PEARL JAM

Nothingman (1) once divided nothing left to subtract some words when spoken can't be taken back walks on his own with thoughts he can't help thinking future's above but in the past he's slow and sinking caught a bolt 'a lightnin' cursed the day he let it go nothingman nothingman isn't it something? nothingman she once believed in every story he had to tell one day she stiffened took the other side empty stares (20) from each corner of a shared prison cell one just escapes one's left inside the well and he who forgets will be destined to remember nothingman nothingman isn't it something? nothingman oh, she don't want him oh, she won't feed him after he's flown away oh, into the sun ah, into the sun burn...burn... nothingman nothingman isn't it something? nothingman nothingman coulda' been something nothingman

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"Nothingman" is a song by the band Pearl Jam that appears on their 1994 album, Vitalogy. It features music written by bassist Jeff Ament with lyics written by singer Eddie Vedder. "Nothingman" is also on the live album Live on Two Legs and on the compilation album Rearviewmirror: Greatest Hits 1991-2003. The song is also a part of the so-called "Man" trio ("Better Man", "Nothingman", "Leatherman") played occasionally at concerts.

1. Vocabulary: to sink - sank - sunk (line 8) bolt (line 9)

The Titanic sank to the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean

to catch - caught - caught (line 9)

bolt of lightning (line 9)

Woman trying to catch a butterfly

Dog being chased by a bolt of lightning.

to curse (line 10)

to stiffen (17)
Try to understand what to stiffen means reading the next messages from a forum:

Ben Hello, everyone! I've got a slight problem with the verb "to stiffen". If someone stiffens - does it mean that he becomes unfriendly, or angry, or something similar to that, or something different? I'm looking for a synonym, a near-synonym, or maybe just an explanation - how you would describe such a state. Thanks! Cuchuflete Hi Ben, It means to become rigid. It's often used to describe a person who, suddenly, becomes frightened, or expects something dangerous or harmful to occur. "He heard the crack of the rifle and stiffened, waiting for the impact of the bullet."

stare (line 19) - (noun) a fixed look with eyes open wide. (verb) to stare

2. Activities:
A. In song lyrics, as well as in everyday spoken language, we usually find the grammatical structure is different from what we are taught in ESL class; there are always some words missing and grammar rules do not always seem to be followed. This happens in every language. Try to rephrase the following sentences in order to build complete and grammaticaly correct sentences. (i.e. subject, complete form of the verb, missing prepositons,...) once divided (line 1) nothing left to subtract (line 2) some words when spoken can't be taken back (line 3-4)walks on his own (line 5) caught a bolt 'a lightnin' (line 9) coulda' been something (line 40) B. There are some contractions in the song lyrics. What do the following stand for? future's above (line 7) but in the past he's slow and sinking (line 8) caught a bolt 'a lightnin' (line 9) - one's left inside the well (line 22) after he's flown away (line 31) - coulda' been something (line 40) C. Make a question for the following sentence: She once believed in every story he had to tell. (line 15-16) D. Note that the verb "to believe" (line 15-16) is followed by the preposition IN. Do you believe in... fairies? angels? God? E. "on his own" (line 5) What things do you usually do on your own? Work in pairs and ask your partner if he/she does these things on his/her own: to go to the cinema / to sleep / to have lunch /to go for a walk F. "can't help thinking" (line 6) Try to guess from the next song by Elvis Presley what the expression can't help means: yourself? love? dreams? miracles?

Wise men say only fools rush in But I cant help falling in love with you Shall I stay Would it be a sin If I cant help falling in love with you Like a river flows surely to the sea Darling so it goes Some things are meant to be

Take my hand, take my whole life too For I cant help falling in love with you Like a river flows surely to the sea Darling so it goes Some things are meant to be Take my hand, take my whole life too For I cant help falling in love with you For I cant help falling in love with you

3. Meaning of the song: 3

A. What is this song about? Do you think it is about love? Is it about a relationship? B. Now read the following opinions of some Pearl Jam's fans: blueeyedevil

I used to think that the lyrics for "nothingman" were about a love gone bad. However, I am now under the impression that it's about a man and a woman who WERE in bad relationships, and have now found each other. Any thoughts on this? Thanks for any replys... PJammin' i could tell u what i've read about it, but i always agree with what ed said back in the early 90's, about interpreting the songs your own way instead of being told it's meaning. god i love that guy. time2escape i agree, each song is your own, an album is a large basket full of gifts MBoy i always though it was about a divorce Princes I just love the song....my all time fav PJ song!! Do you agree with these interpretations of the song? C. Now read this commentary from the song's author, Eddie Vedder, in an interview.

Q: Nothingman is about a troubled relationship. Was that written before or after your marriage? A: I wrote it before. I might bring something I know from the relationship to Nothingman, but Im thinking about someone else going through it, someone who fucked up. I didnt fuck up. The idea is about if you love someone and they love you, dont fuck up cause you are left with less than nothing. Q: What about your own relationship? A: Relationships can be tough. There are timesI end up putting a lot of time into this music thing. I dont sleep at night. I think Im probably a very difficult person to deal with. Things never seem to settle down and be normal, and I think that Beth has to deal with a lot. I dont want to get into our personal relations. But at times there is a tension We are all selfish at heart, I guess. But I just know that without her, Id be a kite without a string, a nothing man.