Album: Backspacer (2009)

Charted: 78

License This Song 

• Yes I understand
  That every life must end
  As we sit alone
  I know someday we must go
  
  Yeah I'm a lucky man
  To count on both hands
  The ones I love
  Some folks just have one
  Yeah others they got none
  
  Stay with me
  Let's just breathe
  
  Practiced on our sins
  Never gonna let me win
  Under everything
  Just another human being
  
  I don't want to hurt
  There's so much in this world
  To make me believe
  
  Stay with me
  All I see
  
  Did I say that I need you?
  Oh, did I say that I want you?
  Oh, if I didn't, I'm a fool you see
  No one knows this more than me
  As I come clean
  
  I wonder everyday
  As I look upon your face
  Everything you gave
  And nothing you would take
  Nothing you would take
  Everything you gave
  
  Did I say that I need you?
  Oh, did I say that I want you?
  Oh, if I didn't, I'm a fool you see
  No one knows this more than me
  As I come clean
  
  Nothing you would take
  Everything you gave
  Hold me 'til I die
  Meet you on the other side Writer/s: Eddie Vedder
  Publisher: Universal Music Publishing Group
  Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Comments: 10

• Zemo from MoThe phrases "let's just breathe" and "stay with me" are paradoxically words often spoken by nurses and emergency personnel when desperately trying to save someone who is close to dying. Don't know if that was an understood second meaning to the lyrics but certainly adds to the poignancy and depth.
• AnonymousThis song helped through a rough patch in my life. I was listening to Coffee House and it was playing. I just lost my husband to brain and lung cancer. I was trying to find music to sooth my mind. I found this song. I cried so hard, it washed away so much grief. Thank you for writing this song. It really plays in my mind to calm and wash away troubles in my mind. Thank you.
• Justin Fawsitt from Oakland I’m a songwriter myself. I absolutely love this one. I first heard it by Miley Cyrus and was bowled over and brought to tears.
• Corrine Calabrese-loschiavo from PaI am a recent lung cancer survivor 10/19
  I had 2/3 of my lung removed because of metastasized sarcoma. Something went horribly wrong 10 days after my surgery and I was rushed to ICU and ventilated. Everything was shutting down and I wasn't getting any oxygen. The saddest moment of my life was the look on my husband's face as they started to bag me, which were the last words I heard after the I love you'd exchanged between my husband and I. To this day, they do not know what put me 2 hours from my death. They pulled out every trick to bring me back to my husband, my family!
  All I hear is Pearl Jams, Just Breathe! I have my PT, saying those words now at the end of our treatments and conversations. Ironically enough, the white ribbon represents lung cancer and the bracelets have Pearl's.
  These two words will be my next tattoo
• Robert from Ottawa, On'Hold me till I die
  Meet you on the other side'
  Would seem to be about death, but its so about life. Living.
• Tom from Lake Bonaparte, New York (adirondacks)When I first became aware of this song I was like, man you been walking around with your head up your behind, how did you miss this one? I related the words to my relationship with my wife. then after sitting down with a guitar and learning the song it hit me that this song could just as well be about the relationship of a man of faith with Jesus Christ. The words all fit that scenario. I know it is not reportedly what Eddie had in his mind when he wrote it, but it works . . . Love the song even more as a result. I cant sing it Like Eddie can, but I cant wait to cover it as me.
• Chuck from Concord, Nhcorrect lyric is "Boy if I didn't I'm a fool you see. No one knows this more than me. As I come clean." Awesome song, love Willie Nelson's version just as much. Chuck Q. Concord, NH
• Trent from Chatsworth, OnThey played this song at my cousin's funeral,i never cried harder in my life. Great song makes me think of him. R.I.P. Tom.
• Dylan from Adelaide, AustraliaI see this song as being about someone who is about to die. They don't want to die, they want to stay with the ones they love but at the same time theyre looking back on their life and thinking that if they go, they've been privileged because they've loved. This song has really made me appreciate my life so far.
• Darren from London, United KingdomThis is my Fav track off the new album. Love the Lyric "i'm a lucky man i can count on bothhands the ones i love" and then saying "some folks have and others have none". It makes me feel lucky aswell that i have not just my grilfriend,daughter and my dad and sisters but friends aswell. Even my best mates.

More Songfacts:

What's On Your Mind (Pure Energy)Information Society

The Information Society hit "What's On Your Mind (Pure Energy)" samples the voice of Leonard Nimoy (Spock) from an episode of Star Trek.

Don't Go Breaking My HeartElton John and Kiki Dee

Elton John had a huge hit duetting with Kiki Dee on "Don't Go Breaking My Heart," but he's also performed it with RuPaul and Miss Piggy.

Groove Is in the HeartDeee-Lite

One of the last hits with a track made up almost entirely of uncleared samples is "Groove Is In The Heart" by Deee-Lite in 1990. Soon after, courts ruled that samples needed to be cleared.

Mr. BojanglesThe Nitty Gritty Dirt Band

The Texas songwriter Jerry Jeff Walker wrote "Mr. Bojangles" after a weekend in jail where a fellow inmate told him his life story.

Going HomeKenny G

A 1989 track by Kenny G, "Going Home," is the unofficial national closing song in China. The tune is played at the end of train rides, the end of school days, and when malls are about to close.

CriminalFiona Apple

"Criminal" is Fiona Apple's only chart hit. Royalties from it allow her to make music on her terms, releasing albums several years apart.

Editor's Picks

Al KooperSongwriter Interviews

Kooper produced Lynyrd Skynyrd, played with Dylan and the Stones, and formed BS&T.

Jimmy WebbSongwriter Interviews

Webb talks about his classic songs "By the Time I Get to Phoenix," "Wichita Lineman" and "MacArthur Park."

Art Alexakis of EverclearSongwriter Interviews

The lead singer of Everclear, Art is also their primary songwriter.

John Lee HookerSongwriter Interviews

Into the vaults for Bruce Pollock's 1984 conversation with the esteemed bluesman. Hooker talks about transforming a Tony Bennett classic and why you don't have to be sad and lonely to write the blues.

Todd RundgrenSongwriter Interviews

Todd Rundgren explains why he avoids "Hello It's Me," and what it was like producing Meat Loaf's Bat Out of Hell album.

Songs in Famous Movie Scenes: '80s EditionMusic Quiz

You know the scenes - Tom Cruise in his own pants-off dance off, Molly Ringwald celebrating her birthday - but do you remember what song is playing?