Nothingman
Pearl Jam · Vitalogy
Once divided...nothing left to subtract...
Some words when spoken...can't be taken back...
Walks on his own...with thoughts he can't help thinking...
Future's above...but in the past he's slow and sinking...
Caught a bolt 'a lightnin'...cursed the day he let it go...
Nothingman... (2x)
Isn't it something?
Nothingman...
She once believed...in every story he had to tell...
One day she stiffened...took the other side...
Empty stares...from each corner of a shared prison cell...
One just escapes...one's left inside the well...
And he who forgets...will be destined to remember...oh...oh...oh...
Nothingman... (2x)
Isn't it something?
Nothingman...
Oh, she don't want him...
Oh, she won't feed him...after he's flown away...
Oh, into the sun...ah, into the sun...
Burn...burn...
Nothingman... (2x)
Isn't it something?
Nothingman...
Nothingman... (2x)
Coulda' been something...
Nothingman...
Oh...ohh...ohh...
Nothingman - Pearl Jam
Released on the 1994 album Vitalogy, "Nothingman" stands as a defining track in Pearl Jam's discography, exemplifying the band's evolution during the mid-90s. The song features a distinctive, repetitive guitar riff that drives a narrative of existential dread and the search for identity. Lyrically, it explores themes of isolation and the difficulty of finding one's place in the world, resonating deeply with the band's fanbase. As a cornerstone of the grunge and alternative rock genres, the recording showcases the band's signature blend of melodic sensibility and raw emotional intensity. Its enduring popularity highlights its status as a classic within the band's catalog, often cited as a pivotal moment in their artistic trajectory.