15 Things Only Pearl Jam Fans Will Understand

13. The Lyrics To Yellow Ledbetter

If you do a google search for 'Yellow Ledbetter lyrics', odds are that you'll stumble across several similar, yet slightly different versions of the lyrics. This is not uncommon, with a lot of people posting misheard lyrics as the real thing online. In Yellow Ledbetter's case, however, there is genuine confusion as to what they are.

The song, which often closes always-epic Pearl Jam gigs, was intended to be included on the group's debut album, Ten, but didn't make the final cut and was instead released as a B-side to Jeremy. Written by McCready and Vedder, the song didn't have any lyrics, so Eddie came up with them pretty much on the spot. But just what the hell are the words, anyway? Vedder mumbles through the song, which is ostensibly about a friend who found out his brother had died in a war after receiving a yellow letter.

He describes it as anti-patriotic song, also inspired by an incident when he and that same friend were ignored by a group of people on a porch after they had gestured towards/saluted their American flag (because they were 'alternative looking'). Regardless of what the lyrics are, the song kicks eighteen different types of ass and is the perfect note to finish live shows on, ending with a typically frantic McCready solo.