anonymous July 11th, 2006 11:04PM  
I watched Eddie explain what the song was abou on VH1 Storytellers last week. He said that the story was about him. When he was 16, his mother told him that the man he thought was his father his whole life really wasn't. And that three years ago, when he was 13, his real father died. Eddie didn't understand why his father was dead and he was the one who was still alive. The chorus, "I'm still alive" wasn't a positive thing. He meant it to mean that he didn't understand why he was still alive. Like, why am I here if my father isn't?

anonymous January 17th, 2007 02:04AM  
I seen Eddie Vedder explain this on Vhi Classic a while back. He said the song is actually a little pessimistic. It is indeed about isuues in his life. But doesn't almost every artist put a little of themselves in each song? It's a formula most musicians like to use. Your not unique if you steel someone elses train of thought. He said the song is a curse. And that curse is being lifted off of him and the band that the fans are listening. The song sounds indeed "alive", but it's as I said earlier, revival of life.
That's just what I've heard. Enjoy!

anonymous July 14th, 2007 06:29PM  
I think this song talks about: how one would want to escape a situation they don't want to be in?.....Go straight to the heart of it, that's how. Fight your way through, win!

anonymous December 15th, 2007 05:45PM  
The song is pretty much about eddie when he was younger when it starts off, he does tell a story that's not entirely about him. It is in the mamsun trilogy and it WAS a curse. eddie explained it was a curse because he was screaming out I'm alive in a negative way, meaning why am I still here. but because all of the true pearl jam fans sang it and loved not only the song, but the band as well the curse was lifted and it became a positive song.