IV-50: Brain of J vs. In Hiding

[Jorge]

What lines do you have a problem with, exactly? Mostly the third verse, right? And maybe the "I surfaced when all of my being was enlightened" thing from the pre-chorus?

[Kaius]

I've never had a problem with In Hiding's lyrics. I can't imagine different lyrics would improve the song.

[digster]

The only line I find particularly grating is the line about all of his being becoming enlightened (I also previously mentioned that I have no idea how or why you'd swallow one's face to keep from biting, but I digress). I'd argue the verses are a fairly unpretentious, clear narrative that described what happened.

[tragabigzanda]

I used to absolutely love this song. But now, while I still find the performances and production to be inspiring, the lyrics are a real drag. One of Ed's themes of which I have really grown tired are the "escape" songs -- songs in which the beleaguered rock star escapes to find his spiritual center. While some of these songs still hold up -- MFC is a short and sweet number with a more "urban" approach to this theme, while In My Tree creates a sense of spiritual rejuvenation in the respite of nature and weed -- In Hiding now comes across as a very privileged and lazy point of view; it's like Gwyneth Paltrow's Goop web site in song form. The lyrics don't live up to the expansiveness of the music, and it now creates a five-minute *thud* at a point where Yield could use one last burst of energy before winding down.

Basically the whole thing. I don't like the position of his sentiment. If he's so bummed out on the world, why not spend his millions of dollars to make it better? Of course Ed has gone on to do this repeatedly, so in a sense even he has outgrown the lyrics.

[Self]

I found it pretty easy to vote for BOJ. In Hiding is definitely good, and has some cool guitar tones. After all these years, Brain just holds my attention more.

[ABNorman]

Is it just me that's never let my knowledge of Ed the person affect my interpretation of Pearl Jam's songs? With In Hiding and Off He Goes, I've never seen them as a Vedder-POV, but small tales of characters I recognise very well.

The narrator ends In Hiding still in hiding, despite being "enlightened", so it feels to me like the ramblings of an addict escaping the world, feeling enlightened, and failing to act in any meaningful way. The soaring high note of "hiding" takes on an aftertaste of paranoia and inaction in what I think is a great juxtaposition.

Also, I love "I swallowed my face just to keep from biting"

[tragabigzanda]

Is it just me that's never let my knowledge of Ed the person affect my interpretation of Pearl Jam's songs? With In Hiding and Off He Goes, I've never seen them as a Vedder-POV, but small tales of characters I recognise very well.

The narrator ends In Hiding still in hiding, despite being "enlightened", so it feels to me like the ramblings of an addict escaping the world, feeling enlightened, and failing to act in any meaningful way. The soaring high note of "hiding" takes on an aftertaste of paranoia and inaction in what I think is a great juxtaposition.

Also, I love "I swallowed my face just to keep from biting"

Can't speak for others, but I've never been able to divorce Ed's personality from the music. I had a major boner for Ed when I first discovered him as a kid, and I've been wrestling with that ever since.

[Kaius]

I knew the music well before even considering the person, so I'm definitely in ABNorman's school of thought.

[chewm]

Brain of J will win. It will be a slaughter.

In Hiding is now and has always been the better song to my ears. So it gets my vote. Even if I'm the only one.

Won't be mad when it loses though. Brain of J is a fantastic song and deserves to advance.

In Hiding is really close to being my all time favorite Pearl Jam song. It's definetely the better song to me, but if it has to lose, I'm glad that it's against Brain of J.

[Chris_H_2]

Brain of J will win. It will be a slaughter.

In Hiding is now and has always been the better song to my ears. So it gets my vote. Even if I'm the only one.

Won't be mad when it loses though. Brain of J is a fantastic song and deserves to advance.

In Hiding is really close to being my all time favorite Pearl Jam song. It's definetely the better song to me, but if it has to lose, I'm glad that it's against Brain of J.

I too share these sentiments.

[Norah]

What lines do you have a problem with, exactly? Mostly the third verse, right? And maybe the "I surfaced when all of my being was enlightened" thing from the pre-chorus?

I'm pretty sure it's "I surfaced the north when my pen wasn't writing"

[ABNorman]

"I surfaced when all of my pen wasn't writing"

"I surfaced and all around me was enlightened"

- Pearljam.com

[Kevin Davis]

"In Hiding" is a good example of below average lyrics getting a pass because they don't demand any attention -- it's easy enough to turn off the meaning of Eddie's words and just sort of roll along with the music of them, which complements the guitar chords very nicely. But I don't think they're good lyrics -- not pretentious necessarily, just kind of vapid and badly written. "I shut and locked the front door, no way in or out" -- just because you lock your door doesn't mean there's "no way out" of your house, Ed. It's essentially a five minute "story" about him doing nothing -- not especially gripping stuff. I love the song, but I understand the criticisms of the lyrics.

Vote for "Brain of J."

[digster]

Basically the whole thing. I don't like the position of his sentiment. If he's so bummed out on the world, why not spend his millions of dollars to make it better? Of course Ed has gone on to do this repeatedly, so in a sense even he has outgrown the lyrics.

I have little doubt, knowing what little I know about Ed, that he still does what he describes in this song, albeit maybe without the drugs. I also always thought In Hiding's stature as a drug song was kind of overrated; the song's about someone who takes a momentary separation from the world in order to better themselves. He does drugs to do it, but I don't think the song's necessarily about the drugs.

[LetMeSleep]

Who could have ever guessed that the answer to Eds inner restlessness was a fire pole.

[William Bloke]

Choo Choo.

J Train at platform 1!

[tragabigzanda]

Choo Choo.

J Train at platform 1!

Wtf?

[Birds in Hell]

Choo Choo.

J Train at platform 1!

Wtf?

[stip]

"In Hiding" is a good example of below average lyrics getting a pass because they don't demand any attention -- it's easy enough to turn off the meaning of Eddie's words and just sort of roll along with the music of them, which complements the guitar chords very nicely. But I don't think they're good lyrics -- not pretentious necessarily, just kind of vapid and badly written. "I shut and locked the front door, no way in or out" -- just because you lock your door doesn't mean there's "no way out" of your house, Ed. It's essentially a five minute "story" about him doing nothing -- not especially gripping stuff. I love the song, but I understand the criticisms of the lyrics.

Vote for "Brain of J."

My issue with these lyrics (and much of the lyrical writing post vitalogy) is that I don't think Eddie sees these as minor lyrics. I think there is wisdom he is proud of and wants to share. They demand attention, and don't offer anything particularly poetic or insightful for your time. It's not like go or got some, songs with weak lyrics that are just there because Eddie needs to be singing something, and do can be ignored. Eddie writes better when he asks questions, not when he has answers

[PHATJ]

"In Hiding" is a good example of below average lyrics getting a pass because they don't demand any attention -- it's easy enough to turn off the meaning of Eddie's words and just sort of roll along with the music of them, which complements the guitar chords very nicely. But I don't think they're good lyrics -- not pretentious necessarily, just kind of vapid and badly written. "I shut and locked the front door, no way in or out" -- just because you lock your door doesn't mean there's "no way out" of your house, Ed. It's essentially a five minute "story" about him doing nothing -- not especially gripping stuff. I love the song, but I understand the criticisms of the lyrics.

Vote for "Brain of J."

My issue with these lyrics (and much of the lyrical writing post vitalogy) is that I don't think Eddie sees these as minor lyrics. I think there is wisdom he is proud of and wants to share. They demand attention, and don't offer anything particularly poetic or insightful for your time. It's not like go or got some, songs with weak lyrics that are just there because Eddie needs to be singing something, and do can be ignored. Eddie writes better when he asks questions, not when he has answers

I totally agree with that statement. "Insightful" Eddie is kind of boring.