One, two, one, two

Know a man his face seemed pulled and tense
Like he's riding on a motorbike in the strongest winds
So I approach with tact
Suggest that he should relax
But he's always movin' much too fast
Said he'll see me on the flip side
On this trip he's taken for a ride

He's been takin' too much on
There he goes with his perfectly unkept clothes
There he goes

He's yet to come back
But I've seen his picture
It doesn't look the same up on the racks
We go way back
I wonder 'bout his insides
It's like his thoughts are too big for his size

He's been taken where, I don't know?
Off he goes with his perfectly unkept hope
There he goes

And now I rub my eyes for he has returned
Seems my preconceptions are what should have been burned
For he still smiles and he's still strong
Nothing's changed, but the surrounding bullshit, that has grown

And now he's home, and we're laughing, like we always did
My same old, same old friend
Until a quarter-to-ten

I saw the strain creep in
He seems distracted and I know just what is gonna happen next
Before his first step, he is off again


Lyrics submitted by Lucky1869_420, edited by NothingMann

Off He Goes Lyrics as written by Eddie Jerome Vedder

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group

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Off He Goes song meanings
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  • +1
    General Comment

    To me, it means "the loss" of my best friend. He didn't die, but moved away, and we've gradually lost touch. As far as Eddie goes, the real Eddie, he is talking about himself. I saw a consert once where he said: "This next song is about having an asshole for a friend", and then pointed at himself.

    EddieVedderon March 15, 2003   Link

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