Rats (Pearl Jam song)
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| “Rats” | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Song by Pearl Jam | |||||
| Album | Vs. | ||||
| Released | October 19, 1993 | ||||
| Recorded | March 1993 at The Site, Nicasio, California | ||||
| Genre | Grunge | ||||
| Length | 4:15 | ||||
| Label | Epic | ||||
| Writer | Dave Abbruzzese, Jeff Ament, Stone Gossard, Mike McCready, Eddie Vedder | ||||
| Producer | Brendan O'Brien, Pearl Jam | ||||
| Vs. track listing | |||||
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"Rats" is a song by Pearl Jam from the band's album Vs. (1993). It is the ninth track on the album.
Contents |
[edit] Origin and recording
"Rats" was one of the songs the band produced during the first week of recording for Vs.[1] Dave Abbruzzese on his drumming on "Rats":
As far as my playing, on the song "Rats", Brendan [O'Brien] really wanted me to open the hi-hat, just let the groove open up and plow through. I'd originally approached the song a lot tighter, more hip-hoppy. But when I opened up and bashed my way through it, I felt it just made the whole song explode more. It actually gave the song a different shape, making the chorus different. Little things like that can make a big difference.[2]
[edit] Composition
The song begins with a funky, bass-driven intro and features dub-influenced vocals.[3] Guitarist Stone Gossard performed the song's wah-wah guitar solo.[4]
[edit] Lyrical meaning
The song talks about how rats work together to accomplish a common goal, with the implication that humans do not and could learn from rats. When asked about the song, Eddie Vedder stated:
"Rats" is just...it's just using alotta terms that are usually relegated to conversations about rats. It's not an anti-rat song...Don't even think that. I mean what's wrong with rats? When it comes down to it, people behave a lot fucking worse. If we for once examined what we do as humans we'd realize that rats probably get along better with each other than we do. We're running around stabbing each other in the back, creating deals where those in the money keep the money for themselves and refuse to share it. They have deals, these people, where there's all these fucking people starving to death and they pay farmers not to grow wheat. What the fuck's going on? I mean, when in this day and age we can advertise in space or whatever the fuck they're doing now, are [you] telling me we can't somehow help some of these people who are starving to plant things that will grow that they will eventually be able to eat. No...We'd rather keep 'em hungry. I can't see a crowd of rats doing that to each other. I think rats are probably a hell of a lot more admirable.[5]
At the end of the song, the line "Ben, the two of us need look no more" is repeated several times as a homage to the #1 single "Ben" by Michael Jackson, from the film of the same name.
[edit] Live performances
The song was premiered live at the band's May 13, 1993 concert in San Francisco, California.[6] The song was played live from its debut in 1993 up until 1998 when it was dropped. The song made a return appearance at the band's May 12, 2006 concert in Albany, New York.[6] The song has since returned to Pearl Jam set lists. Live performances of "Rats" can be found on the "Dissident"/Live in Atlanta box set and on the Live at the Gorge 05/06 box set.
[edit] References
- ^ Crowe, Cameron. "Five Against the World". Rolling Stone. October 28, 1993.
- ^ Peiken, Matt. "Dave Abbruzzese of Pearl Jam". Modern Drummer. December 1993.
- ^ Rotondi, James. "Blood On the Tracks". Guitar Player. January 1994.
- ^ Garbarini, Vic. "Spit Fire". Guitar World. February 1995.
- ^ Jones, Allan. Pearl Jam - The Illustrated Story, A Melody Maker Book. Hal Leonard Corp, 1995. ISBN 0793540356
- ^ a b "Pearl Jam Songs: "Rats"". pearljam.com.
[edit] External links
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