Pearl Jam – Yellow Ledbetter

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  Memory:this song means is a heavy burden to me, to dissect. But, I am not dissecting it. Which is the best part. Because, to me that means this song is just a question mark. Hell of a song.

  Flag Ahourstoryon October 17, 2012   Link

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  Song Meaning: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...

  Flagged aaronkirkmanon May 01, 2012   Link

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    Thank you. I had the general gist of the meaning before (about the family of a soldier that died) but I never understood the meaning of the "boxer or the bag" until you explained it. Thank you a lot.

    Flag robertBosson May 30, 2012  

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    Don't call people retarded when you don't know the difference between 'whether' and 'weather', or 'there' and 'their' and they're'.

    Flag kanzeion May 04, 2013  
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  General Comment: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

  Flag bottlerocket88on February 12, 2012   Link

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  General Comment:So I hear different lyrics to those most commonly listed, what do you guys think?
  
  Unsealed
  On a porch a letter fell
  Then you said I wanna leave it again
  
  Once I heard
  On a piece of weathered sand
  And on the sand I wanna leave it again
  
  On a weekend oughta wish it all away yeah
  And they called an I said an I want what
  I said then I call out again
  
  And the reason oughta leave her calm I know
  I said I don't want to wait on a box or the bag
  
  Oh yeah can you see them?
  Out on the porch
  Ah, but they don't wave
  I see them
  Round the front way, yeah
  And I know and I know
  I don't wanna to stay
  
  Make me cry
  
  Oohh I see
  I don't know why there's something else
  On an carbine on a way
  Oh I said
  I don't, I don't know whether there's a box or the bag
  
  Oh yeah can you see them?
  Out on the porch
  Yeah, but they don't wave
  I see them
  Round the front way, yeah
  And I know and I know
  I don't want to stay
  I don't want to stay
  I don't want to stay

  Flag illiterategoatherderon January 08, 2012   Link

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  General Comment: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
  

  Flag aaxantonoon October 28, 2011   Link

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• +1
  General Comment:I am surprised to see one version of this song' lyrics given it' history.
  
  YL never HAD set lyrics for years. I am not sure it still does. PJ used to play this song often at the end of concerts and Eddie MADE UP the lyrics as he went along. ||That is not to say that the song has not evolved into something concrete, but it sure wasnt.

  Flag thecrossboneon October 02, 2011   Link

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  General Comment:from rollingstone.com: "Over the years Vedder has explained that the song was inspired by a friend whose brother served in the Gulf War, and the uncertainty about whether he'd return in a "box or a bag."

  Flag blechson September 20, 2011   Link

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  General Comment:Best way to kill 5 min amazing in everyway possible =)

  Flag Captainstutteron June 17, 2011   Link

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  General Comment:The lyrics are nonsense. They weren't meant to mean anything. It's funny though, the recorded lyrics have come the be interpreted as much as any other PJ song. For some it's a relationship thing. For others it's a war story. I think this song says a lot about song lyrics generally. Sometimes the best lyrics are vague.

  Flag CBCoulon June 12, 2011   Link

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  General Comment:Straight from Wiki, where's your source?
  
  Regarding the song, 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]

  Flagged Bays1ckon April 23, 2011   Link

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