Corduroy

It's about the media. Yes, it's called Corduroy b/c he bought a cheap corduroy jacket and later it was advertised for a lot of money. It's about his feelings towards the media. "take my hand, not my picture" means to take HIM not "Pearl Jam's lead singer and rock star: EDDIE VEDDER!!" "spilled my tincture" a tincture is a color or shade used to distinguish metals from each other..he's saying he's not being seen as himself anymore..he's being seen in the mass of "rock stars". "I thought you were a friend, but I guess, I guess I hate you" when PJ first started out Eddie was known for being very friendly and respectful to reporters but once he realized that they were just in it to exploit him and make money..he ran away

Not to nit-pick, but its, "everything has CHAINS...absolutely nothing's changed."

Obviously this is an anti-fame song. The 'you' Vedder constantly refers to is fame, not a person, not the media, etc. Look over the lyrics again and insert 'fame' whenever he says 'you'. He thought fame was his friend before he had it. And it is "Everything has changed, absolutley nothing's changed" I saw this quoted in a SPIN when Vitalogy came out and Vedder talked about that line. Obviously everything is different for him now that he is famous but he still feels like the pre-famous Eddie.

eddie vedder had a corduroy jacket he used to wear -- like in the jeremy video. The song title comes from one day when he saw a rip off of his jacket on sale in a store for a few hundred bucks. Hence "they can buy but can't put on my clothes"

Although I do agree that songlyrics are some what open for interpretation, I do feel there are limits to that as well. Someone I used to know had made Better man the soundtrack to his relationship. Like; she couldn't find a better man than he was. Now knowing the meaning of the song or just reading the rest of the lyrics makes that seem a bit silly and I am trying to put it politely.

It was interesting to read peoples thoughts on the lyrics for Corduroy. Some here saw a love song in it. In a way it is. But the object of his love isn't a person, it is music.

Others mentioned it being about the fashion industry and how they made Grunge (whatever that is) into a fashionline. That is definetly one element in the song. It also gives the name for the song. Although there is one other element that helped with the name. Apparently there was a hospital serie on TV that had this Vedder look alike with a corduroy jacket on. The serie was also trying work the latest fashion (being grunge) into the serie.

As a whole I'd say it is about Eddies disgust for the industry side of music. It's about the media and how they make him into something that he is not or doesn't want to be. It's about the fans that treat him as if he is some sort of messiah. It's about people that try to imitate. It's about peopel making money of the band and the fans.

All in all it's about his disgust over how his love for music and making music is being corrupted and frustrated.

He wantes it to be pure and the position he's being maneuvered in makes him feel like he's becoming something he dislikes.

I feel Corduroy, Not for you, Satan's bed and Blood all touch on the same subject.

Before starting Not for you 1994 Orpheum theater Ed said; This song is about people who have no taste, but they like us anyway.

I feel the same could be said about Corduroy.

hey, antwan ... guess what? i got a corduroy jacket for $6!!!!

I think this a love song. About an older lover whom he is trying to get rid of from his head

The waiting drove me mad...you're finally here and I'm a mess I take your entrance back...can't let you roam inside my head

Artsy- I think in the context of the song he means that the things that he wants: common courtesy, privacy, love, respect...are all things that cannot be bought with money...but the more money you have the less of those things you tend to get.

Cant be what you want because Im free....

that means that Eddie doesnt want to be your answer man or your dancing monkey because he is trying to live his own life.

Your Parents might have wanted you to become a doctor, but you wanted to be a ballet dancer-- you cant be what they want because youre free!

2 of the 3 times I saw them in concert they opened with this song!

I get SOME parts of this song...i basically just like the tune of it..hey bellyful..Great explaining on some of the lyrics, i would LOVE to see these guys in concert like you! haha Awesome song.

why do peole always say things about the lyrics being wrong. they be what thay want them to be. sorry i thought id say that.

this song has some amazing things in it and i think that it has something allot to do with something bad thats happening in the band. not to put pj down but i just think that