Waitin', watchin' the clock
It's four o'clock, it's got to stop
Tell him, "Take no more"
She practices her speech
As he opens the door, she rolls over
Pretends to sleep as he looks her over

She lies and says she's in love with him
Can't find a better man
She dreams in color, she dreams in red
Can't find a better man
Can't find a better man
Can't find a better man
Oh

Talkin' to herself
There's no one else who needs to know
She tells herself, oh
Memories back when she was bold and strong
And waiting for the world to come along
Swears she knew it, now she swears he's gone

She lies and says she's in love with him
Can't find a better man
She dreams in color, she dreams in red
Can't find a better man
She lies and says she still loves him
Can't find a better man
She dreams in color, she dreams in red
Can't find a better man
Can't find a better man
Can't find a better man

She loved him, yeah
She don't want to leave this way
She feeds him, yeah
That's why she'll be back again

Can't find a better man (can't find a better man)
Can't find a better man (can't find a better man)
Can't find a better man (can't find a better man)
Can't find a better man


Lyrics submitted by dsfire

Better Man Lyrics as written by Eddie Jerome Vedder

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group

Lyrics powered by LyricFind

Better Man song meanings
Add Your Thoughts

161 Comments

sort form View by:
  • +9
    General Comment

    I believe this song is about a women in a abusive relationship, realizing she's stupid for staying. But to scared to leave.

    Lucky1869_420on December 07, 2001   Link
  • +8
    General Comment

    i love this song soo much... one of my favourite of all time its just about a woman... too scared to leave this guy.. because she just doesnt want to end up alone i love the beginning the best "its got to stop.. tell him.. take no more she practices her speech as he opens the door.. she rolls over.. pretends to sleep as he looks her over" she was prepared to stand up to him and end it... but then when the moment came she backed down and about the "she dreams in colour she dreams in red"... i think it does actually mean that she dreams of love... because she doesnt have it in her own life red has always, traditionally, symbolised love and passion... not blood... but i could be wrong. everyone is entitled to their own opinions this song rocks

    regan_89on June 28, 2003   Link
  • +5
    General Comment

    This is an awesome song, though horribly sad. I always liked it, but it's recently taken on a deeper meaning to me. There is this girl who is one of my best friends that I always had slightly deeper feelings for. Anyway, she keeps settling for these guys whose league she is far beyond. And when she started to get the impression that I had feelings for her, she withdrew and went back to her self-destructive relationship patterns. Even when an opportunity for true happiness presents itself, she still withdraws. She can't find the better man.

    loopydateon May 14, 2002   Link
  • +3
    General Comment

    I think the line "She dreams in color, she dreams in red" is just an ironic little line thats saying "She can see everything, once you narrow it down to red." In other words, she can only focus on one man but knows there are others there for her.

    hueberton March 05, 2003   Link
  • +3
    My Interpretation

    For some reason I always thought this was about a woman in an abusive relationship who is unable to leave because she feels she has no other choices.

    musicnutson November 11, 2012   Link
  • +2
    General Comment

    i also think its a woman whos been with the same guy for so long that she thinks theres noone else better out there for her. shes just so used to being with him.

    i think this songs about eddie vedder's step father also.. i think he might have been abusive...dont quote me on that though.

    savannahon January 10, 2002   Link
  • +2
    General Comment

    she lies and says she's in love with him she dreams in colour, she dreams in red

    I think the "she dreams in colour" bit is her rational side. He probably provides for her, works, brings in the money. It's a happy, normal life. Even though she knows she doesn't love him, it's everything she should want. ie, all the colours.

    "She dreams in red" symbolises her knowing she doesn't really love him, so she dreams of love.

    In reference to the person who didn't understand why she couldn't find a better man.. It's pretty much because he's so traditionally perfect for her. He brings in the money, gives her a home, and everything seems fine on the surface. She just doesn't love him.

    My thoughts anyway.

    regan_89on April 05, 2005   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    Yeah, it's tied w/ his mom marrying some abusive guy and her too scared to leave. Eddie said he would ask her to leave but she would say "No I can't." (That's what I heard anyway."

    emo_SavestheDayon April 28, 2002   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    not the clearest of PJ songs.

    i too think its about his mom and dad.

    she loved him, but he didnt really reciprocate. came home late every night - not necessarily abused her.

    "she dreams in colour......." i feeel more than the word "red" whats important here is the "colour" bit. like she dreams/imagines/longs for a very colourful married life, as different from this one sided relationship. "Red" is used to drive home that her dreams are of a "bright" warm and vibrant sort, unlike the cold, dark realities of her married life. however she fails to (1) find that "betterman" who will make all those colourful dreams come true and (2) muster enough courage and resolve to tell her husband on the face that she's had enough and now wants to walk away. she did however love this man once (so she cant so easily leave him this way and go) but now that love is waned, so she "lies and says she's in love with him".

    Bengal Tigeron February 11, 2005   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    Eddie Vedder wrote the song when he was 16 years old or so,... it is about his mother and not neccesarily how she can't find a betterman, but how she wont allow herself to find a better man, this song speaks of co-dependence. And it's as original "Eddie" as Eddie gets.

    Great song

    N0 C0DE 79on May 02, 2005   Link

Add your thoughts

Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.

Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!

More Featured Meanings

Album art
Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
"Fast car" is kind of a continuation of Bruce Springsteen's "Born to Run." It has all the clawing your way to a better life, but in this case the protagonist never makes it with her love; in fact she is dragged back down by him. There is still an amazing amount of hope and will in the lyrics; and the lyrics themselve rank and easy five. If only music was stronger it would be one of those great radio songs that you hear once a week 20 years after it was released. The imagery is almost tear-jerking ("City lights lay out before us", "Speeds so fast felt like I was drunk"), and the idea of starting from nothing and just driving and working and denigrating yourself for a chance at being just above poverty, then losing in the end is just painful and inspiring at the same time.
Album art
Holiday
Bee Gees
@[Diderik:33655] "Your a holiday!" Was a popular term used in the 50s/60s to compliment someone on their all around. For example, not only are they beautiful, but they are fun and kind too ... just an all around "holiday". I think your first comment is closer to being accurate. The singer/song writers state "Millions of eyes can see, yet why am i so blind!? When the someone else is me, its unkind its unkind". I believe hes referring to the girl toying with him and using him. He wants something deeper with her, thats why he allows himself to be as a puppet (even though for her fun and games) as long as it makes her happy. But he knows deep down that she doesnt really want to be serious with him and thats what makes him.
Album art
Dreamwalker
Silent Planet
I think much like another song “Anti-Matter” (that's also on the same album as this song), this one is also is inspired by a horrifying van crash the band experienced on Nov 3, 2022. This, much like the other track, sounds like it's an extension what they shared while huddled in the wreckage, as they helped frontman Garrett Russell stem the bleeding from his head wound while he was under the temporary effects of a concussion. The track speaks of where the mind goes at the most desperate & desolate of times, when it just about slips away to all but disconnect itself, and the aftermath.
Album art
American Town
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran shares a short story of reconnecting with an old flame on “American Town.” The track is about a holiday Ed Sheeran spends with his countrywoman who resides in America. The two are back together after a long period apart, and get around to enjoying a bunch of fun activities while rekindling the flames of their romance.
Album art
Plastic Bag
Ed Sheeran
“Plastic Bag” is a song about searching for an escape from personal problems and hoping to find it in the lively atmosphere of a Saturday night party. Ed Sheeran tells the story of his friend and the myriad of troubles he is going through. Unable to find any solutions, this friend seeks a last resort in a party and the vanity that comes with it. “I overthink and have trouble sleepin’ / All purpose gone and don’t have a reason / And there’s no doctor to stop this bleedin’ / So I left home and jumped in the deep end,” Ed Sheeran sings in verse one. He continues by adding that this person is feeling the weight of having disappointed his father and doesn’t have any friends to rely on in this difficult moment. In the second verse, Ed sings about the role of grief in his friend’s plight and his dwindling faith in prayer. “Saturday night is givin’ me a reason to rely on the strobe lights / The lifeline of a promise in a shot glass, and I’ll take that / If you’re givin’ out love from a plastic bag,” Ed sings on the chorus, as his friend turns to new vices in hopes of feeling better.