Pearl Jam

Released: October 15, 2013

Songwriter: Jeff Ament Eddie Vedder

Producer: Brendan O’Brien

I come from a genius and I am my father’s son
Yeah, too bad he was a psychopath and now I’m the next in line
Then there's dear mother, yeah surely she’s a work of art
Never got top dollar, but she gave us all our start

Can I get a reprieve?
This gene pool drowning me
Can I beg a release?
I'm a volunteer amputee?
From the moment I fail
I call on DNA
Why such betrayal
Got me tooth and nail

Yeah, how’s about one conversation with nothing else left to be had
With this your young long lost son, and his never had dear old dad
I forget the insemination and for that I’m s’posed to be glad?
What a pity you left us so soon to climb your mountain of regret

Can I get a reprieve?
This gene pool dark and deep
Can I beg a release?
Can I volunteer amputee?
From the moment I fell
I called on DNA
Why such betrayal?
Oh I gotta set sail

All real bright light shining as you’re trying to breathe in thin air
Cannot forget you’re hiding collected wounds left unhealed
When every thought you’re thinking sinks you darker than the new moon sky
The far away lights rising in the whites of your eyes

Now father you’re dead and gone and I’m finally free to be me
Thanks for all your fucked-up gifts for which I’ve got no sympathy
I’m living in a war torn place, hear the bombs, a 5th symphony
Thanks for this and thanks for that, I gotta let go legacy

Can I get a reprieve?
This gene pool drowning me
Can I beg a release?
Can I volunteer amputee?
From the moment I fell
I called on DNA
Why such betrayal
Oh I gotta set sail

Founded in 1990 in Seattle, Pearl Jam is one of the most successful bands out of the grunge movement, if not of the whole alternative rock scene from the early 90s. The group started with Stone Gossard (guitar) and Jeff Ament (bass), veterans of the proto-grunge scene, recording a demo along with local guitarist Mike McCready. Once the tape passed along, it attracted a San Diego-based singer, Eddie Vedder. Along with drummer Dave Krusen, they signed with Epic Records and released Ten in 1991, which by the following year was becoming one of the most successful debut albums ever.

Growing uncomfortable with success, the following albums went for a more anguished and experimental sound, and the band’s notorious activism had its most prominent case once they boycotted Ticketmaster, accusing them of price-gouging fans. In the meantime, various drummers passed through the band, with percussion only settling once Soundgarden’s Matt Cameron joined them in the tour for 1998’s Yield.

With 10 studio albums and various live recordings (including “Official Bootlegs” of basically every concert the band performed since 2000), Pearl Jam has sold nearly 32 million records in the U.S. and an estimated 60 million worldwide.

more tracks from the album

Lightning Bolt

From the album

Lightning Bolt (2013)

Pearl Jam popular songs

My Father’s SonPearl Jam

Pearl Jam

Lightning Bolt