Pearl Jam – Alive Lyrics

“Alive” was Pearl Jam’s first single, and appeared on the band’s debut album, Ten (1991). Written by guitarist Stone Gossard, “Alive” originated as an instrumental titled “Dollar Short” and was included on a demo tape circulated in hopes of finding a singer for the group. Vocalist Eddie Vedder obtained a copy of the tape and wrote lyrics that describe a fictionalized account (though somewhat based on Vedder’s personal experience) of the time when he was told that the man he thought was his father was not actually his biological parent.

The song is the first piece to a trilogy of songs in what Vedder later described as a “mini-opera” entitled Mamasan. It comprises the songs “Alive”, “Once”, and “Footsteps”. “Alive” tells the story of a young man discovering that his father is actually his stepfather, while his mother’s grief leads to an incestuous relationship with the son, who strongly resembles the biological father.