Song of the Moment: Nothingman

[stip]

Nothingman

Once divided...nothing left to subtract
Some words when spoken...can't be taken back
Walks on his own...with thoughts he can't help thinking
Future's above...but in the past, he's slow and sinking
Caught a bolt 'a lightnin'...cursed the day he let it go...

Nothingman...
Nothingman...
Isn't it something?
Nothingman...

She once believed in every story he had to tell
One day she stiffened…took the other side
Empty stares from each corner of a shared prison cell...
One just escapes...one's left inside the well
And he who forgets will be destined to remember...

Nothingman...
Nothingman...
Isn't it something?
Nothingman...

She don't want him
She won't feed him
After he's flown away
Into the sun...
Into the sun...
Burn...burn...

Nothingman...
Nothingman...
Isn't it something?
Nothingman...
Nothingman...
Coulda' been something...
Nothingman...


Nothingman is one of my all time favorites. The music is simple but it is just gorgeous, and its starkness provides a great backdrop for a masterful vocal performance. Like Indifference, Eddie is the star here and the rest of the band plays to compliment, rather than upstage, his vocals. This is probably my favorite song Jeff wrote music for.

Lyrically this song is a gem (with a handful of exceptions). This (along with Betterman) kicks off a whole string of songs about dying relationships that Eddie manages to write the hell out of (hail hail and parting ways are in that list too). He captures both the sad inevitability and the regret that comes with not trying harder. But nothingman takes place a bit later than the others. The relationship has ended, and there has been enough time and distance to take stock and develop regrets. It's not quite clear to me who left who and under what circumstances. Did the woman come to her senses and leave a guy she is better than? Did the guy cheat on her or dump her for someone else only to regret it later? I'm curious to hear what other people think.

My favorite lyric in the song

Empty stares from each corner of a shared prison cell...
One just escapes...one's left inside the well

Anyone who has been a part of a once meaningful relationship that has fallen apart knows exactly what this feels like. There is a sense of shared isolation. You're not physically alone, but there isn't the intimate connection with the other person there once was. Instead you're stuck with a shared isolation

My one complaint with the song is the she don't want him/she won't feed him line. That feels like it belongs in Betterman (is this meant to connect the two songs? Thoughts?). It just sounds a bit awkward to my ears

It is too bad they don't play this one live anymore. It always sounds amazing

Five stars




old thread archived here

[Hatfield]

What songs from other bands sound like it? Is this ballad uniquely Pearl Jam?

[stip]

I'm blanking on stuff right now, but I'm pretty sure I've heard songs before that remind me of nothingman (but not as good)

[epilogue]

It's in my top 50 Pearl Jam songs. I love it.

[tragabigzanda]

Listening to the Vitalogy Remaster tonight. I think of all the songs on this remaster, this one stands out as the best-case scenario. The more prominent guitars, the wider sense of space -- it takes a fragile song and makes it bigger, without sacrificing any of the fragility.

[PHATJ]

An easy five stars from me. I've always loved this song and have never grown tired of it.

[chewm]

Top 10 for me, my favorite from Vitalogy.

Last edited by chewm on Mon February 20, 2017 4:18 am, edited 1 time in total.

[wease]

I used to like it a lot. It's slipped in the ratings a bit.

[96583UP]

http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/entertainment/music/music-news/qa-session-with-pearl-jam-1013177

Q: Whats your favourite Pearl Jam song?
Stone: Nothing Man. I didnt write it. Jeff Ament wrote it, Dave Abbruzzese plays great drums on it. Jeff had the chord changes; him and Ed maybe worked it out before. Real Jeff Ament style, his approach to strumming. It has his character trademarks but at the same time really super simple, Ed connects so well with it that anyone who hears it will wanna sing along.

[LoathedVermin72]

This is the worst song on the first three albums (excluding Vitalogy filler tracks)

[Kaius]

This is the worst song on the first three albums (excluding Vitalogy filler tracks)

Noooooooooo

Spoiler: show

-thingmaaaaaaan

[PHATJ]

This is the worst song on the first three albums (excluding Vitalogy filler tracks)

[LoathedVermin72]

It's only topped in boringness by its successors, Off He Goes, Thumbing My Way, and All or None

[Kaius]

Off he goes doesn't belong in that group you heathen.

[LoathedVermin72]

You could probably also throw Low Light in there

[Birds in Hell]

This is the worst song on the first three albums (excluding Vitalogy filler tracks)

I can get behind this.

You could probably also throw Low Light in there

This too.

I love Off He Goes though, you're on your own with that one.

[Higgs]

This one always makes me think of Punk David. He really disliked it. Really.

Me though, I'm a fan. I'll go with a solid 4 stars.

[stip]

It's only topped in boringness by its successors, Off He Goes, Thumbing My Way, and All or None

i see your point and think i agree except for the nothingman part if it

[Kevin Davis]

It's only topped in boringness by its successors, Off He Goes, Thumbing My Way, and All or None

I predict a few more years of going moony-eyed over Colorado sunsets and these songs will all be in your top five.

[E.H. Ruddock]

This song is ok for me now, but man is it a show killer live.