Pearl Jam – Better Man

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  General Comment:I can't help thinking that this is a song about anyone who is too scared to accept new ideas.
  When people are used to things they are familiar with, they depend on them even if they are harmful.
  And, when I got to know about Pearl Jam's (especially Eddie Vedder's) activity against the Bush administration, I thought that Eddie might have written the lyrics about those who cling to conservative views and refuse to change.
  Literally it's about a woman and her (probably violent) lover, as a lot of others insist here, but this interpretation has occurred to me for some reason.

  Flagged hypocrat1on April 14, 2013   Link

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    The Bush Administration? For Pete's sake take off those Lenin glasses, everything isn't about the damn politicians. these lyrics do not deserve to be tortured like this. Especially when Bill Clinton was in the oval office singing this to Monica at the time it was released. The song is about a girl whose man cheats on her. It couldn't possibly be simpler.

    Flag kanzeion May 03, 2013  
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  General Comment:Actually this song is written about his mother. (at concerts he says "this is for the bastard who married my mother). He is however talking about a woman who can't seem to get out of an emotionally abusive relationship. Her husband was very controlling of her.

  Flag aubs143on April 05, 2013   Link

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  General Comment:I think this song is about the loss of love in a relationship but the woman still stays with him because she is scared of not being able to find a better man, maybe he's cheating with the 4 o'clock reference, maybe work is keeping him away from the home and spoiling the relationship?

  Flag unclescamon November 30, 2012   Link

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  My Interpretation:I think she is not in love with him anymore("She lies and says she's in love with him"). She tries to break up with him (it's got to stop/Tell him, take no more/She practices her speech, as he opens the door/She rolls over/
  Pretends to sleep as he looks her over) but she doesn't have the courage to do it because she knows she'll never find a "better man".

  Flag Rethkion November 17, 2012   Link

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  My Interpretation:Forgot to add....She she's color of red. How significant is that for Ana -Red Room of Pain, plus lust and love!

  Flagged richelcaseon November 13, 2012   Link

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  General Comment:Just heard this song on radio and really listened to the lyrics. After reading the Fifty Shades of Grey trilogy and hearing about a possible movie, I think this song, is with out a doubt, perfect for one of the scenes in the movie!

  Flagged richelcaseon November 13, 2012   Link

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  My Interpretation:For some reason I always thought this was about a woman in an abusive relationship who is unable to leave because she feels she has no other choices.

  Flag musicnutson November 11, 2012   Link

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  General Comment:Yeah, I don't think the "red," has any significance as such. It's just a vibrant color that means life in so many ways, love, death, blood. I mean "She dreams in color she dreams in orange," wouldn't seem terribly meaningful would it? I always remember that book "the giver" where they don't have color in their worlds, so they don't know what it is, and the first color they see is an apple, and it's red. I think Red is just symbolic of the beauty of color, regardless. I thought it was funny that he used this song as analogous to the nation's relationship with Bush. It was like "is this guy the best for us?" No but he's pledging to protect us from terrorists so let's vote for him again. It's like "Is this the best man for me, no but hell I don't want to be alone." It's funny how if a song is written truly enough, meaning can come to it, before it even has that meaning. I think it's about a guy that makes a woman feel like such a piece of shit she feels like she's lucky to be with such a piece of shit. Something too terribly common in the world. Lift people up and they'll do the same.

  Flag rbach48on June 30, 2012   Link

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  General Comment:I love this song, although it is very sad. Maybe it's just interpretation... But my favorite is the guitar intro! :)

  Flag angelcat2828on January 11, 2012   Link

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  General Comment:One of my favorite songs by pearl jam.
  
  It is about a woman who wants out of her relationship.
  
  "Waiting, watchin the clock; its 4 o clock its got to stop. Tell him. Take no more.
  
  "She practices her speech, as he opens the door, she rolls over, pretends to sleep as he looks her over..."
  
  He is a cheater/and or abusive , but she doesnt have the strength or gumption to leave him.
  
  "Cant find a better man" ~ she is settling. she has low self esteem and truly worries if she could even find a better man who would truly love her, AND treat her right.
  
  AND MY FAV: "She dreams in color she dreams in red" to me means she dreams hopeful and wonderful (color) and she also has nightmares (red) (she has hope but at the same time fear and self doubt) ie. internal conflict.
  
  
  
  Memories back when she was bold and strong... (back in her highschool/20's and had so much planned for herself...
  
  
  Another FAV:"She loves him, she dont want to leave this way.."
  "She feeds him, thats why she'll be back again" (She feels obligated/responsible for him, almost guilty for leaving, ...If she left would he be ok?..she cannot stop caring about him, but she cant stay with him, so for now its easier to stay...
  
  
  

  Flagged heyiheardthaton December 22, 2011   Link

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