(Line one, mighty fine.)

Watched from the window with a red mosquito.
I was not allowed to leave the room.
I saw the sun go down and now it's coming up.
Somewhere in the time between I was bitten.
Must have been the devil.
He was just paying me a little visit.
Reminding me of his presence.
Letting me know he's a-waiting. Ohh...

Red man's your neighbor. Call it behavior.
While you're climbing up slippery hills.
Two steps ahead of him. Punctures in your neck.
Hovering just above your bed. (x2)

I was bitten must have been the devil.
He was just paying me a little visit.
Reminding me of his presence.
And letting me know he's a-waiting.
He's a-waiting ohh there. Yeah.

If I had known then what I know now... (x4)



Lyrics submitted by Trent

Track duration: 04:03


Red Mosquito song meanings
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26 Comments

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  • 0
    General Comment:To me this is about all of the mistakes Pearl Jam made at the time. Asking Jack Irons to be the drummer, but declined. Hiring Dave Krusen who later left the band after "Ten". Hiring Matt Chamberlain who later left to join the SNL band. Never hire a drummer that has no potentials of staying with the band.
    Replacing Matt with Dave Abbruzzese, who was against the band's beliefs and bringing in a gun to the studio. Later fired for who knows what reason.
    Replacing him with Jack Irons who declined the role as drummer. Eddie should have known that Jack Irons has to be the center of attention at all time, and will leave a band re-join then leave again.
    Jeff Ament having a fit and wanting to leave the band. Stone Gossard's side projects. Mike McCready's drug addiction. And Eddie Vedder's attitude towards others which is why he has a bad reputation with others, especially the media and Nirvana.
    The red mosquito bites resemble bad mistakes, just like the what footsteps are about. Being too cocky and not thinking things through before you do them.
    Flag tenclub07on January 05, 2013   Link
  • 0
    My Interpretation:My interpretation of the song is that the lyricist (maybe Ed or he may be writing as someone else, perhaps fictionally) has sold his soul to the devil in exchange for fame/fortune or immortality (vampire lore). There are a few early pearl jam songs that allude to vampire lore. Maybe I just have a healthy imagination, but here is the context I feel means the most to me:

    - "if I had known then what I know now" implies regret over a past decision (selling out to the devil)
    - "reminding me of his presence, letting me know he's awaiting" the devil will collect at some point in the future for the power he's given the author...like the mob reminding you they loaned you money.
    - "stuck in the room when the sun comes up" more vampire lore that sunlight kills them

    The second verse, written in the second person (the first and third verses are in the first person) implies that the vampire (author) has wounded a mortal, put "punctures in your neck" as a sacrifice for the devil who is now chasing the mortal up slippery steps, and you are two steps ahead of him but he will be hovering above your bed. Maybe this is a warning to the listener that we've been bitten by the vampire (Ed) and now the devil (rock music?) is coming after us?

    of course...maybe I'm on crack
    Flag derrick14on July 26, 2011   Link
  • 0
    My Interpretation:i always thouhgt it was about his stepdad. or someone in an abusive relationship


    Flag anatoriaon July 22, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:When i listen to this song i imagine he's singing bout being possessed by the devil but maybe it just seems too obvious so it may be bout drugs as well.
    Flag magrajon January 23, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:justaman....how much acid did u REALLY do back in the day......hmmmmmmmmm
    Flag imisslayneon August 05, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:The rare to find 'Five Against One' in which I am so grateful to have a copy leans more towards Eddie's sudden poisoning (which is true)....but I feel this is purley opinon....I do know that before No Code McCready formed Mad Season and was dibbin in the needle with Stayley and Eddie quoted on saying he felt the group has been "bitten" by evil.......who knows & frankly who cares.....In my opinion the best song on No Code and awesome preformed live!!!!
    Flag imisslayneon August 05, 2010   Link
  • 0
    My Interpretation:I had a deadly run-in with the Italian Mafia at a club in 2000 for refusing to accept their offer. 6 months prior to my altercation, they hired a neighbor to move in across the street and bug my house. The area of particular significance referred to in the song "hovering just above your bed" is the bugged area in my bedroom directly above my bed. The devices were installed to inflict audible harassment, sleep deprivement and torture. The means of communication was Satanic mind reading.

    The Mafia was founded by a Satanic/Illuminati cult leader, Guiesseppi Mazzini. The cult allegedly controls the Governments and media. Government leaders and celebrities are often called on to do their dirty work (e.g., divorces, scandals, impeachments, etc.). After I told the Mafia to piss off at the club, they proceeded to force various celebrities to attend and participate in the demonstration of the Mafia's control for 2 weeks. Eddie Vedder was a forced participant. Upon waking and looking out my window in the morning, he was literally seen looking at me from my the window of my neighbor's house across the street. The altercation continued when we were forced to attend the club at 11 pm to 4 am. The song is about how Eddie and others were forced to participate in the evil brainwashing plot that he disagreed with. The devices still remain as a presence of the devil... just waiting... oh yeah, awaiting.
    Flagged justaman367on December 30, 2009   Link
  • -1
    General Comment:It's about heroin people. EDDIE'S sick explaination is just pc cover.
    Flag fritzrxon September 27, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:sorry i meant drugs
    Flag seba88argon December 08, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:this is one of the only two pearl jam songs clearly about drogs (the other one is habit)
    Flag seba88argon December 08, 2008   Link

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