Top 10 Best Pearl Jam Songs

I've seen this song misinterpreted so many times. It's about a guy who loved a girl who just didn't feel the same. She tried to show him love in return, but it wasn't real. In the first verse, he's saying she was his inspiration, and he's not inspired without her. The canvas and clay are empty. Then it tells how she didn't love him. It was just a costume she was wearing. He then tells us that he thinks she is so beautiful that the whole world revolves around her like the Earth does the sun. He ends the verse by saying that the main thing we need to live (air), without her, has gone bad. So he's saying he needs her to live. The first verse pretty much sums up the meaning of the song. And the last verse is just what it says, Why not me!

Black is by far the most emotionally powerful song I have heard. It touches your soul, and your emotions flow with the beats and vocals. This song becomes an integral part of my feelings, like it's being played within my head. My head moves uncontrollably with the beats, and my eyes remain closed. Truly magical!

I think this is their second-best song of all time, behind Even Flow. The only reason I vote for Jeremy is that I thought it might go higher. Still, though, even if people might disagree with the order, the top 4 songs here are Pearl Jam's best songs. These songs are all on one album, which is just unbelievable.

This is a side note, but I am proud to share my birthday with Eddie Vedder. December 23rd is awesome.

Such an amazingly repeatable song shouldn't be seated behind Even Flow. If you show anyone what Pearl Jam sounds like, you don't have to show them anything but this before they love the band. It represents the kind of talent that few see in the band and is so lyrically brilliant that humming it is actually painful.

Definitely their best.

"Jeremy" tells the powerful story of Jeremy Wade Delle, a high schooler who shot himself in front of his class. I love this song for its creativity in speaking out on suicide by saying "Jeremy spoke in class today," symbolizing that Jeremy was a quiet boy before he expressed himself with a gun. A beautiful song and one of Pearl Jam's best.

I think this should be higher. The ending riff is one for the ages and definitely one of Pearl Jam's best. Like many other of their songs, the lyrics have a deeper meaning, and once that meaning is found, I believe the song becomes much better.

The original and still the best. The song that IS Pearl Jam. I still get goosebumps today when I hear it, just like the first time I heard it 24 years ago. Pure brilliance!

The outro is some of the best music I think has ever been made. Seriously, other songs by them are solid, but come on, just give Alive a listen, and you're sure to like it.

This is the true Grunge Song from Pearl Jam. How on earth is this not number one?

Plus, if any song was going to be ahead of this one, then why is it Black? Last Kiss is the only song that could be better than Even Flow.

Easily one of the very best songs of all time! It's literally perfect, and even my mother loves it. It should definitely be number 1, but if I had to choose a song to be number 1 instead, it would have to be Alive or Jeremy, not Black (My mother doesn't like Black!).

A complete Pearl Jam song from their best album, Even Flow. Black is a good song, but it's overrated and overplayed. Awesome lyrics by Eddie with a super catchy chorus. True Grunge.

This song is a pure delight. Eddie's lyrics and the two parts of the song (starting easy and then evolving in the second part) add the needed rising of tension on what the lyrics are all about. It's a perfect connection between music and lyrics. And if you see them live in interpretation... This is what PJ is all about!

This is one of the greatest songs ever written. The rhythm is just magical. This song set the tone for rock in the late '90s and early '00s.

This song means the world to me. I can't really express it. Listening to it right now with tears in my eyes.

Classic Pearl Jam in every way. It's hard to make a list of the ten best anything, but I'm glad to see that many of their best songs are represented on this list.

Incredible vocals, great guitar part, really goes to show how amazing Pearl Jam was. The inspiration from this song is tremendous.

Fantastic tune, one of my favorite intros of any song (the drumming in the beginning). It will always be my favorite.

This song is about Eddie finding out about his real dad, and I too found out my dad was actually my stepdad all this time and that I had never actually known my biological dad, so this song is the one song of all time that really resonates with me, deep and heartfelt. But aside from any personal connection, the song is productionally a masterpiece in its atmospheric building, simplistic instrumental style, and perfectly crafted lyrics. Release builds up to become such an amazing outburst of human feeling. A song of true words from the heart. All you have to do is listen to any live versions of this song, and you'll understand how magical it truly is, not just to Eddie and the band members, but to the audience who break out into becoming louder than Eddie himself on a microphone. Pearl Jam has a large arsenal of universally hard-hitting songs, but Release is by far their biggest bullet. An absolute gem of a creation.

I can't relate to any song as much as I can to this one, as I've lived through the pain of childhood abuse. This song beautifully captures exactly how I feel, and the buildup in this song is the best out of any song - ever! Towards the end, it sounds like it's going to explode. Rearviewmirror is #1 in my opinion.

The best songs by Pearl Jam are the ones done well live, and "Rearviewmirror" translates well on stage. It's brimming with energy and progresses to an awesome climax. Works well live, even more so than "Given to Fly".

So much emotion and energy in this song. It starts out with an amazingly catchy riff, then builds to a climax with Eddie Vedder's vocals on this song being one of his best ever.

My god, the way Mike McCready plays, the way Hendrix used to, with the mumbled lyrics of Eddie. Any PJ fan can tell you what this song's relating to, but you can come up with different lyrics to make it what you want. If not #1, at least the best to listen to with your significant other.

Their best song, in my opinion. Always helps me when I'm feeling down. To me, just singing along to this masterpiece seems to bring out a force that's pulling me up and back on my feet again after I've taken an ugly fall.

I don't know how some people consider this song "fun." It's a song about losing your brother in a war, but hey... Whatever floats your boat. The song is pure emotion within the guitar and vocals.

It is an amazing song. The bass and guitar lines are beautiful, the drummer plays very strongly, and Eddie is a real frontman.

"ONCE! Upon a time..."
This song is so powerful in the chorus! It should be in the top 10!

This is the middle song of the Mamasan trilogy. I hope I can see them play all 3 of these together. THAT would be magical.

Oh... Such a good song. Really, it's fantastic. I think it's the best from Vitalogy and one of the best from Pearl Jam. The intro, the verse, and chorus are fantastic, with great work on the guitar, and the lyrics are awesome. Corduroy is full of energy. The first time I heard it, I thought it would be special, and it is. An excellent song. Long live Pearl Jam!

I just love the melody and constant upbeat tempo of the song, mixed with the loud, scream-like singing from Eddie Vedder. It also pretty much tells off a bunch of rich pricks, so who doesn't love that?

I LOVE Pearl Jam, but this song is easily my favorite. Eddie sings with passion, and the sound of the instruments coming together easily makes this the best song on their list.

Listen to the MTV Unplugged version of this, and then argue that this isn't the best Pearl Jam song. Vedder's vocals are top-class, and the instrumentation is extremely underrated.

Listen to the MTV Unplugged or the edition of this that was on the 'Singles' soundtrack. It's one that fills you up with whatever you need to feel.

Just listen to this song in the acoustic version on MTV Unplugged, and then vote for this.

How is this song so low on the list? Most remember the more commercial songs from this album, but this song is among their best.

I hear Jeff Ament's girlfriend every second I listen to this song! I don't know why this song is number 38?! It should be in the top 10...

This is one of my top five Pearl Jam songs, along with 'Jeremy,' 'Black,' 'Even Flow,' and 'Alive.'

It's such an inspiring song that lifts you every time you hear it. The way Vedder builds slowly up to the chorus and then lets it all go... gets to me every time.

Amazing song!

The energy in this song is contagious. It's one of those songs that makes you want to move. I could listen to this song, and this song only, forever.

Whenever I crave an emotional escape, I listen to this song. It's powerful and beautiful.

So happy. I definitely thought this was going to be lower. This, in my opinion, is the best song off of 'Vs.' It has energy, good wah-wah effects, and Eddie is so energetic in this great '90s grunge song from the best band in the world.

One of the most energetic songs from Pearl Jam. Eddie's vocals are excellent here. It feels like he transmits the teenage spirit, the spirit of youth. It makes you want to jump, mosh, and scream out loud!

Drop the leash, we are young!

Incredible live. Ridiculous energy. Not as epic as Alive, but so energetic and great to headbang and just generally go wild to! Potentially my favourite Pearl Jam track! Needs to be in the top 10!

The perfect way to follow up the awesome opener track, Animal. Eddie's vocals are so upfront and rock!

Top ten worthy. Great song. Possibly the best live PJ song, besides Alive and Even Flow.

I very much enjoy this song when:
1. I need time alone,
2. I feel like chilling out,
3. I feel like listening to an awesome song.

The instrumentals of this song are amazing. Pearl Jam, for me, is a perfect mix of protrusive messages and imminent shivers down your spine. This song is just the epitome of that.

"A truant finds home and a wish to hold on to,
But saw the trapdoor in the sun, immortality." Some of the most amazing lyrics ever.

Best PJ song, in my opinion. Flawless riff, solos, and it shows some talent, too. It's hard to solo on acoustic, you know. Genius lyrics, with hints to Cobain's death, and Vedder's amazing vocals.

The MTV Unplugged performance of this song changed everything for me when it comes to music. I was absolutely mesmerized by the passion and energy that Vedder brought to this song during that performance. That performance alone is, without a doubt, my all-time favorite from PJ. Just phenomenal.

Why isn't this song in the top ten? What? They play it at almost every concert. It's so epic!

Completely rocking and underappreciated song on an incredible album.

Deserves to be in the top 10 at least. It's a great song, and Vedder proves again why he's one of the better singers.

I am surprised this song is not listed in the top tens! It deserves its place right up there.

The number one. Such a beautiful song.

Very deep voice by the greatest singer of all time - Eddie Vedder. He really brings power to what could be a very dull song. A masterpiece.

The first song I ever heard by Pearl Jam. I immediately fell in love from the first three seconds of this song. Just a great song.

My absolute favorite Pearl Jam song. It makes you reflect on life and realize how far, or not, you have come.

Pearl Jam never should have rejected this song from Binaural. Even though it didn't really fit the style of the album, this song does not deserve to be a B-side.

I wish this was released officially. It has powerful vocals with deep meaning and is still upbeat. As the song progresses, it becomes more epic.

What is this song doing down here?

How is this song not number one? The chorus is amazing! I listened to this song almost 20 times the first day I heard it.

Awesome riff, full of energy! This song deserves a higher position! It gives me chills just playing it.

Every time I hear this song, it reminds me of Kurt Cobain. He was Eddie's friend. The two legendary musicians of grunge music... It's really an amazing song. Smooth, melodious, and full of pureness. The lyrics are also outstanding. In one word: awesome!

Sheer magic! It makes you realize that in a world where the news is dominated by war and violence, you shouldn't get numb and look the other way. Besides getting the message across, it's a wonderful atmospheric song.