Song of the Moment: Immortality

General Pearl Jam discussion.
Post Reply

Rate Immortality

5 Stars
70
95%
4 Stars
2
3%
3 Stars
2
3%
2 Stars
0
No votes
1 Star
0
No votes
 
Total votes: 74

User avatar
igotworms
likes rhythmic things that butt up against each other
Posts: 592
Joined: Wed September 11, 2013 3:36 pm

Re: Song of the Moment: Immortality

Post by igotworms »

I've always assumed this song is about the price of fame, the way the music industry burns through artists - and particularly vulnerable/sensitive artists - with no regard for them. Exploitation of Youth and talent.

"Vessel stabbed, next up volunteer"

"Stripped and sold"

"Victims in demand for public show"

And then there's Ed's own feelings about being part of this and a reference to Kurt, another victim of the same exploitation.

Immortality = the fame/legend... but it ain't all its cracked up to be.... there's a trapdoor in the sun.
Last edited by igotworms on Thu November 02, 2023 12:21 pm, edited 1 time in total.
User avatar
tragabigzanda
Production Police
Posts: 51634
Joined: Tue September 24, 2013 5:56 pm

Re: Song of the Moment: Immortality

Post by tragabigzanda »

pearl jam sucks now
Last edited by tragabigzanda on Thu January 01, 2026 9:35 pm, edited 1 time in total.
User avatar
epilogue
We All We Got, We All We Need
Posts: 84846
Joined: Tue January 01, 2013 5:33 pm
Location: Ghorman
Contact:

Re: Song of the Moment: Immortality

Post by epilogue »

tragabigzanda wrote:I really like both of that and epilogue’s reading too

Some of Ed’s best lyrics. Evocative without ever being too on the nose or “finger waggy
100%

It's so much of what makes the song so moving to me.
User avatar
epilogue
We All We Got, We All We Need
Posts: 84846
Joined: Tue January 01, 2013 5:33 pm
Location: Ghorman
Contact:

Re: Song of the Moment: Immortality

Post by epilogue »

And I think all the interpretations that have been mentioned so far are super valid and interesting. I buy all of them.
User avatar
E.H. Ruddock
Guys, I am not a moderator! I swear to God! Why does everyone think I'm a moderator?
Posts: 51786
Joined: Tue January 01, 2013 2:48 pm

Re: Song of the Moment: Immortality

Post by E.H. Ruddock »

I thought it was about being immortal
Clouuuuds Rolll byyy...BANG BANG BANG BANG
User avatar
stip
The worst
Posts: 42946
Joined: Thu December 13, 2012 6:31 pm

Re: Song of the Moment: Immortality

Post by stip »

whatever its about, we can all agree it makes an excellent closer
User avatar
Farmer John
Misplaced My Sponge
Posts: 6458
Joined: Wed January 02, 2013 9:25 pm

Re: Song of the Moment: Immortality

Post by Farmer John »

I thought it's about how he stripped and sold his mom (sans forearm), and auctioned off her forearm separately. Pretty sick shit.
User avatar
epilogue
We All We Got, We All We Need
Posts: 84846
Joined: Tue January 01, 2013 5:33 pm
Location: Ghorman
Contact:

Re: Song of the Moment: Immortality

Post by epilogue »

stip wrote:whatever its about, we can all agree it makes an excellent closer
:lol:
User avatar
Anders
NEVER STOP JAMMING!
Posts: 23452
Joined: Fri July 12, 2013 9:11 pm
Twitter: https://twitter.com/lowenan
Location: Oslo, Norway

Re: Song of the Moment: Immortality

Post by Anders »

Well deserved, very high five star percentage.
User avatar
Sloppy Dupree
Broken Tamborine
Posts: 491
Joined: Thu January 09, 2025 1:49 pm

Re: Song of the Moment: Immortality

Post by Sloppy Dupree »

I stumbled on a pic of Kurt’s journal entry dated a week before he died and it made me think of this song. Whether or not it’s about Kurt’s death… it’s still a great track.
Keep on rockin’ in the free world.
Post Reply