I had no idea what he was saying, just I don't want to stay. 30 years later I still sob it has way too much meaning at the time in my life. Its the music just gets into by brain and soul. I sob now. It's so intense.
Thanks for the background on this! I remember it hitting the radio stations at the time and wondering where the heck it came from since they hadn't put out a new release yet.
I'm convinced that Yellow Ledbetter was written as a bet that he couldn't write and sing a song without his lips touching and people would still buy it.
Was sitting in a hammock listening to the local alternative radio station when I first heard this. I fell out of the hammock and ran inside to record it on cassette.
Kenny Wayne Sheppard has a song called "While We Cry" that sounds very similar. That was a big controversy at one time but not mentioned. His album was called Ledbetter Heights.
I don't know, the supposed sources of songs always seem to slip and slide as the years go by. I don't even think it's necessarily that they're being deceptive, it's just that there often there really is no definitive inspiration, it just happens. Later it's like reading into Nostradamus predictions and filling in the blanks with whatever.
Also weird sh happens all the time. Therefore when u lose ur mind, all u got is to just laugh at sh. I made a meme out of this. I didnt really. Lisa simpson did. But + also kinda me. & Im absolutely hilarious _slaps knee & cry laughs_ . I wish i knew my roots more... But id say theyre pretty admirable anyways. Soo now 🙄, idk. Maybe. Scratch. Not maybe. I was on rotation too. I need to get the hell up off my phone
I remember buying this as an import of a single of Jeremy! Happily paid $16 for a cd with just these 2 songs on it just so I had it!! 50/50 was a perfect use of it too!
It's a great song, but I still can't find the correct lyrics for it, as different pages conflict with each other. Google's listed lyrics seem slightly wrong in some places, where other sites are wrong in others. What also doesn't help is Eddie sometimes changing the lyrics when he sings it live.
the first version i was able to get my hands on was the Woodstock live performance... years later I was able to get a re-issue of the UK Jeremy EP and i finally had my copy.
There are many versions of this song. Often times I say: treat every song like Eddie treats yellow ledbetter. Without a doubt the best version is 1997's tibetan freedom concert.
One person commented on their first performance and they said that he looks like he’s in a boat and a storm trying to battle the waves and that is the best comment I’ve ever heard every time I watch an old PJ said I see him on his ship battling waves and trying to perform and I cracked up
I ended up getting a live version in 92 that was listed as an import but recorded in early 92 in Arizona. Newbury comics back in tye day in Boston had the best stuff.
I was in high school when this came out and hated mornings. The local stations would air this constantly when I'd be getting up for school and it made me absolutely hate the song. I angrily called it a Little Wing ripoff as I'd shut off the radio. It took like 20 years to fully love and appreciate the song.
@@bx3054 does that matter if the story is supposed to be about a war that happened in 1991? Edit: maybe it inspired some imagery that was developed into the song, but the video is pretty clear about the death of a soldier in the Gulf War.
I remember all of this very well.. Tie crazy the song is such a critical pj staple... In that it was basically never released. Maybe that was part of the draw... The allure of the unobtainable. Or, in cheesy Hollywood Marvel speak... the song was pure unobtainium.
As a teenager I always thought it was some kind of inside joke about pee, like Yellow Bedwetter or something. 😅 Didn't realize how deep they were at the time I guess.
I'm fairly certain that it was the B-Side to Jeremy in the states too. But it had different album art. I don't remember it but I think it was black and white. I don't think it was the one with picture of the little girl but it might have been. My friend had it. Could be wrong tho. Was a long time ago.
ALOT OF FOLKS DONT UNDERSTAND ARTISTRY. ITS OK Go back and listen to all of the jimi Hendriix songs again. I like the song better when no one knew the lyrics or what the hell Eddy was even saying . Its like abstract art work Our world is in dire need of more artists
1:34 Wow one of one hundred a fifty that died in the gulf war. I was in the military and never met anybody that knew anyone that had died in desert storm.
I worked at a Mom & Pop music store in the early 90s. We got so tired of the bros coming in asking about this song we started referring to it as Yellow Bed Wetter.
Yellow Ledbetter's success could never happen today since no stations use real DJ's anymore. People can choose what they like anymore. The record companies choose what people listen to.
I don't know all the lyrics to most of my favorite songs. Thats not the point to me. Sometimes lyrics ruin a song for me. Its the flow, the beat, the musicianship on display.....thats more important to me.
My ass...Vedder was stoned/drunk when they recorded this. Face it, this was the 90's version of "Louie Louie", great song, couldn't understand what the drunk/stoned Vedder was singing... just like "Louie Louie". They can tell any bs story the want, he was stoned.
Man, if they would have stuffed this ass kicker in with all the other mega hits on Ten . . . earth would have likely imploded. That would have been way too much. Would have just made Vs seem like even more aid a disappointment than it already was.
Fact check-ish... I have a recorded interview around 1994 on 107.7 in Seattle, Pearl Jam rarities. In that interview Vedder and Ament said the original version of the song was written by Andrew Wood/Ma Ha Bone prior to his death. They sold their souls for rock n roll.
Corporate Rock? LOL! Pearl Jam in their 33 year career has been anything but. 14 years into their career they agreed to one minute of Yellow Ledbetter being played after NBC wouldn't stop hounding them. That's not corporate Rock.
I think these guys were ones that were lucky enough to sort of skate by, and tried to negotiate things many times from just being great to their core fan base, and just people in general, and their fight with Ticketmaster. My musical taste has shifted a lot since then, I stopped following them, but still felt they deserved respect. They got big enough to make an attempt to pull some punches of their own, or at least try to. That’s pretty commendable.
The odd thing about how a band perceives a song's meaning or purpose is the fans will determine it's true meaning and purpose. It happens with entire groups as well. Public Enemy is one of the most white-suburban groups played at bbqs. RATM is the conservative's go-to anti-woke a.k.a normal person music.
I know a bunch of people don't like the band but I'm not sure how anyone can say this isn't a great song. It oozes feeling and your can kinda make up what it's about since the lyrics seem nonsensical even when you can understand them, so anytime can have a personal connection to it.
I like mumbling along to this song.
Suhhh, moo sheee-sed, havuh li'sorreeefuhyuu
I had no idea what he was saying, just I don't want to stay. 30 years later I still sob it has way too much meaning at the time in my life. Its the music just gets into by brain and soul. I sob now. It's so intense.
😂
So does Eddie!
A little drunk mumbling never hurt anybody
Yellow Ledbetter is one of those songs I can listen to on repeat for ages. Love the rift
Riff
Yes, Mike mccready has many riffs that are awesome
its a jimmy hendrix riff.
One of the best songs ever written, and a great example of a voice used as an instrument, which is why the lyrics never really mattered anyway.
It makes me cry, every single time.
That's a bold statement
The melancholy melody is what makes this song for me. The first 2min on repeat
Yellow Ledbetter is the perfect concert closer. Love this song so much!
Great song, and it's the only one Eddie can sing after drinking his way through a show
It’s so fitting how they had it as the last track on their greatest hits album
I'm so ecstatic about the eras I grew up in!! I've had an awesome life!!
I love when Pearl Jam closes a concert with Yellow Ledbetter!
I prefer Indifference 😃
@@Jared40
Down is the correct choice
Thanks for the background on this! I remember it hitting the radio stations at the time and wondering where the heck it came from since they hadn't put out a new release yet.
"Ten" does rule, and many other albums they've put out do as well. Looking forward to digging into the latest release.
Actually real good release in my opinion
I never heard Yellow Leadbetter till after hearing Kenny Wayne Shepard's While We Cry and a friend said OMG this sound like that Pearl Jam song
Yes! Kenny Wayne was playing while we cry live around Shreveport when he was 13 or so. Around 91 and 93.
Pearl Jam definitely peaked with their first album.
Nah, cAsUaL
@@yeahyeahbutnah never heard of that one.
It’s a beautiful song I know it’s about loss I love you
One of PJ greatest songs, ever!! I always thought to myself "Why was this left out of any album?!" Guess I wasn't the only one.. Cheers from Portugal
Pearl Jam goes on Howard Stern and talks about the history of YLB a few days ago. This dude jumps on it.
Mike is so underrated as a guitarist. He is absolutely amazing. One of my favorites
Not underrated at all. Pretty well respected.
He's not really very good, there are many better players. Hendrix was top shelf. McCready was never top shelf, just lucky
@@doofwopdon’t agree
@@travzimmerman1340mccready is why I recently like PJ I was into Nirvana L7 rancid but I just started listening to PJ bc mccready!
"Discovered the B-side" lol I never found it very difficult to find the b-side tracks but maybe I'm just extraordinarily gifted lol
I know right?
Hahaha good one. By the way, care to give away your secret to finding the opposite side of the album or disc?
😅
@@dtcdtc8328 shhh! You flip it over
I'm convinced that Yellow Ledbetter was written as a bet that he couldn't write and sing a song without his lips touching and people would still buy it.
You know what the definition of Hell is? Trying to decipher the lyrics to "Yellow Ledbetter" without looking them up.
My favorite song of theirs and i had absolutely no idea what it's about!
Was sitting in a hammock listening to the local alternative radio station when I first heard this. I fell out of the hammock and ran inside to record it on cassette.
One of my favorite PJ songs. Like it even more now that I see what he meant.
One of their greatest songs!
One of my all-time favorite PJ songs!!!!
“Inspired”by little wing is one way to put it . Great episode though I still love the tune
Kenny Wayne Sheppard has a song called "While We Cry" that sounds very similar. That was a big controversy at one time but not mentioned. His album was called Ledbetter Heights.
Keep up your great work on this channel Sid , always a pleasure to watch.
Thanks, will do!
This is my favorite PJ song. Love riffs/ guitar licks.
McCready is very very talented
Rock ICONS!
I don't know, the supposed sources of songs always seem to slip and slide as the years go by. I don't even think it's necessarily that they're being deceptive, it's just that there often there really is no definitive inspiration, it just happens. Later it's like reading into Nostradamus predictions and filling in the blanks with whatever.
Also weird sh happens all the time. Therefore when u lose ur mind, all u got is to just laugh at sh. I made a meme out of this. I didnt really. Lisa simpson did. But + also kinda me. & Im absolutely hilarious _slaps knee & cry laughs_ . I wish i knew my roots more... But id say theyre pretty admirable anyways. Soo now 🙄, idk. Maybe. Scratch. Not maybe. I was on rotation too. I need to get the hell up off my phone
I love how every time he sings it the lyrics are different.. favorite pj song
Love the song. Can't remember when or where I first heard it because I've been listening to it for so long
I remember buying this as an import of a single of Jeremy! Happily paid $16 for a cd with just these 2 songs on it just so I had it!! 50/50 was a perfect use of it too!
I’ve still got a radio recording from K ROQ of Pearl Jam in Berlin Germany on cassette
I've got the CD single. German import, I believe.
It's a great song, but I still can't find the correct lyrics for it, as different pages conflict with each other. Google's listed lyrics seem slightly wrong in some places, where other sites are wrong in others. What also doesn't help is Eddie sometimes changing the lyrics when he sings it live.
the first version i was able to get my hands on was the Woodstock live performance... years later I was able to get a re-issue of the UK Jeremy EP and i finally had my copy.
Where does the time go❤🎉🎉🎉
Thank you for the post! 🤘🏻✌🏼😊
You’re welcome!
@@rnrtruestories 👍🏻😊
There are many versions of this song. Often times I say: treat every song like Eddie treats yellow ledbetter. Without a doubt the best version is 1997's tibetan freedom concert.
Eddie always looks stoned, or agitated, or confused, or on the spectrum, or angry, or puzzled,… all at the same time.
One person commented on their first performance and they said that he looks like he’s in a boat and a storm trying to battle the waves and that is the best comment I’ve ever heard every time I watch an old PJ said I see him on his ship battling waves and trying to perform and I cracked up
I ended up getting a live version in 92 that was listed as an import but recorded in early 92 in Arizona. Newbury comics back in tye day in Boston had the best stuff.
I was in high school when this came out and hated mornings. The local stations would air this constantly when I'd be getting up for school and it made me absolutely hate the song. I angrily called it a Little Wing ripoff as I'd shut off the radio. It took like 20 years to fully love and appreciate the song.
I was working at an indie record store when this went down. Demand was HUGE!!
Funny thing is i never listened to the lyrics of most songs. I always focused on the beat and instruments. Vocals were just part of the sound.
You must love Shoegaze =]
💯 as a producer... I do the same. I focus on all the sounds and instruments first then the vocals. It's how my brain works.
@@At.mos.fEarProduktionz
Now we know you're a producer 😅
@@travzimmerman1340 cool
Wow. That is one intense and very sad story.Legends.
It's about a butterfly that was poisoned by led paint, but got better.
Love your videos! Thank you.
Glad you like them!
I don't care for PJ, but I love this song.
Me a few years back. They have some decent songs, try Black
I don't care for PJ, but think this song is ok. I probably wouldn't turn the station when it came on.
I wonder how many times they laughed at us as we try to figure out this song! ☮️💜✝️🇺🇸
Thanks 4 this
I can’t remember when I bumped onto yellow Ledbetter I think it was the b side cassette early 90’s great memories .
To be honest, I didn't know this song actually had lyrics.
If it’s written in America it’s patriotic. We will take Aphex Twins Come to Daddy because of CKY2K too.
U.S. military doesn't send letters out for death notifications anymore. Haven't since the 70's?
Vedder is a lot older than you think
@@bx3054exactly
Hmmmmm, all this time I thought it was yellow Ed Vedder...
@@bx3054 does that matter if the story is supposed to be about a war that happened in 1991?
Edit: maybe it inspired some imagery that was developed into the song, but the video is pretty clear about the death of a soldier in the Gulf War.
@@bx305458 years old.
its actually very easy to understand if you are more than a casual fan, has nothing to do with patriotism
I remember all of this very well.. Tie crazy the song is such a critical pj staple... In that it was basically never released. Maybe that was part of the draw... The allure of the unobtainable. Or, in cheesy Hollywood Marvel speak... the song was pure unobtainium.
Love that song. Makes me cry every time 😢 am I the boxer or the bag.
One of the all time great lyrics.
Probably the only lyrics you can understand lol.
This song is the only anxiety medication that actually works for me.
I think the meanning is: "I dont want to stay here, but I cant leave"
As a teenager I always thought it was some kind of inside joke about pee, like Yellow Bedwetter or something. 😅 Didn't realize how deep they were at the time I guess.
Great video.
Thanks!
I'm fairly certain that it was the B-Side to Jeremy in the states too. But it had different album art. I don't remember it but I think it was black and white. I don't think it was the one with picture of the little girl but it might have been. My friend had it. Could be wrong tho. Was a long time ago.
This was the only song one band I played in would play.
ALOT OF FOLKS DONT UNDERSTAND ARTISTRY. ITS OK
Go back and listen to all of the jimi Hendriix songs again.
I like the song better when no one knew the lyrics or what the hell Eddy was even saying .
Its like abstract art work
Our world is in dire need of more artists
1:34
Wow one of one hundred a fifty that died in the gulf war. I was in the military and never met anybody that knew anyone that had died in desert storm.
I don’t like Pearl Jam that much, but this song is simply amazing.
This was one of the first songs I learned on guitar in college... I don't think anyone really knew the lyrics 25 years ago though lol
I worked at a Mom & Pop music store in the early 90s. We got so tired of the bros coming in asking about this song we started referring to it as Yellow Bed Wetter.
Sure you did.
The rumor is the band knew there were already several quieter, mid-tempo songs, and adding another would kill the momentum.
Some tunes could be in the American archives and YL is one of them.
Anyone else remember when KROQ aired out of Pasadena on Los Robles?
Yellow Ledbetter's success could never happen today since no stations use real DJ's anymore. People can choose what they like anymore. The record companies choose what people listen to.
Why didn’t it come out on Vs then after it was too late to put it out on Ten?
It would have overshadowed the rest of the album.
Oddly, I've heard that Vedder has had multiple origin stories about this song.
Not odd, he makes up stories as they suit the prevailing political conditions
Why is Kenny Wayne shepherd not mentioned? Listen to ledbetter heights! It's the same song!
Yes! And Kenny Wayne was playing it live around Shreveport as early as 91!
On the beach of weathered sand, I know and I know I want to leave him again
I don’t know how the Gulf War could be related to it if it was written for Ten, which was put out a year before.
I don't know all the lyrics to most of my favorite songs. Thats not the point to me. Sometimes lyrics ruin a song for me. Its the flow, the beat, the musicianship on display.....thats more important to me.
Unsealed on a ported letter set and I know I want to leave it again
I usually drink a 5th before I start singing along
My ass...Vedder was stoned/drunk when they recorded this. Face it, this was the 90's version of "Louie Louie", great song, couldn't understand what the drunk/stoned Vedder was singing... just like "Louie Louie". They can tell any bs story the want, he was stoned.
Man, if they would have stuffed this ass kicker in with all the other mega hits on Ten . . . earth would have likely imploded. That would have been way too much. Would have just made Vs seem like even more aid a disappointment than it already was.
I always liked Yellow Bedwetter.
It was slow laidback jam track i don't see it being on ten. Still I like it.
How the hell do u know? Can’t understand a damn word he says.
Misheard Lyrics does a fantastic version
I'd be very surprised if any other PJ song is used in a movie or TV show.
Anyone know the song this guy uses constantly as background music? It's pkaying at 6:00 sounds like it might ve good. 5/5 video as always btw!
It’s TH-cam creator studio royalty free music
@@rnrtruestories Thanks for the reply, the song always suits your videos like mad and really adds a nostalgic feeling.
@@crafyerthanks! I call it “alternative music” and mostly use it for grunge stories.
Owen Benjamin has a great bit about this song
Fact check-ish... I have a recorded interview around 1994 on 107.7 in Seattle, Pearl Jam rarities. In that interview Vedder and Ament said the original version of the song was written by Andrew Wood/Ma Ha Bone prior to his death.
They sold their souls for rock n roll.
No shit, I already know they'd NEVER make a patriotic song. 🤣
I seriously thought the song title was a play on the phrase "yellow bed wetter"! 🤦
6:33 what’s this interview?
EdVed named it after me when he lost the lyrics. I
am honored.
The birth of Mumble Rap
I always thought it was about drug induced paranoia. I never thought it was about anything else.
If you license your song to NBC for Friends, you're corporate rock, idc what anybody says.
Corporate Rock? LOL! Pearl Jam in their 33 year career has been anything but. 14 years into their career they agreed to one minute of Yellow Ledbetter being played after NBC wouldn't stop hounding them. That's not corporate Rock.
I think these guys were ones that were lucky enough to sort of skate by, and tried to negotiate things many times from just being great to their core fan base, and just people in general, and their fight with Ticketmaster. My musical taste has shifted a lot since then, I stopped following them, but still felt they deserved respect. They got big enough to make an attempt to pull some punches of their own, or at least try to. That’s pretty commendable.
Live in Tokyo Japan is the best
The odd thing about how a band perceives a song's meaning or purpose is the fans will determine it's true meaning and purpose.
It happens with entire groups as well. Public Enemy is one of the most white-suburban groups played at bbqs. RATM is the conservative's go-to anti-woke a.k.a normal person music.
I love the movie 50/50
I know a bunch of people don't like the band but I'm not sure how anyone can say this isn't a great song. It oozes feeling and your can kinda make up what it's about since the lyrics seem nonsensical even when you can understand them, so anytime can have a personal connection to it.
Its a cover
@@latentsea
No, it isn't. Grow up.
Little Wing copy