Why This Song Matters: ‘Corduroy’ by Pearl Jam
One of the consistent themes echoed through the annals of music history is the need to deal with the fame musicians receive. This is well-documented in the music scene of the 90s, with both Kurt Cobain and Eddie Vedder being open about their struggles. ‘Corduroy’ by Pearl Jam gives us a look inside Eddie Vedder’s head at the time as his rock band exploded and his anonymity was permanently destroyed.
Musically, the song’s build up communicates a build to a sort of breaking point several times throughout the song, right before the verses begin. This feels analogous to the rising tensions within Pearl Jam, with one notable outcome being the dismissal of drummer Dave Abbruzzeese following the completion of the Vitalogy record. Lyrically, the song illustrates Vedder’s headspace at the time, also traveling toward a breaking point.
“Everything has chains.
Absolutely nothing's changed.
Take my hand, not my picture.
Spilled my tincture.”
This feels like a commentary on the effects of fame. Most people have dreamed about fame and fortune at some point, and this is confirmation that it does not cause problems to dissipate. Your problems are chained to you, and nothing will change with the addition of fame. Vedder begging for someone to “Take my hand, not my picture” illustrates the total change in how someone is viewed once they develop fame. They become a consumable commodity and no longer a person. This, of course, is the antithesis of what one would ever desire, and Vedder shows this second-guessing, questioning, “Why ain't it supposed to be just fun? Oh, to live and die, let it be done.”
No matter our status or level of notoriety, there is an innate desire within all of us to have and hold onto our privacy, and Vedder felt that he had lost his at this time. This excellent song is an interesting view into a world one could never fully understand until it has been lived.
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