Artist: Pearl Jam Album: Ten {1993}

I admit it, what's to say
I'll relive it without pain
Backstreet lover on the side of the road
I got a bomb in my temple that is gonna explode
I got a sixteen gauge buried under my clothes, I play
Once upon a time I could control myself
Ooh, once upon a time I could lose myself, yes

Oh, try and mimic what's insane
I am in it, where do I stand
Oh, Indian summer and I hate the heat
I got a backstreet lover on the passenger seat
I got my hand in my pocket, so determined, discreet, I pray
Once upon a time I could control myself
Ooh, once upon a time I could lose myself, yeah, yeah, yeah

You think I got my eyes closed
But I'm lookin' at you the whole fuckin' time

Ooh, once upon a time I could control myself, yeah
Once upon a time I could lose myself, yeah
Once upon a time I could love myself, yes
Once upon a time I could love you, yeah
Once, once, once, once
Yeah, once, once, yeah, yeah
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah

Freezin', rests his head on a pillow made of concrete, oh yeah
Oh, feelin' maybe he'll see a little better set a days, oh yeah
Oh, hand out, faces that he sees time again ain't that familiar, oh yeah
Oh, dark grin, he can't help when he's happy he looks insane

Even flow, thoughts arrive like butterflies
Oh, he don't know, so he chases them away, oh
Someday yet, he'll begin his life again, life again, life again

Kneelin', looking through the paper though he doesn't know to read, oh yeah
Oh, prayin', now to something that has never showed him anything
Oh, feelin', understands the weather of the winter's on its way
Oh, ceilings, few and far between all the legal halls of shame, yeah

Even flow, thoughts arrive like butterflies
Oh, he don't know, so he chases them away
Someday yet, he'll begin his life again
Whispering hands gently lead him away, him away, him away
Yeah, woo, oh yeah, fuck it up

Even flow, thoughts arrive like butterflies
Oh, he don't know, so he chases them away
Someday yet, he'll begin his life again, yeah
Oh, whispering hands gently lead him away, him away, him away
Yeah, woo, oh yeah, yeah, yeah, fuck 'em up again

Son, she said, have I got a little story for you
What you thought was your daddy was nothin' but a
While you were sittin' home alone at age thirteen
Your real daddy was dyin', sorry you didn't see him
But I'm glad we talked

Oh I, oh, I'm still alive
Hey, I, oh, I'm still alive
Hey, I, oh, I'm still alive
Hey, oh

Oh, she walks slowly across a young man's room
She said, I'm ready for you
I can't remember anything to this very day
'Cept the look, the look
Oh, you know where, now I can't see, I just stare

I, I'm still alive
Hey, I, but, I'm still alive
Hey, I, oh, I'm still alive
Hey, I, I, I'm still alive, yeah
Yeah, yeah, yeah

Is something wrong, she said
Well, of course there is
You're still alive, she said
Oh, and do I deserve to be
Is that the question
And if so, if so, who answers, who answers

I, oh, I'm still alive
Hey, I, oh, I'm still alive
Hey, I, oh, I'm still alive
Yeah, I, ooh, I'm still alive
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah

She scratches a letter into a wall made of stone
Maybe someday another child won't feel as alone as she does
It's been two years and counting since they put her in this place
She's been diagnosed by some stupid fuck and Mommy agrees

Why go home, why go home, why go home

She seems to be stronger but what they want her to be is weak
She could play pretend, she could join the game, boy, she could be another clone, oh

Why go home, why go home
Why go home, why go home
What you taught me put me here
Don't come visit, Mother

Why go home, why go home
Why go home, why go home
What you taught me put me here
Don't come visit, Mother, Mother, yeah
Why go home, why go home
Why go home, why go home
Why go home, why go home
Why go home, why

Hey
Sheets of empty canvas, untouched sheets of clay
Were laid spread out before me as her body once did
All five horizons revolved around her soul as the earth to the sun
Now the air I tasted and breathed has taken a turn
Ooh, and all I taught her was everything
Ooh, I know she gave me all that she wore
And now my bitter hands chafe beneath the clouds of what was everything
Oh, the pictures have all been washed in black, tattooed everything

I take a walk outside, I'm surrounded by some kids at play
I can feel their laughter, so why do I see her
And twisted thoughts that spin round my head - I'm spinning, oh, I'm spinning
How quick the sun can drop away
And now my bitter hands cradle broken glass of what was everything
All the pictures have all been washed in black, tattooed everything
All the love gone bad turned my world to black
Tattooed all I see, all that I am, all I will be, yeah

I know someday you'll have a beautiful life
I know you'll be a star in somebody else's sky
But why, why, why can't it be, can't it be mine, oh yeah

At home drawing pictures
Of mountain tops with him on top
Lemon yellow sun, arms raised in a V
The dead lay in pools of maroon below
Daddy didn't give attention
Oh, to the fact that Mommy didn't care
King Jeremy the wicked ruled his world

Jeremy spoke in class today
Jeremy spoke in class today

Clearly I remember pickin' on the boy
Seemed a harmless little fuck
Oh, but we unleashed a lion
Gnashed his teeth and bit the recess lady's breast, how could I forget
And he hit me with a surprise left
My jaw left hurtin', oh, dropped wide open
Just like the day, oh, like the day I heard
Daddy didn't give affection, no
And the boy was something that Mommy wouldn't wear
King Jeremy the wicked, oh, ruled his world

Jeremy spoke in class today
Jeremy spoke in class today
Jeremy spoke in class today

Try to forget this - try to forget this
Try to erase this - try to erase this from the blackboard

Jeremy spoke in class today
Jeremy spoke in class today
Jeremy spoke in, spoke in
Jeremy spoke in, spoke in
Jeremy spoke in class today

Hold on to the thread, the currents will shift
Glide me towards you, know something's left
And we're all allowed to dream of the next 
Oh, the next time we touch

You don't have to stray two oceans away
Waves roll in my thoughts, hold tight the ring
The sea will rise, please stand by the shore

I will be, I will be there once more

What the fuck is this world running to
You didn't leave a message
At least I could have learned your voice one last time
Daily minefield, this could be my time
How bout you - would you hit me, would you hit me

All the bills go by and initiatives are taken up
By the middle
There ain't gonna be any middle any more
And the cross I'm bearing home
Ain't indicative of my place - left the porch, left the porch

Hear my name, take a good look
This could be the day
Hold my hand, walk beside me
I just need to say

Hear my name, take a good look
This could be the day
Hold my hand, lie beside me
I just need to say
What can I take, I just want to be
I know that I would not ever touch you
Hold you, feel you
Ever hold, never again
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah

The direction of the eye, so misleading
The defection of the soul, nauseously quick
I don't question our existence
I just question our modern needs

I will walk with my hands bound
I will walk with my face blood
I will walk with my shadow flag
Into your garden, garden of stone

After all is done and we're still alone
I won't be taken

Yet I'll go with my hands bound
I will walk with my face blood
I will walk with my shadow flag
Into your garden, garden of stone

I don't show, I don't share
I don't need what you have to give, yeah

Ooh, I will walk with my hands bound
I will walk with my face blood
I will walk with my shadow flag
Into your garden, garden, oh 
I will walk with my hands bound
I will walk into your garden, garden of stone

I don't know, I don't care
I don't need you for me to live

On the edge of windowsill
Ponders his maker, ponders his will
To the street below he just ain't nothin'
But he's got a great view and he sinks the needle deep, yeah
Can't touch the bottom, in too deep, yeah
Can't touch the bottom, oh

On the edge of a know-nothin' town
Feelin' quite superior, the aged come
To the sky above he just ain't nothin'
But he's got a great view and he sinks the burning knife deep, yeah
Can't touch the bottom, in too deep, yeah
Can't touch the bottom, in too deep

On the edge of a Christmas clean love
Young virgin from heaven visiting, yeah
To the man above her she just ain't nothin'
She doesn't like the view, she doesn't like the view
She doesn't like the view, but he sinks himself deep, oh
Can't touch the bottom, in too deep
Can't touch the bottom, can't touch the bottom, deep, yeah
Oh, the bottom
Oh, the bottom
Oh, the bottom
Oh, the bottom
Oh, the bottom

I see the world, feel the chill
Which way to go, windowsill
I see the words on a rocking horse of time
I see the birds in the rain, oh, oh, oh

Oh, dear Dad, can you see me now
I am myself, like you somehow
I'll ride the wave where it takes me
I'll hold the pain, release me, oh, oh, oh

Oh, dear Dad, can you see me now
I am myself, like you somehow
I'll wait up in the dark for you to speak to me
I'll open up, release me
Release me, release me, release me, oh, oh, oh