Pearl Jam – Corduroy

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  General Comment:A lot of Pearl Jam songs from this era are about getting hurt, and often times take place in the moment. Animal... Blood... Whipping...
  
  not Corduroy. Corduroy is a promise.
  
  It's a promise to remain true to yourself even when everyone is trying to cut you up. It's Eddie saying no, fuck you, you wont get the best of me again.

  Flag Tig45on April 11, 2013   Link

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  General Comment:It's "Everything has chains, absolutely nothing's changed"

  Flag HiveNodeon January 16, 2013   Link

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  General Comment:Although I do agree that songlyrics are some what open for interpretation, I do feel there are limits to that as well.
  Someone I used to know had made Better man the soundtrack to his relationship. Like; she couldn't find a better man than he was.
  Now knowing the meaning of the song or just reading the rest of the lyrics makes that seem a bit silly and I am trying to put it politely.
  
  It was interesting to read peoples thoughts on the lyrics for Corduroy. Some here saw a love song in it. In a way it is. But the object of his love isn't a person, it is music.
  
  Others mentioned it being about the fashion industry and how they made Grunge (whatever that is) into a fashionline. That is definetly one element in the song. It also gives the name for the song. Although there is one other element that helped with the name. Apparently there was a hospital serie on TV that had this Vedder look alike with a corduroy jacket on. The serie was also trying work the latest fashion (being grunge) into the serie.
  
  As a whole I'd say it is about Eddies disgust for the industry side of music. It's about the media and how they make him into something that he is not or doesn't want to be.
  It's about the fans that treat him as if he is some sort of messiah.
  It's about people that try to imitate.
  It's about peopel making money of the band and the fans.
  
  All in all it's about his disgust over how his love for music and making music is being corrupted and frustrated.
  
  He wantes it to be pure and the position he's being maneuvered in makes him feel like he's becoming something he dislikes.
  
  I feel Corduroy, Not for you, Satan's bed and Blood all touch on the same subject.
  
  Before starting Not for you 1994 Orpheum theater Ed said; This song is about people who have no taste, but they like us anyway.
  
  I feel the same could be said about Corduroy.

  Flag jazzaloton January 12, 2013   Link

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  General Comment:The point of the meaning of these songs, specifically Pearl Jam, is NOT just to know what it means but to learn from it. Eddie doesnt make these songs for us to guess and research what their about. Apply to yourselves.

  Flag madryanon October 21, 2012   Link

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  Song Meaning:I think this a love song. About an older lover whom he is trying to get rid of from his head
  
  The waiting drove me mad...you're finally here and I'm a mess
  I take your entrance back...can't let you roam inside my head

  Flag wrathzombieon June 26, 2012   Link

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  General Comment:I think this a love song. About an older lover whom he is trying to get rid of from his head
  
  The waiting drove me mad...you're finally here and I'm a mess
  I take your entrance back...can't let you roam inside my head

  Flag wrathzombieon June 26, 2012   Link

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  General Comment:I have thought about what this song means for a long time, and finally Googled the lyrics and saw this website. It wasn't until I was reading everyone's responses until I realized that it means what you want it to mean.
  
  If I put myself in Eddie Vedder's cloths, that's what I would want my fans to do. However I'm not going to try to put myself in Eddie's cloths (and mind). What I choose to think the song is about makes it one of my favories. What is actually is about is something only Vedder knows.

  Flag red0221on March 27, 2012   Link

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  General Comment:People. Just look at the title. Corduroy. No need to interpret or discuss song meaning. He said it himself that it's about that time he went to a vintage store, bought a corduroy jacket, wore it on MTV one day, then big corporations wanted to capitalize on it and sell it to his fans for x10 the amount which they all bought into.
  
  He feels sick and disgusted by it saying they can do that, but he won't back his name with that. Basically means FOLLOW YOUR OWN TREND, DON'T FOLLOW SOMEONE ELSE'S.

  Flag Outfielderon January 15, 2012   Link

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  Lyric Correction:Its definitely "enterance" or, at the very least, "interest." Not "riches!" Plz!

  Flag madskinnyladon December 15, 2011   Link

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    Yeah. Interest.

    Flag Tig45on January 01, 2013  
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  My Interpretation:I think this is about an artist who has been waiting for his fame for a long time, but when he finally became a star, all of a sudden he realizes how it messes up all his internal world and doesn't bring anyting new, but frustration because everything still "has chains" and "absolutely nothing changed".
  "I don't want to be held in your debt...
  I'll pay it off in blood, let I be wed...
  I'm already cut up and half dead...
  I'll end up alone like I began..."
  
  I think if you reread all the lyrics with this interpretation on your mind, it quite fits the meaning.

  Flag RedMoscowon October 06, 2011   Link

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