Why I adore Eddie Vedder
Well, there are lots of reasons why I adore Eddie Vedder. One is that he has a big and open heart and he appears to be absolutely dedicated to the people he loves and the causes he believes in. The world desperately needs more men like him. Another reason I adore him is that he writes and composes music which makes me feel that I’m not alone in the world. His work touches me in a way that almost no other music or art ever has. And that matters to me, a lot. I don’t like feeling alone.
But this morning it occurred to me that one of the things I like best about him is that he’s very brave. He’ll do anything for his art. I was just listening to one of the Pearl Jam bootlegs from the 2000 tour (Tampa) and on it Eddie plays a song called “Soon Forget”. He plays the song alone, on a ukelele. How many rock stars would do a quiet little solo on a ukelele in front of 20k-plus people?
Here are the lyrics…
Soon Forget by Eddie Vedder
Sorry is the fool who trades his soul for a corvette.
Thinks he’ll get the girl he’ll only get the mechanic.
What’s missing? He’s living a day he’ll soon forget.
That’s one more time around. The sun is going down.
The moon is out but he’s drunk and shouting.
Putting people down. He’s pissing. He’s living a day he’ll soon forget.
Counts his money every morning. The only thing that keeps him horny.
Locked in a giant house that’s alarming.
The townsfolk they all laugh.
Sorry is the fool who trades his love for hi-rise rent.
Seem the more you make equals the loneliness you get.
And it’s fitting. He’s barely living a day he’ll soon forget.
That’s one more time around and there is not a sound.
He’s lying dead clutching Benjamins. Never put the money down.
He’s stiffening. We’re all whistling a man we’ll soon forget.
