Posted on

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

Scroll down to see more content

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.

–

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

15 thoughts on “My Gen X Playlist: You’ve Got to Hide Your Love Away – Pearl Jam”

  1. I remember Pearl Jam taking on Ticketmaster back in the day. Unfortunately, it really ended up being one of those cases of “you can’t fight City Hall“. Ticketmaster is still a juggernaut, not what they used to be but still pretty powerful nonetheless.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

      1. I haven’t heard anybody say this, but I think part of the problem now is that vinyl/CD sales are practically nonexistent, so musicians make next to nothing off of that. And they get even less from streaming/downloads.

        I can only assume that they figure the only alternative to losing that is to raise concert ticket prices

        Liked by 1 person

  3. Was at a Tori Amos concert a few nights ago and happily stayed far far away from the merch line, but I’ll pay sometimes ridiculous amounts for a great pair of pants.

    This is a gem of a cover! Thanks.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

    1. Totally agree for pants or some other article of clothing! Even though working from home pushed me more to everyday t shirts, they’re just extreme casual wear for me. I did pay the stiff price for a Patagonia t shirt once. But I’d been looking at it for years and decided to bite the bullet and just treat myself for a change.

      Tori Amos concert sounds cool. I admit I don’t know a lot of her music, but the songs I do know are so good.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

      1. You sound practical/pragmatic. Agree it’s nice to have your eye on something and splurge once in a while. Generally when I’ve done that, I’ve gotten things I love a long time. 🙂

        Liked by 1 person

  4. I am all about $5 t-shirts. And while this doesn’t apply to you – an easy way to make a bank account shudder is to price bras – especially for the well endowed. I know nothing about Pearl Jam but Eddie Vedder wrote a song that I had on a loop after my husband died- I don’t remember how I found the Willie Nelson and his son Lukas version of “Just Breathe” but it always rips my heart out https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ow-Cx9IX4So

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

    1. I love this song. There are times when I need it and I play it on a loop, too. I get it.

      I only know a little bit about Willie Nelson, but I also enjoyed his version as well. Thanks for adding the link. I appreciate your song suggestions.

      Like

      Reply

  6. Your post made me smile. It’s a sign of getting older moaning about prices!!!🤣
    Not that I don’t agree with you but I tend to stick to my favourite clothes sites on line.
    Concert tickets are my real biggie!!!
    I feel like a whole generation is missing out on live music because they don’t want to take out a mortgage to buy a ticket. It’s really sad and tbh I’m not sure how the artists substantiate the prices and sleep at night!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. I haven’t been to a concert in awhile. My wife went to see Taylor Swift and she loved the experience. We have friends who watched BTS multiple times in a week. Better to spend money on experience than stuff.

      Like

      Reply

Leave a comment