Animal

I'm just trying to make the rape meaning as clear as possible for those who do not see it. The first line "1, 2, 3, 4, 5 agaisnt one... 5, 5, 5, 5, 5 against one" then repeated. The counting up and then the reptition makes the listener aware that he is trying to make a point, the point lying in the numbers 5 against one.... similar to pack behaviour of an animal... "Torture from you to me... Abucted from the streets" This woman is being tortured by the 5 of them who abducted her from the street. That's usually how gang rape happens, except at frat parties, but those we'll leave those animals alone for now... "Why would you want to hurt me? Oh so frigtened by your pain" She, like everybody else who is not a savage fucking pig, can in no way imagine why these stains upon society would do this to her. Then she states that she is frightened by their pain, as a victim obviously would be. The pain she speaks of here could mean 2 things i believe, because she says "yor pain" which causes some ambiguity... it could refer to the pain that they choose to force upon her, or literally their pain, because it's obviously pain and aggression built up in their souls that cause those bastards to act that way, because nothing else could explain why a "human being" would want to do such things... Then the "I'd rather be with an animal..." This implies many different, yet relevant things. First, she'd rather be with an animal, obviously, is a slap in the face to her predators, spiting them because she would never willfully take part in the horrors they are putting her through, she'd rather be with an animal. Then it also goes to show what level of filth that these rejects are on, because their pack-like behaviour is being compared to an animal, and on top of that, in a way, not making them appear to be animals, but showing that they are worse, because animals don't even do that, and people should know better, making those predators less than both... indescribable forms of life.... scratch that; lifeless... So hopefully you can all see now the dominant theme of rape...

Both meanings are probably right...most Pearl Jam songs are about more than one thing. Just on the band vs the media thing, when Eddie says the 5 against 1 bit, I think you can take it 2 ways: 1) Five guys from the media against Eddie and 2) Five guys in the band against one institution, as if everyone from the media is a generic journalist.

You guys are all wrong. This song is about animal rights, get it - the song is called ANIMAL. the 5 against one thing symbolizes how humans poach and abuse animals, and the animals are outnumbered and defenseless. Eddie Vedder is saying that he would "rather be with an animal" than be with the humans in our society.

btw I wonder if they got the idea of "1, 2, 3, 4, 5 against 1" from jim morrison... the doors "five to one"... ya know? both rebellious songs. just a thought

The argument could be made that Animal is about an abused dog.

"Why would you want to hurt me?"

That line shows a wide-eyed innocence that isn't typical of the human characters in Ed's lyrics.

This song is about the bands hatred towards the media. They feel outnumbered and abused by them.

treestump couldn't have said it better.

kickass mccready intro (like 'Go') of the song. check it out.

i dont know about anyone else...

but i would rather be with an animal!

Its gang rape, they have talked about it. 5 'animals', raping a woman.

'Torture from you to me Abducted from the street'

'Why would you wanna hurt me, oh Oh, so frightened of your pain...yeah...ooh... '

Very clear...