Leash

Album: Vs. (1993)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • In this song, Pearl Jam lead singer Eddie Vedder grapples with his standing as the voice of a generation, as he was anointed in the media. "I'm no guide, but I'm by your side," he sings, abdicating the throne but standing with his fans. The pressure was clearly getting to him, as he makes clear in the chorus:

    Drop the leash
    Get outta' my f--kin' face
  • Pearl Jam wrote this song in late 1991 as they were rocketing to fame following the release of their debut album, Ten. They started performing it live that November and recorded it for their second album, Vs., in 1993.

    Vedder, in particular, was alarmed by all the attention, but his reticence only made him more mysterious and marketable while endowing him with credibility. This was part of a musical and cultural shift away from the fabricated and toward the real and unpolished. It took the band a while to feel comfortable with their place in the new paradigm, but they were so cohesive as a unit and understanding of each other that they survived this bout with extreme fame and grew stronger, remaining relevant decades later, just with a pared-down fanbase.

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Glen Ballard

Glen BallardSongwriter Interviews

Glen Ballard talks about co-writing and producing Alanis Morissette's Jagged Little Pill album, and his work with Dave Matthews, Aerosmith and Annie Lennox.

Actors With Hit Songs

Actors With Hit SongsMusic Quiz

Many actors have attempted music, but only a few have managed a hit. Do you know which of these thespians charted?

Tim Butler of The Psychedelic Furs

Tim Butler of The Psychedelic FursSongwriter Interviews

Tim and his brother Richard are the Furs' foundation; Tim explains how they write and tells the story of "Pretty In Pink."

Paul Stanley of Kiss, Soul Station

Paul Stanley of Kiss, Soul StationSongwriter Interviews

Paul Stanley on his soul music project, the Kiss songs with the biggest soul influence, and the non-make-up era of the band.

How The Beatles Crafted Killer Choruses

How The Beatles Crafted Killer ChorusesSong Writing

The author of Help! 100 Songwriting, Recording And Career Tips Used By The Beatles, explains how the group crafted their choruses so effectively.

Female Singers Of The 90s

Female Singers Of The 90sMusic Quiz

The ladies who ruled the '90s in this quiz.