20th Century

No one wants to take a shot? OK, then. For grins...

Actually, songs like this are pretty typical for Brad. Vague lyrics that express more feelings than concrete thoughts. It’s this kind of thing that leads many to feel much of Brad’s work is incomplete or rushed. But remember, Brad was always supposed to be an informal collective for members of Satchel and Pearl Jam to just let loose and jam a bit. So, the listener needs to just go with it to enjoy them.

That said, I feel like this song is expressing both anticipation of changes on the world scene for the better as well as the need for people to take action to make those changes reality (“Raise the roof, let’s get out of this”) or else things continue to break down. Thus, references to nervousness, impatience, eagerness and encouragement/reassurance (“Just a little bit farther...” repeated into fade-out) to both the singer and the listener (“My friends...”). He calls on people to pay attention to the signs of a devolving society, but also to the questions raised about the sustainability of current values and practices, while recognizing the latent energy in us all that, if tapped into, the singer feels could make the potential for change into reality. The 20th Century was about to close in the 90s when this was written, so the title and repeating of that phrase is expressing urgency that this happen NOW.

What specific problem is being addressed? Who knows? Take your pick. What doesn’t need fixed in the world? So, this lack of specifics may be on purpose, which also allows each listener to make the song personal in regards to whatever bothers them the most. But, I feel it’s more likely that the band was just jamming on a basic idea, so it was left open-ended because they were just having fun. Whatever the case, what a great, funky, driving tune it is. A real under-appreciated gem from an equally under-appreciated group.