Released: September 26, 2000

Songwriter: Eddie Vedder Stone Gossard

Producer: John Burton Brett Eliason

I admit it, what's to say? Yeah
I'll relive it without pain

Backstreet lover on the side of the road
I got a bomb in my temple that is gonna explode
I got a sixteen gauge buried under my clothes
I play

Once upon a time, I could control myself
Ooh, once upon a time, I could lose myself, yeah

Oh, try and mimic what's insane, ooh
I am in it, where do I stand?

Oh, Indian summer and I hate the heat
I got a backstreet lover on the passenger seat
I got my hand in my pocket, so determined, discreet
I pray

Once upon a time I could control myself
Ooh, once upon a time I could lose myself, yeah, yeah

You think I got my eyes closed
But I'm lookin' at you the whole fuckin' time

Ooh, once upon a time I could control myself, yeah
Once upon a time I could lose myself, yeah, yeah, yeah
Once, upon a time I could love myself, yeah
Once upon a time I could love you, yeah

Once, once, once, once
Yeah, once, once, yeah yeah
Yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah

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.

more tracks from the album

6/11/00 - Rock Im Park - Nürnberg, Germany (Live)