1069. Grievance - Pearl Jam

have a drink they're buying
bottom of, bottle of denial
big guy, big eye, watchin me
have to wonder what it sees
(sin...)
progress laced with ramifications
freedom's big plunge

pull the innocent from a crowd
raise the sticks then bring em down
if they fail to obey
oh if they fail to obey

for every tool they lend us
a loss of independence
i pledge my grievance to the flag
cause you don't give blood then take it back again
oh we're all deserving something more
progress, taste it, invest-it-all
champagne breakfast for everyone

break the innocent when they're proud
raise the stakes then bring em down
if they fail to obey
oh if they fail to obey

pledge your grievance to the flag
aw c'mon, don't give blood then take it back again
oh we're all deserving something more
(have a, have a, drink, drink...)
(have a, have a, drink, drink...)

i want to breathe
follow the scene
i want to taste
everyone i see
i want to run when i'm up high
i want to run into the sea
i only want life to be...
i just want to be...
i will feel alive as long as i am free...


Vedder (Aug. 2000):
"I think technology went wrong somewhere. It just went into the wrong direction. Instead of helping us and freeing us, it seems to enslave us. That's what I talk about in "Grievance", about the dangers and what a lot of people don't see or don't want to see. There's the line, "For every tool they lend us a loss of independence" and it's true. Everything happens so fast. The technology is supposed to make everything simple, easy. It tries to make us believe that it's some sort of freedom we have. Of course, it's easy and comfortable if you can do all your shopping via the internet, if you don't need to leave the house to do anything. But, on the other hand, what is going to happen? You lose touch with people. You don't meet new people except on the internet and whatever you do can be traced. They know everything about you; they know what you buy; they know which papers you read, how long you stay on a page and they look at your statistics and they're going to offer you the products they think you might buy – most of them you don't really need anyway. What is going to happen to individuality?"