Pearl Jam

Released: May 2, 2006

Songwriter: Mike McCready Matt Cameron Eddie Vedder

Producer: Adam Kasper Pearl Jam

[Verse 1]
He's got a big gold ring what says "Jesus Saves"
And it's dented from the punch thrown at work that day
When he smashed the metal locker where he kept his things
After the big boss said, "You best be on your way"

[Chorus]
Oh, yeah
So this life is sacrifice
Oh, yeah
Jumping trains just to survive

[Verse 2]
Well, his wife and kid are sleeping but he's still awake
On his brain weighs the curse of thirty bills unpaid
Gets up, lights a cigarette he's grown to hate
Thinking if he can't sleep, how will he ever dream?

[Chorus]
Yeah, so this life is sacrificed
Oh, yeah
To a strangers bottom line
Oh yeah, I've seen the light
Uh-oh oh oh
Uh-oh oh oh
I'm scared alive
Near to death
Uh-oh oh oh
Uh-oh oh oh
I've seen the light, scared alive

[Chorus]
Yeah, so this life is sacrificed
Oh, yeah
Was a dream that had to die
Oh yeah, I've seen the light
Uh-oh oh oh
Uh-oh oh oh
I'm scared alive
Near to death
Uh-oh oh oh
Uh-oh oh oh
I've seen the light, scared alive
Uh-oh oh oh
Oh oh oh

[Outro]
I'm near to death
Here to die
Scared alive
Near to death
Here to die
Scared of life

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

Pearl Jam

From the album

Pearl Jam (2006)

Pearl Jam popular songs

UnemployablePearl Jam

Pearl Jam

Pearl Jam