Lyrics that strike a chord...

I'm going to start a few posts that mention a few of my favourite songs and (generally) the lines, the verses or chorus that really make a perfect song (in my eyes anyway).

I'll start with my favourite Pearl Jam song...

I Got ID

My lips are shaking my nails are bit off.
Been a month since I've heard myself talk.
All the advantage this life's got on me.
Picture a coffin in the middle of the sea.

And I fight back in my mind.
Never lets me be right.
I got memories. I got shit so much it don't show.
Oh, I walked the line when you held me in that night.
I walked the line when you held my hand that night.

An empty shell seems so easy to crack.
Got all these questions. Don't know who I could even ask.
So I'll just lie alone and wait for the dream where I'm not ugly and you're looking at me.

And I stay in bed. Oh, little ive seen there.
If just once I could feel loved, oh, Stare back at me . Yeah.

But I walked the line when you held me in that night.
Oh, I walked the line when you held my hand that night.
Oh, I walked the line when you held me close that night.
I paid the price. Never held you in real life.

My lips are shaking...



I remeber the day I bought the 'Merkinball' single - the Pearl Jam emmissions from the collaborative effort with Neil Young, Mirrorball - which featured this song.

I bought it on the same day in 1996 that I got my tickets to see the Smashing Pumpkins. I had lined up at the ticket booth for about five hours (with about 100 other keen fans) to get a ticket. Once they were in my hand I went into the shopping centre and bought this CD, it had just been released that morning.

This song, along with Long Road on the same disc, has always resonated in me. To my ears these lyrics are so apt. If I had to write the perfect song then this would be it.


I've heard it played live at both of the last two Pearl Jam concerts I have been to - Pistoia, Italy in 2006 and Wembley Arena, London 2007. Pistoia was particularly memorable - in that setting this song really couldn't help but make an impact.