Released: October 19, 1993

Songwriter: Stone Gossard Jeff Ament Eddie Vedder

Producer: Pearl Jam Brendan O’Brien

[Verse 1]
I will light the match this morning so I won't be alone
Watch as she lies silent for soon night will be gone
Oh, I will stand arms outstretched, pretend I'm free to roam
Oh, I will make my way through one more day in hell

[Chorus]
How much difference does it make?
How much difference does it make?

[Verse 2]
I will hold the candle 'til it burns up my arm
Oh, I'll keep taking punches until their will grows tired
Oh, I will stare the sun down until my eyes go blind
Hey, I won't change direction and I won't change my mind

[Chorus]
How much difference does it make?
Mmm how much difference does it make?

[Verse 3]
I'll swallow poison until I grow immune
I will scream my lungs out 'til it fills this room

[Chorus]
How much difference
How much difference
How much difference does it make?
How much difference does it make?

(Ooh)

Pearl Jam

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.