My Gen X Playlist: Alive – Pearl Jam

Beach or mountains? Which do you prefer? Why?

I like both, but in different ways. The beach is for relaxing, the mountains are for moving. I can lay out on a beach for hours and enjoy the sun. I may jump in the water from time to time, enjoy the sound of the waves and walk away relaxed with a dark tan. Really, what’s not to like.

For me, the mountains are for trails, ascents and descents, the sound of wind escaping through the trees and sore muscles after miles through the forest. My first time backpacking, I was in extreme pain and wondered why I was voluntarily subjecting myself to this. Eventually I understood that the pain is part of the journey. It makes reaching the summit that much more rewarding. Now when I’m on a hike and the pain hits, I don’t fight it anymore. I know it will be worth it in the end.

If you asked twenty year old me, I’d take the beach everyday and twice on Sunday. The today me chooses the mountains. I just feel more alive there.

I remember everyone going crazy over Pearl Jam back in the early nineties. I was no exception. The new grunge sound caught on pretty quickly. I guess people could relate to the angst of the lyrics and sound. Pearl Jam released Alive in 1991. I always thought this song was about feeling alive. Back then I was just singing along with the chorus. Now that I really pay attention to the lyrics, I couldn’t be more wrong, but I wasn’t alone.

Vedder’s lyrics are about a boy who finds out his father is actually his stepfather, and that his real father is dead. He later revealed that the song was “a work of fiction based on reality,” and the chorus of “I’m still alive” was what he considered his curse, as he struggled to deal with the strained relationship with his stepfather and the fact that his real father was dead.

In an episode of VH1’s Storytellers, Vedder explained that the interpretation of the song had changed, as fans would react to the chorus by jumping around and celebrating – they heard “I’m still alive” as a positive thing, an affirmation of life. Said Vedder: “When they changed the meaning of those words, they lifted the curse.”

– songfacts

I like the thought of the curse being lifted through the help of others. It’s a good story. Change and transformation often come with time, distance from the past sometimes being the best remedy. Even though pain may have been the initial inspiration, it’s an inevitable part of the journey worth fighting through. It’s all worth it in the end. And just like a Pearl Jam concert, there’s nothing better than the celebration, jumping around singing I’m still alive.

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For a complete playlist, please click here.

For the Spotify playlist, please click here.

"Son," she said, "have I got a little story for you
What you thought was your daddy was nothing but a
While you were sitting home alone at age thirteen
Your real daddy was dying
Sorry you didn't see him, but I'm glad we talked"

Oh, I, oh I'm still alive
Hey, I, oh I'm still alive
Hey, I, oh I'm still alive
Hey, oh

While she walks slowly across a young man's room
She said, "I'm ready for you"
Why I can't remember anything to this very day
'Cept the look, the look
Oh, you know where, now I can't see I just stare

I, I'm still alive
Hey, I, oh, I'm still alive
Hey, I, oh, I'm still alive
Hey, I, oh, I'm still alive, yeah
Ooh yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, oh, ooh

"Is something wrong", she said, of course there is
"You're still alive," she said, oh, and do I deserve to be?
Is that the question?
And if so, if so who answers?
Who answers?

I, oh I'm still alive
Hey, I, oh I'm still alive
Yeah, I, oh I'm still alive
Yeah, I
Ooh, I'm still alive!
Yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah!

Ooh yeah, ooh ooh
Ooh yeah, yeah yeah yeah