Go
Oh please don't go out on me, don't go out on me now
Never acted up before, don't go on me now
I swear I never took it for granted, just thought of it now
Suppose I abused you, just passing it on
Once fastened, servile, now you're getting sharp
Moving oh so swiftly, with such disarm
I pulled the covers over him, shoulda' pulled the alarm
Turned to my nemesis...a fool, not a fucking god
Please...
Don't go on me
Don't go on me
Don't go on me
Don't go on me
Please...
Please, please, please...
Don't go on me
Don't go on me
Don't go on me
Don't go on me
Please...
Don't you want me
Don't go on me
Please...
Don't go on me
One of their greatest openers of all times, as well as one of their greatest heavier songs. Lyrically this song is nothing special but go is not about the lyrics as much as it iss about getting punched in the face by the music. I love the rolling buildup. It's like the song is getting away from them; as if it is so heavy it takes a few tries until they are all on the same page. I wish they would do the intro live. And once the song kicks into gear it is just relentless. Awesome bass line (it just rumbles through the whole song, and it is a testament to how excellent it is that you can follow it while Mike is demanding so much attention), some searing solos, and some great work by dave A (I miss his sound). Musically Pearl jam doesn't have many songs more bad ass than this.
Vocally Eddie is pretty good here. His vocals have the unhinged, choked quality that would really go on to define their rockers through Yield, the screams reaching the upper register and getting away from here. Too much rage for one body.
Lyrically I'm not totally certain what Eddie is doing here. I wish the words he's mumble screaming before the choruses were clearer. That might help. The song seems in part to be a plea for a lover to stay, a gradual recognition that he had been abusive and is sorry, and increasingly furious with himself for fucking the relationship up.
Part of me also thinks the song might be about passing along AIDS or some other kind of STD, and confronting the person he did it to. In that case the two verses may have been from different points of views. The first verse is the apology, and the second the reaction from the person he infected
But I'm not sure. I'e never been that comfortable with what I've seen on the web about what Ed is saying between choruses, and I'm not sure about the second verse either. I used to think the word nemesis was nurses, and pulled the covers overhead instead of over him, and both of those change the meaning of the song.
Other people's thoughts?
Either way,this still sears live, and remains one of their all time greats. Once upon a time I would have given this one five stars, but I'm going to give it four. It's a four and a half for me, but on its way down.
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