"Alive" was Pearl Jam's first single, and appeared on the band's debut album, Ten (1991). "Alive" charted at number 16 in the UK (the single was available only through import in the US). Remixed versions of the song were included on Pearl Jam's 2004 greatest hits album, rearviewmirror (Greatest Hits 1991–2003), and the 2009 Tenreissue. The song peaked at number 16 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks chart.
The music for this song was written by guitarist Stone Gossard before the band had a lead singer. It was part of a three song instrumental demo they made while looking for a vocalist and drummer. Jack Irons, a friend of Gossard's who played drums in The Red Hot Chili Peppers, was approached about joining the band, but he had another commitment. He thought Eddie Vedder might be a good fit as the singer, so he gave Eddie the demo tape. At home in San Diego, Vedder wrote lyrics and added his vocals to the song using his four-track recorder. The band liked what they heard and made him lead singer.
The instrumental demo of this song was titled "Dollar Short." Vedder's lyrics went in a direction the band didn't expect, but they loved what they heard and quickly agreed that he should be their lead singer - only one other guy had been tried. Reflecting on how everything came together so quickly, the band credit timing and fate for Vedder's arrival. Eddie says that it took him 12 hours to write and record the songs for the demo, and he could have easily blown it off.
Vedder's lyrics are about a boy who finds out his father is actually his stepfather, and that his real father is dead. Vedder later revealed that the song was "a work of fiction based on reality," and the chorus of "I'm still alive" was what he considered his curse, as he struggled to deal with the strained relationship with his stepfather and the fact that his real father was dead. In an episode of VH1's Storytellers, Vedder explained that the interpretation of the song had changed, as fans would react to the chorus by jumping around and celebrating - they heard "I'm still alive" as a positive thing, an affirmation of life. Said Vedder: "When they changed the meaning of those words, they lifted the curse."
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, 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, boy, I'm still alive
Hey I, I, I, I'm still alive, yeah
Ooh yeah...yeah yeah yeah...oh...oh...
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, but, I'm still alive
Yeah I, ooh, I'm still alive
Yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah
This song was written negitavly as a song that portrayed dealing with a relationship and the struggle to find meaning, that this brings and the loss of identity. The fans saw it differently than Pearl Jam sung it. They saw it is a celebration song. "Alive" became a song that that was sung in the positive. Despite all the things that have to be endured "Alive" is a song, an statement of belief a song of confession of discovering and identity. This morning is Easter Monday and this morning I'm going to reflect in this devotional on the subject of being "Alive". It's a simple truth and I'm not going to make it over complicated either. Jesus give some thoughts on what the bible says about the consequences of the resurrection of Jesus and in this help us to capture our new identity and meaning in Christ Jesus. The Jesus who offers "Life" to all this side of eternity. Paul the Apostle makes some observations in his letter to the Ephesians Chapter Two about the spiritual state not only of the Ephesian church, but all of humanity.
Jesus is perfect. Let’s be honest, there’s not a single one of us who could say we’re perfect. In fact, there isn’t anyone we could think of that was, is, or will be perfect. The perfection we’re talking about isn’t a perfect appearance, but rather leading a sinless life. Jesus walked the Earth without ever sinning. That means He walked among us as a man without ever doing something His Father, God, told him not to do. He never said anything His Father told Him not to say and He never had an impure thought. He was perfect in every way. Jesus was God in the form of a man who did something we couldn’t do. We needed to be rescued and we needed someone to lead the way. Paul in his letter to the Ephesian church says that "We were dead" We were the walking dead. Those who do not know God and those who do not care to know God. "Dead" not "Alive"
It is finished. That’s what Jesus said as He drew His last breath on the cross. What He meant was that His life, death, and eventual resurrection three days later, fully finished everything forever. Not once since that day has God pressed the re-do button. He hasn’t thought about wiping the board and starting over. When Jesus died, He completed the work God had sent Him to do. Through Jesus, we have been made clean and for those who are in Christ, sin no longer has a hold on us, death no longer has its sting. Jesus Christ, Son of God, fully finished forever what we could not do – pay the penalty of sin. This is what Paul the great apostle is driving at in his epistle. We have been made alive, an act of God's Grace, not our action but his.
Jesus is alive! He died on the cross, but three days later He rose from the grave conquering death in the process. What does that mean? It means that you and I, upon confessing our sins, repenting of those sins, and believing in Jesus’ life, death and resurrection can have a relationship with God that lasts forever. This isn’t an end of life plan. It’s something for you now that lasts forever. The Bible says that we were dead in our sins, but through Jesus’ death and resurrection, we have been made alive in Christ. It's a simple but profound truth. Jesus offers us "LIFE" in all it's technicoloured fullness.
It's a very simple Gospel. A very simple truth. Profound and Challenging. Jesus offers us life. An not only a repeat of life that has past but life in abundance.
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