My Gen X Playlist: You’ve Got to Hide Your Love Away – Pearl Jam

I’m always surprised when I shop on line and see price tags. You’ve got to spend a pretty penny if you want to look good. And my god. When did t shirts regularly cost 50 bucks? I just can’t do it.

I think the algorithms were reading my vibe because all of a sudden a warehouse sale dropped into my feed. This weekend only. Five dollar graphic t shirts, ten dollar joggers and fifteen dollar sweatshirts. What the hell. It was worth checking out.

I showed up on time to find no parking and a line clear around the block. Most people were more than half my age and tatted up. I wasn’t surprised. The style was a little trendier than my usual garb, but I did like some of the t shirt designs.

We all stood in line in the ninety degree morning heat. To their credit, the brand made the rounds with ice cold water so no one overheated. After 45 minutes of little movement, I had to ask the question, Is this really worth a $5 T-shirt?

I pulled out my phone and searched for coffee houses on Yelp, looking for a sign. There was an inviting one not too far away. I took this as the universe telling me it was time to go.

Like clockwork, as soon as I stepped out of line, it started moving. Turns out, it moved just a smidge. Coffee, here I come.

I pulled up and found parking right out front. I opened the door and was greeted with a blast of AC. I ordered a fresh cup of coffee and nibbled on a delicious pastry. Much better. Thank you, universe.

And just to close the loop, I found an $8 graphic t-shirt at Costco the next day. Even though it was three bucks higher than the warehouse sale, it probably was more age appropriate and I didn’t have to risk heat stroke to get it. All in all, a pretty good win. Things always have a way of working out.

I read that Pearl Jam once fought Ticketmaster on their concert ticket prices. They also fought to keep merch prices down as well.

. . . the band instructed its representatives to focus on persuading venue owners to accept smaller commissions on Pearl Jam merchandise so that T-shirts could be sold for $18–about 25% less than most acts charge.

“We swore when we formed this band that if we ever got successful we would make sure we did something to keep our concert prices down,” Gossard says. “But we decided to take it one step at a time.”

Los Angeles Times

Not a bad deal for a concert t shirt. But that was thirty years ago. They must cost an arm and a leg today.

I had fun going down a rabbit hole. I discovered that Eddie Vedder did a bunch of cover songs. Most were live and not the clearest versions. But it was interesting hearing his covers of the Cure, REM, U2, Bob Marley and Cat Stevens just to name a few. Here’s a Beatles cover of You’ve Got to Hide Your Love Away. Not a bad cover version, Eddie.

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For a complete playlist, please click here.

For the Spotify playlist, please click here.

Here I stand head in hand
Turn my face to the wall
If she's gone I can't go on
Feelin' two-foot small

Everywhere people stare
Each and every day
I can see them laugh at me
And I hear them say

Hey you've got to hide your love away
Hey you've got to hide your love away

How could I even try
I can never win
Hearing them, seeing them
In the state I'm in

How could she say to me
Love will find a way
Gather round all you clowns
Let me hear you say

Hey you've got to hide your love away
Hey you've got to hide your love away