Pearl Jam – W.M.A.

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  General Comment:I don't think it's even as defined as racism. Take a white guy in a suit and a white guy in ripped jeans with a mohawk. Who is going to get harrassed. You don't have to be black. I think it's like about people with power that abuse it. Police, politicians, whoever. I love it when he changes it up to tackle Bush or McCain. It's like "So yeah I want to wear ripped jeans and you have a badge and a gun, what right does that give you to strip or deny me of freedom, did I shoot anybody?" You know, a cop can go 90 mph and not worry, while the rest of us watch our speedometers. "He can do no wrong," And there are some amazingly brave and honorable policemen out there, but like with anything, there are those that abuse the privelage and it's a shame, especially since the rest of us stand to lose from it.

  Flag rbach48on June 30, 2012   Link

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  General Comment:I've rarely heard racism tackled in a song by someone who's white. This song is really unique, it's quite a feat lyrically I think. It's quite clearly poetic and lyrical but it feels conversational too... personal. Close. I absolutely adore the use of "brother". I think that really makes the song what it is, that one word stands for a lot. Pearl Jam are just one great piece of work after another.

  Flag sartemison June 25, 2012   Link

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  General Comment:Protest song about racism in a police state. Race is little more than a nursery lottery.

  Flag CBCoulon June 12, 2011   Link

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  General Comment:it sounds to me like this song is about mumia abu jamal. he is doing a life bid for shooting a police officer he saw assaulting his brother. eddie has a habit of telling stories that aren't completely true to build his mysterious persona. for example, go is about his truck. really? who cares, but the fact is this is the story of mumia abu jamal. and it matches up with the lyrics, so to me, that's what this is about.

  Flag tomdacreon October 14, 2009   Link

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  General Comment:This song is fucking awesome!! I love the drums and bass and chanting, man everything... First time I heard this I pictured eddie vedder in this giant stadium thing with dirt on the ground that went on forever, running, and then it turned into a jungle going up a dirt hill. After coming back down he layed on the ground and it turned into water. This song is perfect. I always thought it was "washed my feet to get to hell" thought that was cooler but not important. It has a picture in the booklet of a black dude with a beard labeled "green". Then it says at the bottom "autopsy results showed green died of at least 14 blows to the head in a nov 5 beating that tore off part of his scalp" Anyone know anything about this?

  Flag DJgifon June 30, 2009   Link

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    It was Malice Green. He was beaten to death after he was arrested by the Detroit police.
    
    
    

    Flag BS0L0on August 23, 2009  
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  General Comment:The drums sound almost exactly like those on the Pumpkins' B-Side "Lucky 13."

  Flag pumkinhedon March 20, 2008   Link

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    This came first.
    
    The Pumpkins wrote "Lucky 13" for Machina II

    Flag FANtAsTICon June 22, 2010  
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  General Comment:man... I swear by all gods I just haven't noticed whadda kick ass great song it is!!!! man pj stills surprises me like that!

  Flag rahulaon May 26, 2007   Link

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  General Comment:Hands down one of the most underappreciated songs in Pearl Jams arsenal.

  Flag ardx1on January 17, 2007   Link

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  General Comment:this isnt a lost masterpiece. they played it last night in camden and it was AMAZING!!!!!!

  Flag iwishiwasspecialon May 28, 2006   Link

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  General Comment:"police stopped my brother again"-does that line mean eddie is calling all the black people harassed by police his brothers
  
  and what does the last verse mean?
  "All my pieces set me free. Human devices set me free.
  All my pieces set me free. (x2)
  Human devices set me free. (x2)
  All my pieces set me free. (x2)
  Human devices set me free. (x2)
  Hey, hey, hey all (x3) "

  Flag richie8092on March 22, 2006   Link

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