Nothing as It Seems

Talking about the hard knocks of life, living life as a musician, the release of OxyContin and the start of individuals going to treatment for addiction, someone who needs to find their place (home), or suffer the consequences. As someone mentioned the ozone holds in our atmosphere, thus the hidden ways we hide from others, and our hereditary chromosomes, seems like the song was written about hidden inner feelings and finding a way to release them. Everyone wants to release their secrets… the Brooding and heavy lyrics written by Jeff Ament (PJ/Bass). A great song from 2000 in my humble opinion.

Downs Syndome explanation speaks loudy to me. "A chip off the old cornerstone." I actually think this is a nice song about a mentally challenged kid who sees the world differently and needs very little to be happy.

oh, in reflection to eternaljam's theory, i figured out what the 'blanket like the ozone' is.

forgive me if i'm wrong, but the ozone holds things in right? or protects them. well that uninvited chromozone is holding his true self in, or protecting it from everyone else.

that could be it...

The sense that I get from this song is that it might have something to do with a gender identity crisis. I think the never-ending bleakness of the song hammers in the hopelessness. The "nothing as it seems" is that even though he may look one gender from the outside, he's really another on the inside. The "home" that he needs is feeling at home in his own body. The uninvited chromosome is the y in xy (male) where he should have been xx (female). The "blanket like the ozone" gives me impression of something very fragile, that if it goes neglected, will cause death. "Chip off the conerstone" - I take as a chip off the old block, (boy just like his dad), but with the gender identity conflict, on the inside he's quite different - "who kidding, rainy day, a one-way ticket headstone". "occupations overthrown" - this is tough, I see it as social constructions around gender - to be male you should act and think this way, if female, another - he wants those forces - "occupations", overthrown. The scratching voice, the whisper, inadaquate words, a complete and utter outsider, with no voice, no hope, "the little that he frees" is either "nothing he believes" or "a little bittersweet", again reinforcing the unachievable end. He doesn't want to be judged from his external appearance, like as iceberg where 90% of the mass is under water. , "the little that you see...it's home."

I think this is clearly about drug use. In the first verse, he's having withdrawal systems. Methadone is used to treat heroin addicts (which Eddie has used before, I believe). The chorus reaffirms this (for me) because he's talking about the little that he needs. As far as the "uninvited chromosome", I think he is referring to getting his drug addiction from his parents...same with the chip of the cornerstone line. The "blanket like the ozone" bit is about how he can't escape this addiction. He's constantly covered by it. I think "saving up a sunny day" is him waiting to use until he gets depressed again, perhaps? The "one way ticket headstone" seems to mean that he knows that this is going to kill him...but he just can't help it. I'm going through the same thing...maybe that's how I made it make sense to me. That's one of the great things about Pearl Jam though...anyone is capable of relating their lyrics to instances in our own lives. Pearl Jam is just a fantastic band. I'm glad they've stuck around for song.

PS: speaking of Floyd. Listen to this song then listen to "Comfortably Numb". This song makes a great sequel to "Numb". Rockstar gets hooked on drugs. "Home" can mean the career and fans he lost.

Just a thought.

I don't think Downs or Homeless. I think about Klinefelter's Syndrome extra chromosome. I think about a male who feels he can never achieve masculinity, no matter what. And his self-abuse heroin/methadone is a product of this feeling of inadequacy according to societal norms. I don't read home as being back at a childhood place. I read it as a safeplace where no one can pass judgement on him. I guess that is more in alignment with the Gender Identity conflict theory. This is an incredible song with perplexing, yet moving lyrics.

At first i thought this song was about Kurt Cobain. Silly, right? But i now know its about the bassit childhood. (Wikipedia).

I think this is a great song... pearl jam always was my favorite band.

i have a very strong feeling that this song is about someone who has seeked help for a drug addiction. he goes to a clinic and feels homesick. "putting in imputting in dont feel like methadone". the part that speaks the most is "who's kidding? rainy day, a one way ticket headstone. occupation's overthrown. a whisper through a megaphone". this says that he is in so much pain, and screaming within, but nobody understands or hears him. he's lost everything and is left with nothing but a second chance.