Yellow Bedwetter: Understanding Eddie

There are few bands I respect and enjoy more than Pearl Jam. Tight musicianship wrapped in potent lyrics and Eddie Vedder’s powerful and pretty voice… (yeah, I said pretty, he’s a man, I’m secure with it).

Despite all the praises I’m happy to lavish on the band and on Eddie, there’s no denying the man likes to mumble his words and no song so best illustrates this than Yellow Ledbetter – an old B-side that is a favourite among fans and casual listeners alike.

Well, if you ever wondered what the hell he was saying, here’s the song, with subtitles. I nearly cried.

5 Responses

  1. Check out the wikipedia link in the post – it’s got a bit of the history.

    I’ve always used the following lyrics when I play the song. I’m not sure where they come from, but I ported them into a tab/chord sheet back in… oh… ’97-98?

    Unsealed, on a porch a letter sat

    Then you said, ‘I wanna leave it again’

    Once I saw her on a beach of weathered sand

    And on the sand I wanna leave it again, yeah…

    On a weekend, I wanna wish it all away, yeah…

    And they called and I said that I want what I said…

    And then I call out again…

    And the reason, oughta’ leave her calm, I know

    I said, ‘I know what I wear, not a boxer or the bag’

    Ah yeah…can you see them?

    Out on the porch, yeah, but they don’t wave

    I see them, round the front way, yeah…

    And I know and I know I don’t want to stay

    Make me cry…

    I see, ooh…I don’t know why there’s something else

    I wanna drum it all away

    Oh, I said, I don’t, I don’t know a-where there’s a boxer or the bag’

    Ah yeah…can you see them?

    Out on the porch, yeah, but they don’t wave

    I see them, round the front way, yeah…

    And I know, and I know, I don’t wanna stay alone…

    I don’t wanna stay…yeah…

    I don’t wanna stay… (2x)

    I don’t, don’t wanna, oh…yeah…ooh…ohh

  2. OMG finally some one tells us what Eddie is singing. The song has always been one of my favs but I too never really understood what he was singing. there are other songs that i like that i want to see if that guy has ever tranlated…….off to find out

  3. Well, nice to see nothing’s changed since the 60’s!!! Maybe the older I get the more sense it will make?

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