Hear the sirens, hear the sirens

Hear the sirens, hear the circus so profound
I hear the sirens more and more in this here town
Let me catch my breath to breathe then reach across the bend
Just to know we're safe, I am a grateful man
The slightest bit of light and I can see you clear

Oh, had to take your hand, and feel your breath
For fear this someday will be over
I pull you close, so much to lose
Knowing that, nothing lasts forever
I didn't care, before you were here
I danced in laughter, with the ever after
But all things change, let this remain

Hear the sirens covering distance in the night
The sound echoing closer, will they come for me next time?
For every choice, mistake I made, is not my plan
To send you in the arms of another man
And if you choose to stay, I'll wait, I'll understand

Oh, it's a fragile thing, this life we lead
If I think too much, I can get over-
Whelmed by the grace, by which we live our lives
With death over our shoulders
Want you to know, that should I go
I always loved you, held you high above too
I studied your face, the fear goes away

It's a fragile thing, this life we lead
If I think too much, I can get over-
Whelmed by the grace, by which we live our lives
With death over our shoulders
Want you to know, that should I go
I always loved you, held you high above too
I studied your face, the fear goes away
The fear goes away, the fear goes away
The fear goes away


Lyrics submitted by fluorine, edited by Romanza, jholguin79, cylam, speeb, RedMosquito75, cjk22

Sirens Lyrics as written by Michael David Mccready Eddie Jerome Vedder

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group

Lyrics powered by LyricFind

Sirens song meanings
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35 Comments

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  • +13
    My Interpretation

    My husband used to tell me that he felt our relationship was so happy and perfect that he was afraid something could happen to us. Also that after we got together, he was more careful driving on this trips. I think this fear and behavior is what this song is about. About a man that is very happy with his life ( I can get over Whelmed by the grace, by which we live our lives) that he is afraid of losing his wife, either by her death or his own, in which case, she might end up with a new man/husband. He is aware of the fragility of their lives and that someday, his or her life will be over.

    resouzaesouzaon November 07, 2013   Link
  • +6
    General Comment

    I think the song is about a man dealing with and recognizing his own mortality, in a general sense. Hearing the sirens simply makes him think that they could be coming for him or for anyone at any time. He puts his mortality in the context of a relationship, saying that his biggest fear of death is loosing his relationship. (I didn't care, before you were here A distant laughter with the ever after But all things change, let this remain) He realizes life is fragile and that death is always over our shoulder, but finds comfort in his wife /gf, and wants her to know if he dies that he'll wait for her in the after life.

    Cowguyon November 01, 2013   Link
  • +5
    My Interpretation

    I believe this song is about his daughter and the fear of losing her as she gets older.

    Shawn77on October 25, 2013   Link
  • +3
    General Comment

    I think it should be "if i think too much, i CAN get overwhelmed" not can't. It makes more sense if its can. Then these lines "It's a fragile thing this life we lead, if I think too much, I can get overwhelmed by the grace, by which we live our lives with death over our shoulders." would become one of the best lyrical description of life. Its an appreciation of the grace by which we live our fragile lives while all the while death can come at any moment. Sounds like the concept of grace given by M. Scott Peck in Road less travelled.

    eddyfyon October 10, 2013   Link
  • +3
    My Interpretation

    Just created an account to comment about this song.

    For me the Sirens represent death itself, even though it's usually realated to death in practice (ambulance, police).

    Life is so fragile...who can say that death (sirens) are not coming for you this time? Like being hit by a bus while crossing the street, fall while taking a bath...and all this "silly" deaths that happens everyday with healthy young men and women..

    And because of that fragility, that is determined by faith, God, or whatever, he's sending a message to his lover, that "I do love you, and because of you life was good, being around you made it worth it...and I better say it to you right now, because you never know if tomorrow I'll be here to have the chance to say it".

    "It's a fragile thing this life we lead, if I think too much, I can get over Whelmed by the grace, by which we live our lives with death over our shoulders"

    It's just a perfect summary of what i constantly think about in life - i could be the one hit by a bus tomorrow, and i won't be able to accomplish everything i want, it'll be game over in the middle of the game, and that scares the shit out of me, but at the same time that does not stop from being happy, loving, enjoying life.

    brenofigon January 23, 2014   Link
  • +3
    My Interpretation

    Its about death and dying. And loss. And fear and paranoia. Period. Beautiful record. Sortta like a post-midlife crisis realisation phase record.

    Behemothm233on June 11, 2016   Link
  • +2
    General Comment

    Man, I like so many of your definitions and wish that even one of them were true.

    Pearl Jam already explained (briefly) the meaning of the song on YouTube and unfortunately it was quite bland and boring. Jeff said that they were in LA at the time and Eddie heard sirens outside and got inspired to write a song =\

    youtube.com/watch In that YouTube video, skip to the 3:00 mark.

    JeffCon December 11, 2013   Link
  • +1
    My Interpretation

    This song's meaning seems simple enough to me. War setting in some village where they are calling this person (the singer) to fight. However, he has a girlfriend which he loves and doesn't want to leave for fear that he won't see her again. There were lots of sirens in WWII that would call the men to war. I think these "sirens" are the same thing.

    When I picture this song happening, I often see in my head the scene in The Crucible where Proctor says goodbye to his wife just as the distant drums (sirens) are calling him to the gallows. The singer feels the same sort of anguish and fear when his sirens call him.

    Birdo33on February 14, 2014   Link
  • +1
    Memory

    Beautiful song. I married my gf recently, and it was the final song of the night. I'm always wary of Pearl Jam for romantic settings, as some songs that sound pretty can be very dark, but I think this song was perfect. To me, it's about holding our loved ones close in this terrifying world, and gaining strength and grace from the love that you both share. On top of that, I absolutely LOVE the line, "I study your face, the fear goes away..." because my wife gives me courage to do things I didn't think I could do. Sometimes that is simply going on living.

    mpedoneon August 15, 2014   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    The great thing about music is it can mean whatever you want or need it to mean. Music and art is very personal to the person moved by it, and it's always open to interpretation. I believe most artists are aware of that and happy for it. For me this song is about a man referring to his own mortality..sirens, the circus refers to life... the siren, the call of the inevitable end. Reaching out to touch his love beside him, taking solice in her love and presence. We all feel this way as we reach a certain maturity in life, where we realise how fragile life is, and how pecious love is. That's what this song means to me.

    Mare79on October 16, 2016   Link

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