I felt the earth on Monday
It moved beneath my feet
In the form of a morning paper
Laid out for me to see
Saw his face in a corner picture
I recognized the name
Could not stop staring at the
Face I'd never see again

It's a shame to awake in a world of pain
What does it mean when
A war has taken over?
It's the same every day
I heard my name
What can be saved and
Who will be left to hold her?

The whole world
World over
It's a world wide suicide
The whole world
World over
It's a world wide suicide

Medals on a wooden mantle
Next to a handsome face
That the president took for granted
Writing checks the whole world pays
And in all the madness
Thought becomes numb and naive
Too much to talk about
And nothing for to say

It's the same every day
And the wave won't break
Tell you to pray while
The devil's on his shoulder
Laying claim to the take
That our soldiers save
Does not equate, and
The truth's already out there

The whole world
World over
It's a world wide suicide
The whole world
World over
It's a world wide suicide

Looking in the eyes of the fallen
You've got to know there's another
Another
Another
Another
Another

Way

It's a shame to awake in a world of pain
What does it mean when
The war has taken over
It's the same every day
And the wave won't break
Tell you to pray while
The devil's on his shoulder

The whole world
World over
It's a world wide suicide

The whole world
World over
It's a world wide suicide

The whole world
World over
It's a world wide suicide

The whole world
World over
It's a world wide suicide


Lyrics submitted by Police991119, edited by dashthestanpeat

World Wide Suicide Lyrics as written by Eddie Vedder

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group

Lyrics powered by LyricFind

World Wide Suicide song meanings
Add Your Thoughts

164 Comments

sort form View by:
  • 0
    General Comment

    It's a stab at the present administration for making people who aren't well off (soldiers)...

    Granted, I pretty much don't ever agree with Pearl Jam's politcal views, but I respect their opinion, and know when they write an asskicking song... and this it is,,, and asskicking song...

    N0 C0DE 79on March 06, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    ok.... I definitely didn't finish the first half of my comment, because I am an idiot, but the song is basically bashing bush for forsaking soldiers lives and using them as pawns in a game motivated by power and greed in which he has recklessly intimated himself into,...

    And like I said, I don't really ever agree with PJ's politics, but that don't matter, because this is a killer song...

    N0 C0DE 79on March 06, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I totally agree with N0 C0DE. I also don't always agree with pearl jam's political views. However, I can see where they are coming from and I also respect their opinion.
    This song sounds so awesome and now I am sad because I have almost 2 more months to wait for the new album which is way too long to wait. Oh well, at least I have this and all of PJ's other songs to listen to until then.

    Olie986on March 07, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Yep, I am definately agreeing with NO C0DE. However I do see things the same way that Pearl Jam is seeing them. Also it seems that Pearl Jam are realeasing bootlegs from the vault! So that should be enough to tide us over until the new album comes out May 2!

    Police991119on March 07, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I couldn't be a bigger Pearl Jam fan, but I'm really not feeling this song. Hopefully it will grow on me and the album will be as amazing as I hope it will be.

    Foundation4lifeon March 08, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    great tune.... my favorite of theirs in a long ass time

    bharQon March 08, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Do the backing vocals bug anyone else too? Cracking song then definitely a grower.

    AntiPop245on March 08, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    But I hope the album is more like yield than binaural or riot act.

    AntiPop245on March 08, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    i liked riot act and think it was very underrated, but if this cd can be as good as any of there previous cds than i will be happy

    richie8092on March 08, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    i completely agree with pjs views on the piece of shit we call a president and i thnk that this expresses their views better than any other song

    richie8092on March 09, 2006   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
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
Mountain Song
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction vocalist Perry Farrell gives Adam Reader some heartfelt insight into Jane’s Addiction's hard rock manifesto "Mountain Song", which was the second single from their revolutionary album Nothing's Shocking. Mountain song was first recorded in 1986 and appeared on the soundtrack to the film Dudes starring Jon Cryer. The version on Nothing's Shocking was re-recorded in 1988. "'Mountain Song' was actually about... I hate to say it but... drugs. Climbing this mountain and getting as high as you can, and then coming down that mountain," reveals Farrell. "What it feels to descend from the mountain top... not easy at all. The ascension is tough but exhilarating. Getting down is... it's a real bummer. Drugs is not for everybody obviously. For me, I wanted to experience the heights, and the lows come along with it." "There's a part - 'Cash in now honey, cash in Miss Smith.' Miss Smith is my Mother; our last name was Smith. Cashing in when she cashed in her life. So... she decided that, to her... at that time, she was desperate. Life wasn't worth it for her, that was her opinion. Some people think, never take your life, and some people find that their life isn't worth living. She was in love with my Dad, and my Dad was not faithful to her, and it broke her heart. She was very desperate and she did something that I know she regrets."
Album art
I Can't Go To Sleep
Wu-Tang Clan
This song is written as the perspective of the boys in the street, as a whole, and what path they are going to choose as they get older and grow into men. (This is why the music video takes place in an orphanage.) The seen, and unseen collective suffering is imbedded in the boys’ mind, consciously or subconsciously, and is haunting them. Which path will the boys choose? Issac Hayes is the voice of reason, maybe God, the angel on his shoulder, or the voice of his forefathers from beyond the grave who can see the big picture and are pleading with the boys not to continue the violence and pattern of killing their brothers, but to rise above. The most beautiful song and has so many levels. Racism towards African Americans in America would not exist if everyone sat down and listened to this song and understood the history behind the words. The power, fear, pleading in RZA and Ghostface voices are genuine and powerful. Issac Hayes’ strong voice makes the perfect strong father figure, who is possibly from beyond the grave.
Album art
Head > Heels
Ed Sheeran
“Head > Heels” is a track that aims to capture what it feels like to experience romance that exceeds expectations. Ed Sheeran dedicates his album outro to a lover who has blessed him with a unique experience that he seeks to describe through the song’s nuanced lyrics.
Album art
Page
Ed Sheeran
There aren’t many things that’ll hurt more than giving love a chance against your better judgement only to have your heart crushed yet again. Ed Sheeran tells such a story on “Page.” On this track, he is devastated to have lost his lover and even more saddened by the feeling that he may never move on from this.