Yellow Ledbetter

For the most part the lyrics in this song are irrelevant. The song was written by Mike McCready and Eddie just made up the words as he went along. Eddie's voice is supposed to be more of an instrument by using improvised words, the words are never the same in concert. Ledbetter refers to Eddie's friend from Chicago named Tim Ledbetter. If there is any meaning to the lyrics I think the letter in the beginning of the song refers to the telegrams that we sent to the families of soldiers KIA in WWII. The telegrams were so distinct that many families didn't have to open them to know what they said. In the song I see a family sitting on a porch when a man comes to deliver a telegram and the family is so devestated about their loss that they cannot even bear to open it.

found this on wikipedia: Vedder said in an online chat that it was written around the time of the Gulf War, and added that "it's an anti-patriotic song, actually."[10] On August 7, 2008, at a solo performance in Newark, New Jersey at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center, Vedder took a question from the audience requesting that he explain the meaning of "Yellow Ledbetter". At first, Vedder joked, saying, "Wait...you mean there's lyrics?" He went on to talk about how the song took as its subject a friend of his from Seattle whose brother served in the first Gulf War. His friend received a "yellow letter" in the mail informing him that his brother had died in the war. Vedder and his friend then went for a walk. On this walk, the friend, whom Vedder described as "alternative-looking," happened by a house with an American flag flying, and people on the porch. He stopped and gestured to the flag, as if to salute it, however the people on the porch glared at him disapprovingly due to his appearance.[11] this is a great song but then again there arent that many PJ songs that arent

Loved this song for years and years.

Great use at the end of 50/50. Great film btw. Just one of those great instances of film and music placement.

Don't know how I went so long without this on my iTunes

man, that makes perfect sense! i never really knew what the words said, and it didn't matter, cause the song rocks. but your explaination makes alot of sense. thanx!

I was looking for a meaning but it's pretty obvious to me now that the yellow letter is something you know right when you see it. You don't have to know what the song is about to get the feeling of the song. "Make me cry" is the biggest phrase on the track. If your family member is fighting in a war and an officer comes to your doorstep you'll get that vibe and not want to talk to him. If your significant other is about to leave you but you don't want it to happen, you'll get that vibe. Maybe not wanting to stay alive is whats happening. Don't want to stay so you can be with someone, or don't want to stay because you're yellow and don't want to hurt anymore. I heard this tonight on my way to see my wife (been seperated 1 1/2 years she's a stripper and I really wanted to tell her how she's special to me and I want to try to start over) I didn't want to go to her club I hate seeing her like that but I wanted to talk. Wrong place... I took her to where she stays without saying anything I wanted to her. My Yellow Ledbetter is not being able to express that passion I want to her. I just feel the vibe of being a fool. I also know that not expressing it keeps dragging me down. I don't want to stay like this. Hope I can bring myself to opening that letter and facing my fears.

lol, i could never understand just what he was saying never mind what it was actually about. for a little while there, i thought it wasn't even in english. but even then, i still thought it was a great song. i like the idea of eddie's voice being used as an instrument rather than for conveying the lyrics.

this is such a pretty song and it's means a lot to everyone...just the lyrics and music are beautiful . pearl jam's amazing

Everyone who has commented so far are retards... This is the REAL meaning... A young grundge kids older brother goes to fight in a war where he is killed (Death letters come in yellow env. and "unsealed" as in he already read it and he wishes he didnt "i wanna leave it again") Afterwards he is walking down the street and notices and elderly couple sitting on there front porch with an American flag flying and figures with everything he is going through that they havve a connection so he waves to them... All they see is the long hair and grudge look and dont wave back to him... the part about box and bag, the lyrics are wrong... Its: "I dont know weather i'm the boxer or the bag" and that should be self explanatory unless your tarded... The beach is one of 2 things.. either a memory he keeps having about his brother... Or his brother died on a beach... Either one works... Oh yeah and the reason leaving her calm: He died for his country and though its noble it doesnt make the mother feel any better... So the reason that should make it okay helps none... The younger brother wants to help (be the "boxer") but just makes things worse so he is beating himself up about it (being the "bag)... Come on if you dont know the real meaning behind a song dont comment on it saying you do...

matzy's interpretation is the correct one. How the families of soldiers would wait on their porch for the letters. Sounds good Claires advocate but not correct

i think matzy said it best, about the whole letter thing. For a while i thought he said "i don't know whether it was a box or a bag"..which i saw as 'he didnt know how they brought the body back over to the states'. But now i think the "boxer or the bag" makes sense, cuz its like, in any war..are you the victim or the aggressor? if you think this song means nothing, your ignorant because mr. vedder and pearl jam wouldnt attach their names to anything that is empty of meaning or thought.