best opening lyrics

[E.H. Ruddock]

AhhhhhhahhhhhhhAHHHHHHHHHHH

[Jorge]

tidal waves dont beg forgiveness/crash then on their way

I do not like this. The second line omits key words to fit the meter. It's awkward.

So much of what I admire about lyrics is when songwriters find a poetic, evocative way to state an idea while flowing effortlessly into the melody line. Ed doesn't really excel at that, IMO. But he is good at matching big powerful statements with surging musical moments, like "If I knew where it was, I would take you there". That's not an opening line, though

[Jorge]

"The waiting drove me mad, you're finally here and I'm a mess" is a really good one

[stip]

while they are simple lyrics I’ve always loved ‘so she said/have I got a little story for you’. i love how it feels like it could go anywhere- that may be eddie’ delivery though

I always thought it was "son, she said...."

It’s “son, she said” at least according to the album notes.

it is - typo

[epilogue]

tidal waves dont beg forgiveness/crash then on their way

These lyrics themselves don't do much for me. It's all about the melody and the delivery

Like if Ed sang ”Donald Trump is grabbin pussy/Courtney Love is great" to that melody with the same vocal delivery I'd still think it was amazing and still get the song stuck in my head.

[Ms Harmless]

tidal waves dont beg forgiveness/crash then on their way

These lyrics themselves don't do much for me. It's all about the melody and the delivery

Like if Ed sang ”Donald Trump is grabbin pussy/Courtney Love is great" to that melody with the same vocal delivery I'd still think it was amazing and still get the song stuck in my head.

Post-Donald-Trump-Pussy-Grab

[tragabigzanda]

pearl jam sucks now

[Matters]

tidal waves dont beg forgiveness/crash then on their way

These lyrics themselves don't do much for me. It's all about the melody and the delivery

Like if Ed sang ”Donald Trump is grabbin pussy/Courtney Love is great" to that melody with the same vocal delivery I'd still think it was amazing and still get the song stuck in my head.

It’s tough to separate the melody and delivery from the lyrics themselves. I think even reading this one on paper alone, it’s really good.

[epilogue]

It’s tough to separate the melody and delivery from the lyrics themselves. I think even reading this one on paper alone, it’s really good.

I get you. Stip obviously agrees, too. But that's my point. Looking at those words, reading them aside from the song, they don't do much for me.

However, I do love the next bit. I think those lyrics are great and part of what makes them impactful is the first bit. So they are good in that context.

[Birds in Hell]

tidal waves dont beg forgiveness/crash then on their way

I do not like this. The second line omits key words to fit the meter. It's awkward.

I like this one a lot. I don't find it awkward, instead quite deft and economical.

[Jorge]

It feels forced to me. And that is one of my favorite Pearl Jam songs.

Also I am pretty sure the actual line is "crashed and on their way" which is even worse

[epilogue]

It feels forced to me. And that is one of my favorite Pearl Jam songs.

Also I am pretty sure the actual line is "crashed and on their way" which is even worse

I know it's probably not correct but I always sing "crashing on their way" because it's more grammatically correct and basically says the same thing.

[Birds in Hell]

It feels forced to me. And that is one of my favorite Pearl Jam songs.

Also I am pretty sure the actual line is "crashed and on their way" which is even worse

I know it's probably not correct but I always sing "crashing on their way" because it's more grammatically correct and basically says the same thing.

I don't like that phrasing anywhere near as much.

Having quickly listened to the studio version, Ed's demo and one live version, I'm certain you were right the first time Jorge and it's: "crash then on their way".

[Jorge]

Is this like when you thought the seagulls in Finding Nemo were saying "mate" instead of "mine"

[Birds in Hell]

Probably.

[LetMeSleep]

Is this like when you thought the seagulls in Finding Nemo were saying "mate" instead of "mine"

Aren't they though?

[LoathedVermin72]

Is this like when you thought the seagulls in Finding Nemo were saying "mate" instead of "mine"

Aren't they though?

[Jorge]

Australians are hilariously deluded on this topic

[Ms Harmless]

they're saying 'mite, as in Vegemite, it's big in Australia

[LoathedVermin72]

they're saying 'mite, as in Vegemite, it's big in Australia

lol