10 Perfect Rock Songs Cut From Classic Albums

When Pearl Jam were starting to write their first songs as a band, most of the members were still in recovery mode. Still reeling from the death of Mother Love Bone singer Andy Wood, Eddie Vedder’s approach to lyrics was a breath of fresh air, trading in the high screams of what rock was supposed to be for a baritone croon that would soon become parodied to high heaven once the band got big. It may have just been the easy way for grunge bands to sound soulful, but someone like Eddie knows how to use that yarl to tug on your heartstrings.

While most of the band’s debut Ten is already pretty dark, one of the more heartbreaking songs was saved for the B-side to the single Jeremy, telling the story of a man seeing his brother go off to war and facing the sad reality of never seeing him again. As Mike McCready sprinkles in some Jimi Hendrix inspired lead work, Eddie really wears his heart on his sleeve during this song, trying to come to grips with the fact that he’s never going to see this person again and letting out his emotion in whatever way he knows how.

Even though the rest of their debut might have some stirring moments like Jeremy and Alive on the track listing, Yellow Ledbetter might be the closest the band have come to capturing the same raw pain that they had on the song Black, being equal parts a tribute song and a rock anthem. It might not seem fair having to carry on through life like this, but sometimes you’re the boxer and sometimes you’re the bag.