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
I don't want to take what you can give
I would rather starve than eat your bread
I would rather run but I can't walk
Guess I'll lay alone just like before

I'll take the varmint's path
Oh, and I must refuse your test
A-push me and I will resist
This behavior's not unique

I don't want to hear from those who know
They can buy but can't put on my clothes
I don't want to limp for them to walk
Never would have known of me before
I don't want to be held in your debt
I'll pay it off in blood let I be wed
I'm already cut up and half dead
I'll end up alone like I began

Everything has chains, absolutely nothing's changed
Take my hand, not my picture, spilled my tincture

I don't want to take what you can give
I would rather starve than eat your breast
All the things that others want for me
Can't buy what I want because it's free
Can't buy what I want because it's free
Can't be what you want because I

Why ain't it supposed to be just fun?
Oh, to live and die, let it be done
I figure I'll be damned
All alone like I began


Lyrics submitted by Ark, edited by hello78, PedroCosta, OliviaMueller

Corduroy Lyrics as written by Eddie Vedder David Abbruzzese

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group

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Corduroy song meanings
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  • +1
    General Comment

    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!

    Bellyfull of Swanson January 15, 2005   Link

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