Better Man
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| "Better Man" | ||
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| Song by Pearl Jam | ||
| from the album Vitalogy | ||
| Released | November 22, 1994 (Vinyl) December 6, 1994 (CD and Cassette) |
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| Recorded | 1994 | |
| Genre | Grunge | |
| Length | 4:28 | |
| Label | Epic | |
| Writer(s) | Eddie Vedder | |
| Producer(s) | Brendan O'Brien, Pearl Jam | |
| Chart positions | ||
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| Vitalogy track listing | ||
| "Satan’s Bed" (Track 10) |
"Better Man" (Track 11) |
"Aye Davanita" (Track 12) |
- This article is about Pearl Jam song, for Robbie Williams song of the same name see Better Man (Robbie Williams song)
"Better Man" is a song that was written by Eddie Vedder when he was in high school, which he first performed with a San Diego based group called Bad Radio and later recorded with Pearl Jam.
"Better Man" appeared on the 1994 Pearl Jam album Vitalogy. Never released as a single (a band practice which encouraged fans to buy albums instead), it nonetheless became one of Pearl Jam's most-played songs on the radio in the U.S., reaching the top of Billboard's Mainstream Rock Chart, second spot on their Modern Rock Tracks, and number 13 on their Top 40 Mainstream. The song was included on Pearl Jam's greatest hits album, Rearviewmirror: Greatest Hits 1991-2003.
[edit] Lyrical meaning
Although there have been many differing ideas as to the origin of this song, varying from a possible abusive relationship he himself had been in, or a fictional one written from a woman's perspective, it is often thought that Vedder had written it about his stepfather. In some live concerts (with a few captured on tape), Eddie clearly says "it's dedicated to the bastard that married my Mom." After his biological father died his mother remarried, and Eddie thought she did it only because she needed someone to help support the family and was afraid to leave when the relationship turned violent.
[edit] In concert
In Pearl Jam concerts, the slow opening verses and choruses of "Better Man" are frequently sung as much by the audience as by Vedder. The song is often performed live as a medley with The English Beat's "Save It For Later". In the last Vote for Change concert in 2004, Vedder guest-appeared with Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band and sang "Better Man" upon Springsteen's request; sizeable numbers of the audience sang along with it.
The song is also a part of the so-called "Man" trio ("Better Man", "Nothingman", "Leatherman") played occasionally at concerts.
