks" in front of the class. very powerful message in the song. people criticize for being overplayed. but that can be a good thing. the message behind the song is the most powerful one i've seen pearl jam put out. it speaks to the left out students in high school. and telling them this can happen to them. and they can't let that happen. suicide changes nothing. jeremy wanted revenge at those who put him down. he obviously didn't get that and the world went on without him. teens have to be stronger than these "bullies" and know that what you are is within you. so next time you groan because jeremy is playing on the radio. it could be saving the life of a troubled teen.

To me this song really hits home as Im sure it does with many of you. This song to me is about the akwardness of growing up and how at times your friends might seem more of your family then your real family. Its a song praising youth and how the you will never have friends like the ones youve had while gowing up mainly in your teenage years. There is bond with friends at that age, bonds that you will probably never find again. Its also a song about rebelling against your parents and authority hence the title. I also think its Ed saying to us in a way even though Ive been called the voice of this generation Im not "I am lost, Im no guide, but Im by your side...I am right by your side" In that verse its Ed saying to his fans and his generation I dont have the answers Im just stumbling through this life like you. To me this song is basically about how when your growing up you can depend on friends more then your family or anyone else cause your friends well your real friends arent going to judge or persacute you for something you do.

To me this song is about coping with the loss of a loved one. To me it also has a certain fell to it like Release does maybe this is Ed singing to his father and saying to him that he wished he had known him and that he himself is walking this long road of life and they will be togeher sooner then he thinks.Im really not sure I thought I had a good idea about this song but now I have all kinds of ideas swimming through my head. Its been happening to me alot while doing these questions. You think you have a good idea as to what a song may mean or what it may mean to you and when you sit down to think about it and try to put your emotions into words its harder then you thought. To me that just shows how great Pearl Jam is they can invoke so many emotions and ideas with just one song they truly are amazing.

in pilate it's asking questions about your life. in this song you have most of them answered. and by the mood of the song you can see the answers can get you down. well since this is about jeff. i'll use him. so here you have him accepting the truth of what he's been looking for. but he still can't get to the core of what he's looking for and there still is a low light. obviously when there's low light you don't know where you are going or have a clear vision of that path. although jeff may want it that way. not having all the answers to all his problems. one occassion he says that he doesn't need the light. so it could be taking comfront in things you don't know. i just think it's about finding the truth to something you've been looking for and not being all too thrilled about it. but because you found the truth and know that is the truth you have to live it now.

Follow-up by PrlJade: in the Yield booklet on the page of this song, you've got 2 birds. Birds represent freedom & love - in this song Jeff begins to explore and trying to find true love. He's turning away from the dogs (double meaning) and moving onto birds. There are lines in this song that make me Jeff is singing about a lost love: "your first, my last", "can't see my tracks your scent...way back", "two birds is what they'll see, getting lost upon their way". He's recalling someone from the past, but for whatever reason the two were seperated and now Jeff is only left to dream about her. This line has great significance: "i need the light, i'll find my way from wrong, what's real, our dream i see", I can't get to it though, lots of brainstorming going on inside me after reading that short interview with Jeff. Do you know where I can get the whole thing? There might be more I can dig to understand this song. I'll get back to this song after giving it more thought, unless anyone can finish what I started or have better ideas.

it's short one but filled with lots of energy. i like this song. i think this is about eddie's loss of privacy because of his fame. he goes into the supermarket to have people staring at him. he only finds comfront and privacy in the home of his friend matt lukin. then he comes to find some stalker claiming ed's the father of her child and he raped this girl. there was some kinda story like that back in 1995 i believe. some lady was stalking eddie saying she's pregnant with ed's child. so this song angry for what he's lost and we goes through now because he's a celebrity.

ALIVE: this song once again is about Eddie and his dad.. Ed grew up believing his step dad was his biologicial father.. Alive is about Ed's mother telling the truth to the young teen.. now Ed added a bit of a twist to the lyrics.. the mother sees the physical similarities between the son and the dead father.. the husband is dead and the only way the widowed wife can reach to the ex husband is through the son.. the line "I'm still alive" is the boy telling the mother the husband is dead.. and that the boy is alive NOT the father the woman sees in the young teen..

ONCE: this song is a continuation of Alive.. the young boy that experience the truth about his father and sexual abuse from his mother is an adult.. but the past troubles him with great anger.. so becomes a serial killer.. you can feel the anger of Eddie vocals in this song and the music behind it..

FOOTSTEPS: Now the troubled character is in a jail cell reflecting on his life.. he feels ashamed for his actions and once praising I'm alive.. now probably wishing he was dead.. and wanting to be forgetten.. he puts the blame on his mother who opened the flood gates for this youth.. and the repetition of the line "It was you" shows the anger felt by this person.. and it wasn't for her.. he wouldn't have ended up this way..

I think this song is talking about fake people - those who act as someone they really aren't. It's true and it's among us everyday, and you probably talked to someone today who was just posing as something they aren't. Just look at my Yahoo name: Vedder83. So I'm gonna mention myself and not by a total hypocrit because I fell into that group Stone's singing about. It's a pattern in all mankind, and why does the world do it? Stone's asking a good question, the first thing that pops into my mind: to fit in. What's the big deal about being different? Usually the people that are unique you're most likely to remember way down the road.

This is a song about snapping out of everyday life and heading towards your dreams, and also about taking control of your own life. In life there's just so many things you can't do and even more those you only think you can't do. But all you need to do is just say "I'll do it" and you'r doing it, regardless of what everybody around you says. So if you find yourself trapped inside some maze of rules, obligations and everyday rutine --> , the song says "hey, there's no need for you to do this, you can go and do whatever you wish to do"--> . The verse refers to you and everyone else thinking that the current state is as it's supposed to be, that it's the only way it can be and there's no other way. But then it is instantly denied by the verse, which comes out just like that, meaning you actually can snap out just like that, nothing stands in your way except you. To sum it up, these days we're all trapped inside a giant machinery made of formal and informal parts, rules and agreements. It's called the society. The machinery is giant and an individual is so little. But the small size gives an individual a lot of agility, you only have to use it in a way that is good for you. You have to follow your dreams and not tie yourself up vith the useless and meaningless rules and obligations.

This song was entirely composed by Mr. Gossard, and his lyrics are much complicated than Eddie's. So my idea of the song will probably be absurd to those reading this. Some people think of these rock stars as ones who will change the world and our the prohets we look up to, as in we need them to help us out. But you've got a guy like Stone who's looking for their prophet or just a companion. Some think these rock stars just have it made and it's all right on their plate, though they are just like you and me in search of the answers to the same questions we have. So you've got Stone say "No way am I trying to change the world, I'm just looking for someone because I don't want to feel alone with all the pressure from my fans. And if you think I am making a different to the world, I'll just stop trying to make a difference, if you want to follow someone, find yourself an angel, I'm just lil ol' Stone!". That I guess is my way of thinking of what Stone's getting across in these lyrics. 

THIS IS THE FIRST SONG THAT DREW ME TO PEARL JAM. at the time i was a rabid deadhead, still am if thats posible) and concerts had become really brutal. for some reason older fans many of my friends included, felt that they had a right to first dibs on tickets and the best seats cause they were fans first. As if somehow they deserved more because they had more. and thoes rottin kids were crashing in on them. this song reflected that behavior on a planet wide level and reminded me that we need to share what we have or even give it up so someone else can have the same privleges. if you hate something don't you do it too. this is probably way off track but it worked for me at the time

Follow-up by P_K_I_O:I see "Not For You" talking about the whole media theme again, Eddie's saying this music isn't for you. There was magazines, and everyone that wanted to get a word out of Ed and what his lyrics are about. You've got people invading his personal space wanting to know so many things from him, but he just wants to be left alone. I believe the line "where did they come home from? stormed my room and you dare say it belongs to you" talks about the feelings he has and pissed off with the media or fans as if because he's this celebrity they have a right to know all about his life.

I've seen there hasn't been many songs from binaural talked about. this is probably the best song off the album. first to point out this was written by jeff. including the lyrics. this is an amazing song with powerful music and powerful words. i've heard an interview about jeff talking about his childhood and through this song he reflects on it. he thought he was happy while living it but when he grew up. he started to re-think the way it once was and whether he truly had this happy childhhood. so it was nothing as it seemed to him in the past before finding out that this is what jeff said about the the song. i had a different view of it. i thought it was about people being isolated and neglected by society: "don't feel like home, he's a little out". they don't belong any certain group, and maybe they do it to themselves: "a blanket like the ozone". the ozone protects earth. the person jeff is talking about puts a wall between himself and the world because he's an outsider. it could be self-imposed isolation. he only finds comfront in his home.

First thing: If you look in the index of Vitalogy, it describes this as: Nursing the sick & Man's relation to a girl. It's easy to say this is another relationship song. The man has pushed the woman away. Maybe he still loves her, but their spark has died and they can't get it back, "she once believed...in every story he had to tell... one day she stiffened...took the other side..." It's reflecting on what you had, and took it for granted. After it's gone you finally realize that was your true love, "caught a bolt 'a lightnin'...cursed the day he let it go...". He promised many things for this woman, but didn't go through what he may have planned, and after she left he looks back at the things he said, but now it is too late to do all those things to show the love he feels, "and he who forgets...will be destined to remember...". This song shows us, just when you think you have the most perfect relationship, you may want to look at closely if you are being the best mate you can be, otherwise you'll be left a: Nothing man or woman =)

Alright, this song to me is about two people who are in love, but there is a physical distance that seperates the couple, and yet the ocean still holds them together. I imagine this being the story of Eddie & Beth when he came up to Seattle to meet his future band. Beth was left behind in California. So obviously they are apart, but together on the shores of the same lake. Ed must've written the lyrics when he first got to Seattle to work on the new band, and that time he was already very in love with Beth. I see him as missing her very much and can't wait for the time he'll have her in his arms. "Hold tigbt the ring" could symbolize an engagement ring, and Ed's telling Beth to hang in there over the next while, but letting her know he'll be with her once again. This is how I see the story behind the lyrics, when the band played this song at the Unplugged Session, Ed first joked around saying this song is about his love for surfing, then saying it is about Beth. Of course this can be interpreted in many different possible ways, but this what comes to my mind when listening the song - truly one of the best songs written by the band.

In general this one is about disimilarities among individuals. It's the third person as seen from the eyes of the first person. In the first part of the song the first person doesn't know anything about the third person, they have just met, and the 1st person dares sugesting a way of life to the third person, in a little bit patronising tone maybe. The sugestions are then not turned down, neither are they ignored, but are faced with an unusual (for the 1st person) attitude. Then (second part) the two people get to know each other better and the 1st person realizes the 3rd person is realy pretty hard to understand through his (1st person's) logic, his way of thinking, so the 1st person tries to 'make a map' of the 3rd person, tries to predicts his behaviour eventhough he does not understand it, or understands less and less the more he gets familiar with the 3rd person. There's even a bit of admiration in that second part. In the third part the 1st person realizes his 'map making' is a pile of bullshit and is again nowhere in knowing the 3rd person, he's out of the logic system, doesn't fit the map, is simply unknown. Fourth part, acceptance, the 1st person accepts the unlogical behaviour of the 3rd person, and also accepts the fact that he (1st person) will never be able to understand it, so he simply enjoys the benefit of the fullfiling friendship among them.

Follow-up by Buru7_Sadbeauty:I always felt that this song was just about one person. That person analysing his/her own personality. As if you were looking at yourself from the outside...remembering maybe how you used to be like, remembering the old you and once again becoming reaquainted with yourself. As if somewhere along the line you had become someone else, as if you were a different person, but now you're finally getting back to the version of yourself you liked, unifying all you have learnt and becoming "one" once more. The fact that the old you wasn't lost: "And now I rub my eyes, for he has returned...Seems my preconceptions are what should've been burnt...For he still smiles and he's still strong...Nothing's changed but the surrounding bullshit, that has grown... The bad thing though is that the feeling doesn't last for long, because "before his first step, he is off again..." I don't know, to me it always meant this cause I've felt and still feel that way about myself, I feel that somewhere along the way I lost track and I yet have to find myself, remember how I used to be before I changed...