Every Pearl Jam Album Opening Song Ranked From Worst To Best

For their 2002 album Riot Act, Pearl Jam once again returned to the slower, moodier opening they had tried on No Code several years prior. Only this time, it worked.

Can't Keep tackles the very serious subject matter of suicide, being sung from the perspective of a person contemplating their life. The title refers to the fact that people "can't keep" the protagonist on Earth if that's not what they want, raising a morbid yet fascinating discussion point about free will with regards to one's own existence.

To give the heavy lyrics some room to breath, Can't Keep is sung over a more restrained composition helmed by a driving drumbeat and acoustic guitar part, perhaps a metaphor for the relentless march of living.

It won't be to everyone's liking, and it doesn't exactly get the album off to a cheery start, but Can't Keep is one of the more emotional and thought-provoking songs on this list, and that is no bad thing.