Immortality (Pearl Jam song)

"Immortality" is a song by the American rock band Pearl Jam, released on June 6, 1995 as the third single from the band's third studio album, Vitalogy (1994). "Immortality" peaked at number 10 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks chart. It was later included on their greatest hits album, rearviewmirror: Greatest Hits 1991–2003.

Lyrics

The lyrical interpretation of the song can be disputed, as many feel it may be about Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain's death, although frontman Eddie Vedder has denied this. He stated:

No, that was written when we were on tour in Atlanta. It's not about Kurt. Nothing on the album was written directly about Kurt, and I don't feel like talking about him, because it [might be seen] as exploitation. But I think there might be some things in the lyrics that you could read into and maybe will answer some questions or help you understand the pressures on someone who is on a parallel train...

Release and reception

The song peaked at number 10 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks chart and number 31 on the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart. Outside of the United States, the single was released in Australia, Austria, Canada, Germany, and the Netherlands. In Canada, the song reached number 62 on the Canadian Singles Chart. "Immortality" reached the top 30 in New Zealand.

In Allmusic's review of the "Immortality" single, it was stated that "Immortality" is "the best ballad from the otherwise spotty Vitalogy." Jon Pareles of The New York Times called it a "sullen Neil Young-style march" in which Eddie Vedder "ruminates over suicide as an end to pain. David Browne of Entertainment Weekly said that "the sulking, lashing "Immortality" appears to be a Big Statement song about death, yet you'd never know that from its obtuse lyrics.

Live performances

The song was premiered live at the band's April 11, 1994 concert in Boston, Massachusetts. The lyrics that appeared in the first live version of the song were altered before release. A live performance of "Immortality" can be found on the live album Live at Benaroya Hall.

Cover versions

A live acoustic version of the song by the band Seether can be found on the 2006 album One Cold Night.

Track listing

Compact Disc Single (US, The Netherlands, Australia, Germany, Canada, and Austria), 7" Vinyl Single (US and Europe), and Cassette Single (Australia and US)

1. "Immortality" (Dave Abbruzzese, Jeff Ament, Stone Gossard, Mike McCready, Eddie Vedder) – 5:18
2. "Rearviewmirror" (Abbruzzese, Ament, Gossard, McCready, Vedder) – 5:18
• Performed by The Frogs

Chart positions

Year	Chart	Position
1995	US Mainstream Rock Tracks	10
	New Zealand Singles Chart	29
	US Modern Rock Tracks	31
	Canadian Singles Chart	62
	Canadian Alternative Top 30	10

References

External links

• Lyrics