"Footsteps" is the final chapter in a three song trilogy. In "Alive", a young boy endures a troubled childhood and finds out the man he always thought was his father was a lie. Not only that, but his mother sees so much of his real father in him that she becomes attracted to him. The kid gets so screwed up that in the song "Once", he goes on a serial killing rampage. By the time we get to "Footsteps", he's now on death row in a jail cell refusing to see the mother he blames for all his sins.
anyone who hates on pearl jam, or grunge for that matter, has not heard songs like release, garden, leash, indifference, footsteps or sleight of hand, to name a few... if they aren't the greatest band ever, they're absolutely among the few best. individually they're excellent musicians, their lyrics are unmatched, and the best part may be what they stand for...
This is actually the third song in a "mini opera" that he wrote. Alive, Once, Footsteps. It's all about him finding out his step dad was not his real dad, after 18 years of living with him (Alive), then he goes on a rampage and becomes a serial killer (Once), and eventually gets put to death (Footsteps). It's basically a song to his mother.
I haven't heard this in over twenty years. Damn...Damn. Just like yesterday, I remember throwing this on a PJ tape I made with all "rare" tracks. "Pearl Jam: Unsung.", I called it. Made a great cover for it with my buddy Dave Lerner. Moody shot of this cool girl we knew named Jessica Blake. Took hours choosing the fonts and centering things so they'd fit properly as a cassette trifold. Printed on slightly heavier stock. That tape's still in a storage space I remt..like hidden gold. I'd keep it with me, but I've gone walkabout. Gotta travel light. Damn... pictures. Part of me wants to get a cassette player and drop it in. Part of me wants to simply hold onto that memory, tinted with time. Thanks for the upload.
That song is so deep. It's the kind of song that you hear and then your mood has completely changed. I'd like to know why the hell there are dislikes on this.
PJ is my all time favorite band period. Temple of the Dog- However, Cornell's Times of Trouble lyrics seap into the soul. I just love the heartwrenching untold tale of the love affair addicts succumb to with the positive purpose conveyed in Temple of the Dog lyrical rendition. Both inspire those lovely chills we all know so well. long live the music!! Cheers!
It's so interesting to see how 2 similar souls with different paths like Chris and Eddie wrote and sang 2 different lyrics for the same song, both gut wrenching
Don't even think about reachin' me I won't be home Don't even think about stoppin' by Don't think of me at all I did, what I had to do If there was a reason, it was you Ah, don't even think about gettin' inside Voices in me head Ooh, voices I got scratches, all over my arms One for each day, since I fell apart I did, oh, what I had to do, if there was a reason, it was you Footsteps in the hall, it was you, you Ooh, ooh, ooh Pictures on my chest, it was you, it was you Hey, I did, what I had to do And if there was a reason Oh, there wasn't no reason, no And if, there's something you'd like to do Just let me continue, to blame you Footsteps in the hall, it was you, you Ooh, ooh, ooh Pictures on my chest, it was you, you
I saw Pearl jam in 2002 With my girlfriend who is now my wife of 3 years....alpine valley...I have honestly spent more time listening too their music in depth this last couple of years, than I had previously...So many things to relate too, and awesome music....repeatedly...I'll see them again...and I'll bring my kids...Fucking awesome
I just wanted to correct those people who dont know about this song & others. I as a die hard Pearl Jam fan, need to let the masses know the truth. "footsteps" is apart of the mamasan trilogy along with "alive" and "once". for those who dont know about the trilogy, i strongy suggest you look it up. Great video. Footsteps is my favorite song ever!
your half right this is what i found on Wikipedia Vedder wrote lyrics for three of the songs as a mini-opera which he called the "Mamasan trilogy". The songs tell the story of a young man who, like Vedder, learns that he had been lied to about his paternity and that his real father is dead ("Alive"). He grows up to become a serial killer ("Once"), and is eventually imprisoned and sentenced to death ("Footsteps").[11] Vedder recorded vocals for the three songs,
stone gossard wrote the music to this song, he gave the music to both Chris Cornell and Eddie Vedder. On the original Pearl Jam demos, the Mamasan Trilogy this is one of the three songs with Once and Alive, around the same time Chris Cornell wrote his own lyrics for the Temple of the Dog Sessions
Awesome show that night I will never forget.. My absolute favorite acoustic versions of there songs Great freakin job awesome show search out the rest of the set list this is actually from the 1996 Bridge School bennefit show. I'm glad to know theres a younger generation discovering great music I lucky enough to be a teenager during this time and I still follow these guys..
And I graduated high school in ‘96. Also, I have tickets to the next Madison Square Garden Pearl Jam show (it was postponed with no definite date yet, do to this Corona Virus bullshit). Saw them several times in the 90’s, once was the first time he cut his hair short, I’m guessing around 2001? I’ll always be a 90’s chic. Best decade for music - and since I graduated in ‘96 I got to see some greats. Like Rage Against the Machine, Beastie Boys, (A Tribe Called Quest opened for them!) Korn, and Counting Crows, James Addiction - as well as all of Perry’s side project bands just to name a few. Shit, I saw Biggie AND The Grateful Dead with Jerry, too! Music sucks now... so I’ve been seeing the band Phish SINCE ‘96. -and no, I’m not a dirty stinky hippie pig either. But I have seen that band over 100 times, all over the country, and in Mexico! Music (LIVE MUSIC) sets my soul free!
Well, I'm English and I got to grow up listening to Blur, Pearl Jam, R.E.M., Radiohead, Soundgarden, Oasis, Nirvana, Supergrass, Alice In Chains, R.H.C.P., Faith No More, Janes' Addiction, Pulp, Manic Street Preachers and so much more. Hope I'm not making you jealous!
Originally a Stone riff that got sent out on the Gossman Project tape. Eddie wrote his lyrics, Chris wrote his (for Andy), Temple recorded the Chris version, Pearl Jam has never recorded a studio version of this song (or one that was released, anyway.)
When they were recording Temple of the Dog, Eddie brought the music for what became "Times of Trouble" on that album. He also used the music (with his own lyrics) for this amazing B-Side :)
alot of people don't know this is but the song itself not the lyrics was a temple of the dog song in which pearl jam and chris cornell combined for one album the name of the song is times of trouble. eddie just changed the lyrics to it
Ahh, thank you for answering. You have reminded me that one of the things that is so appealing about Pearl Jam is that there is so much meaning in any one song, and people relate to different parts in different ways.
this song is from their early career but you wont find it on 'Ten'. I recommend getting Ten but also get the 'Lost Dogs' album. it contains Footsteps and many other tracks that were never included on the other albums.
@xXalvarado94Xx I feel sorry for ya champ, I was born in '79 so got to appreciate Pearl Jam, Nirvana, Pumpkins, Alice In Chains, Soundgarden etc when I was 15-16 yrs old. Began to go out drinking, chasing girls and partying! It was awesome and feel so privileged to have spent my life/music shaping years having this with me at such an influential age!
Ed added lyrics to this song before he even met Mike or Stone. They sent him a tape with music, and he recorded over it with his own lyrics. Alive, Once, and Footsteps were the three songs on that tape, and all the lyrics are tied together and form a trilogy, often referred to as "Mamasan"
The original is on the momma son tape, on which stone,jeff,mike and matt (soundgarden then) recorded with instrumental sounds and then send to eddie in southern california. it's the way they found together :)
its a follow up on his songs alive and once. these three songs tell a story of a young man like eddie vedder who was lied to about his real father (alive) then later became a serial killer (once) and was then arrested and sentenced to death (footsteps)
Ok so im 16, born in 1994. Pearl jam is my favourite band of all time. And this is my favourite song ever. I just wish that i was born before their peak, so i could go watch them live in concert. If they announced an australian tour, i think i would start crying haha. Where did the music industry lose its way? All this synthesised and auto tuned crap! If its got a guitar in it, ill listen to it! RHCP, Nirvana, John Butler Trio
@peajay81 Every time I catch myself lying to myself about personal responsibility, I think of this song. Sometimes, I can't listen to this song, because it tears me apart inside.
Don't even think about reachin' me I won't be home Don't even think about stoppin' by Don't think of me at all ohh!, I did, what I had to do If there was a reason, it was you... Don't even think about gettin' inside Voices in my head, voices I got scratches, all over my arms One for each day, since I fell apart I did, what I had to do If there was a reason, it was you...
of course it is, this is what he did with the same riff during Temple of the Dog's recording. They took times of trouble, but Eddie was the obvious singer/song writer for what would become Pearl Jam
Don't even think about reachin' me, I won't be home Don't even think about stoppin' by, don't think of me at all I did, what I had to do, if there was a reason, it was you... Aah...don't even think about gettin' inside Voices in me head...ooh, voices I got scratches, all over my arms One for each day, since I fell apart I did...oh, what I had to do, if there was a reason, it was you Footsteps in the hall, it was you, you...oh... Pictures on my chest, it was you, it was you... Hey...I did, what I had to do...oh, and if there was a reason Oh, there wasn't no reason, no And if, there's something you'd like to do Just let me continue, to blame you Footsteps in the hall, it was you, you...oh... Pictures on my chest, it was you, you...oh... Traduzir para o português
i dont like making comparisons. Everyone has their own opinions but that doesnt make one better than the other. Chris and Eddie are both legends. Both great songs.
I thank God everyday for the girl that he fell in Love with that eventually broke his heart and f'd him up so bad to inspire these songs...wow what happened to music? I used to stay up till 2, 3 in the morning when in was in middle school high school just groovin to music, am i gettin old or am i right music blows today huh ?
This might be one of the few songs that make me cry...I love it. It's soul-purifying.
Man of the Hour did it for me. Hits hard
"Footsteps" is the final chapter in a three song trilogy. In "Alive", a young boy endures a troubled childhood and finds out the man he always thought was his father was a lie. Not only that, but his mother sees so much of his real father in him that she becomes attracted to him. The kid gets so screwed up that in the song "Once", he goes on a serial killing rampage. By the time we get to "Footsteps", he's now on death row in a jail cell refusing to see the mother he blames for all his sins.
I absolutely love the way Eddie sings this soul searching song!
God bless you Eddie Vedder and the rest of the band!!
anyone who hates on pearl jam, or grunge for that matter, has not heard songs like release, garden, leash, indifference, footsteps or sleight of hand, to name a few...
if they aren't the greatest band ever, they're absolutely among the few best. individually they're excellent musicians, their lyrics are unmatched, and the best part may be what they stand for...
You are a brilliant individual for understanding these truths
this guy puts so much heart and emotion into his singing
great song and awesome performance
This is actually the third song in a "mini opera" that he wrote. Alive, Once, Footsteps. It's all about him finding out his step dad was not his real dad, after 18 years of living with him (Alive), then he goes on a rampage and becomes a serial killer (Once), and eventually gets put to death (Footsteps). It's basically a song to his mother.
how do you know all of this? can i read about it somewhere?
Just saw them live last night in FT Lauderdale. One of my favorite bands of all time
No better voice in this world...!!
Name our dog after him.... love him!
it's absolutely amazing and awesome and wonderful.
Best. Pearl Jam. Song. Ever. Hands down. Love you Eddie.
Not many artists can match the raw emotion and intensity of Mr Eddie Vedder. Hard to believe they left such a brilliant song off an album for so long
I haven't heard this in over twenty years. Damn...Damn.
Just like yesterday, I remember throwing this on a PJ tape I made with all "rare" tracks. "Pearl Jam: Unsung.", I called it. Made a great cover for it with my buddy Dave Lerner. Moody shot of this cool girl we knew named Jessica Blake. Took hours choosing the fonts and centering things so they'd fit properly as a cassette trifold. Printed on slightly heavier stock.
That tape's still in a storage space I remt..like hidden gold. I'd keep it with me, but I've gone walkabout. Gotta travel light.
Damn... pictures. Part of me wants to get a cassette player and drop it in. Part of me wants to simply hold onto that memory, tinted with time.
Thanks for the upload.
Footsteps in my heart... It was you :)
That song is so deep. It's the kind of song that you hear and then your mood has completely changed. I'd like to know why the hell there are dislikes on this.
my fav line in the song is when he says "if theres something youd like to do, just let me continue to blame you"
The best fucking song ever....
helpme1220 it's pretty fucking close
PJ is my all time favorite band period. Temple of the Dog- However, Cornell's Times of Trouble lyrics seap into the soul. I just love the heartwrenching untold tale of the love affair addicts succumb to with the positive purpose conveyed in Temple of the Dog lyrical rendition. Both inspire those lovely chills we all know so well. long live the music!! Cheers!
It's so interesting to see how 2 similar souls with different paths like Chris and Eddie wrote and sang 2 different lyrics for the same song, both gut wrenching
One of my FAVORITE Pearl Jam songs. Can't get it out of my head!!
Pearl Jam sempre foi a melhor banda.
Love the breakdown. Very serene.
Such a great song, it made me realize that i have so much "hidden" feelings in me. Sometimes the heart is full of of words but the tears talk....
One of eddies most beautiful songs it makes me think of my father who recently passed
Gives me chills...So beautiful
Don't even think about reachin' me
I won't be home
Don't even think about stoppin' by
Don't think of me at all
I did, what I had to do
If there was a reason, it was you
Ah, don't even think about gettin' inside
Voices in me head
Ooh, voices
I got scratches, all over my arms
One for each day, since I fell apart
I did, oh, what I had to do, if there was a reason, it was you
Footsteps in the hall, it was you, you
Ooh, ooh, ooh
Pictures on my chest, it was you, it was you
Hey, I did, what I had to do
And if there was a reason
Oh, there wasn't no reason, no
And if, there's something you'd like to do
Just let me continue, to blame you
Footsteps in the hall, it was you, you
Ooh, ooh, ooh
Pictures on my chest, it was you, you
Awesome posting the lyrics sweetie,.. Pearl John
Chris Cornell
I don't know if it's the best, but it is one of my favorites...they have SO many good songs
Música perfeita, com vocalista e banda perfeitos! Amo demaaaais... PJ
Footsteps and Indifference are such emotional songs and many many more, I love Pearl Jam one of my favorite bands from the beginning. 😊💓🤘✌️
Quite possibly the greatest song from one of the greatest bands of all time.
Incredible Song. Incredible Voice. It doesn't get better than this.
Took my breath away...
I saw Pearl jam in 2002 With my girlfriend who is now my wife of 3 years....alpine valley...I have honestly spent more time listening too their music in depth this last couple of years, than I had previously...So many things to relate too, and awesome music....repeatedly...I'll see them again...and I'll bring my kids...Fucking awesome
LOVE THIS.... I remember this before temple of the dog... fantastic
this is incredible, i cannot stop listening to this song. lucky enough to be seeing pearl jam in berlin this summer!!
This is some of his most heartfelt, grit that only he can express...so good.
I just wanted to correct those people who dont know about this song & others. I as a die hard Pearl Jam fan, need to let the masses know the truth. "footsteps" is apart of the mamasan trilogy along with "alive" and "once". for those who dont know about the trilogy, i strongy suggest you look it up. Great video. Footsteps is my favorite song ever!
I want to correct you, it's called Momma-Son. If people look it up they won't find it calling it mamasan..
This is their best song.
your half right this is what i found on Wikipedia Vedder wrote lyrics for three of the songs as a mini-opera which he called the "Mamasan trilogy". The songs tell the story of a young man who, like Vedder, learns that he had been lied to about his paternity and that his real father is dead ("Alive"). He grows up to become a serial killer ("Once"), and is eventually imprisoned and sentenced to death ("Footsteps").[11] Vedder recorded vocals for the three songs,
stone gossard wrote the music to this song, he gave the music to both Chris Cornell and Eddie Vedder. On the original Pearl Jam demos, the Mamasan Trilogy this is one of the three songs with Once and Alive, around the same time Chris Cornell wrote his own lyrics for the Temple of the Dog Sessions
Mr. Mrcready killing it as always.
Awesome show that night I will never forget.. My absolute favorite acoustic versions of there songs Great freakin job awesome show search out the rest of the set list this is actually from the 1996 Bridge School bennefit show. I'm glad to know theres a younger generation discovering great music I lucky enough to be a teenager during this time and I still follow these guys..
archive.org/details/Pearl_Jam_Bootleg_1996-10-19
I’ll do one better for ya, here’s the full show. 🤘🏼👌🏼
And I graduated high school in ‘96. Also, I have tickets to the next Madison Square Garden Pearl Jam show (it was postponed with no definite date yet, do to this Corona Virus bullshit).
Saw them several times in the 90’s, once was the first time he cut his hair short, I’m guessing around 2001?
I’ll always be a 90’s chic. Best decade for music - and since I graduated in ‘96 I got to see some greats. Like Rage Against the Machine, Beastie Boys, (A Tribe Called Quest opened for them!) Korn, and Counting Crows, James Addiction - as well as all of Perry’s side project bands just to name a few.
Shit, I saw Biggie AND The Grateful Dead with Jerry, too!
Music sucks now... so I’ve been seeing the band Phish SINCE ‘96. -and no, I’m not a dirty stinky hippie pig either.
But I have seen that band over 100 times, all over the country, and in Mexico!
Music (LIVE MUSIC) sets my soul free!
It's beautifully haunting. A lot of songs are like dreams, but somehow Pearl Jam's feel like life.
Footsteps,Release,Immortality,Yellow Ledbetter,all song that make me cry oh yeah cant forget Black
Well, I'm English and I got to grow up listening to Blur, Pearl Jam, R.E.M., Radiohead, Soundgarden, Oasis, Nirvana, Supergrass, Alice In Chains, R.H.C.P., Faith No More, Janes' Addiction, Pulp, Manic Street Preachers and so much more. Hope I'm not making you jealous!
Ben Wherlock seems like you had a good childhood with cool parents
The Verve should be among them, too!
That bass kicks some serious ass
@vijion2020 there are still a few of us there that do.
This music is truly my life. Keep on rockin man!
My ALL TIME FAVORITE PEARL JAM SONG!! I remember hearing it the first time 20+ years ago thinking I NEED to find a bootleg with this song!
Originally a Stone riff that got sent out on the Gossman Project tape. Eddie wrote his lyrics, Chris wrote his (for Andy), Temple recorded the Chris version, Pearl Jam has never recorded a studio version of this song (or one that was released, anyway.)
1 of the most haunting songs i've ever heard
I have heard lot of versions of this song since i like it so much.I think this is my favorite one
the greatest band of our time
best footsteps version. can't stop listening
Amazing! Legendary P.J. right here. Best band ever.
When they were recording Temple of the Dog, Eddie brought the music for what became "Times of Trouble" on that album. He also used the music (with his own lyrics) for this amazing B-Side :)
My favorite quote is in this song. It's so beautiful.
No words, amazing
yes again i cried again...... this is what they do to me.........fucking love this band
Simply BEAUTIFUUUUUUUUL! Sweet, lovely and simple
an ex gf and I are 30 years later processing what could have been. Very emotional. This song just ripped through my mind.
Both listening to it. 😢❤
The best fucking Band in the world,i m Portuguese and i ssaw them 4 times in my life,it was the best times of my life eith no doubts!!!!
alot of people don't know this is but the song itself not the lyrics was a temple of the dog song in which pearl jam and chris cornell combined for one album the name of the song is times of trouble. eddie just changed the lyrics to it
Ahh, thank you for answering. You have reminded me that one of the things that is so appealing about Pearl Jam is that there is so much meaning in any one song, and people relate to different parts in different ways.
one of my favorite songs
Great song
this song is from their early career but you wont find it on 'Ten'. I recommend getting Ten but also get the 'Lost Dogs' album. it contains Footsteps and many other tracks that were never included on the other albums.
@xXalvarado94Xx
I feel sorry for ya champ, I was born in '79 so got to appreciate Pearl Jam, Nirvana, Pumpkins, Alice In Chains, Soundgarden etc when I was 15-16 yrs old. Began to go out drinking, chasing girls and partying! It was awesome and feel so privileged to have spent my life/music shaping years having this with me at such an influential age!
Thank you Eddie, the lyrics are just incredible, this is more than music...
Ed added lyrics to this song before he even met Mike or Stone. They sent him a tape with music, and he recorded over it with his own lyrics. Alive, Once, and Footsteps were the three songs on that tape, and all the lyrics are tied together and form a trilogy, often referred to as "Mamasan"
there are so many things i could say, and yet not all of the words I need...
I love these guys ... the band Pearl Jam and Dog Savanna are the bands that I like to hear! Viva Rock!
Stone looks like came direct from school, could not even take the backpack 3:50...
thank you thank you thank you!!!
this physically hurts. damn.
I've got scratches all over my arms one for each comment made about this song.
I did what I had to do.
I listened.
the best ever
Happy Birthday Ed.
Wow.. amazing version!! Thanks a million!
LA MEJOR CANCION DE PEARL JAM!!!
The original is on the momma son tape, on which stone,jeff,mike and matt (soundgarden then) recorded with instrumental sounds and then send to eddie in southern california.
it's the way they found together :)
THey played this at o2
such an epic night
its a follow up on his songs alive and once. these three songs tell a story of a young man like eddie vedder who was lied to about his real father (alive) then later became a serial killer (once) and was then arrested and sentenced to death (footsteps)
Ok so im 16, born in 1994. Pearl jam is my favourite band of all time. And this is my favourite song ever. I just wish that i was born before their peak, so i could go watch them live in concert. If they announced an australian tour, i think i would start crying haha. Where did the music industry lose its way? All this synthesised and auto tuned crap! If its got a guitar in it, ill listen to it! RHCP, Nirvana, John Butler Trio
awesome version of this song
@peajay81 Every time I catch myself lying to myself about personal responsibility, I think of this song. Sometimes, I can't listen to this song, because it tears me apart inside.
this song is about the grown serial killer (child from alive, killer from once) now on death row...haunting and beautiful
Da um aperto no peito! 💔
Don't even think about reachin' me
I won't be home
Don't even think about stoppin' by
Don't think of me at all
ohh!, I did, what I had to do
If there was a reason, it was you...
Don't even think about gettin' inside
Voices in my head, voices
I got scratches, all over my arms
One for each day, since I fell apart
I did, what I had to do
If there was a reason, it was you...
of course it is, this is what he did with the same riff during Temple of the Dog's recording. They took times of trouble, but Eddie was the obvious singer/song writer for what would become Pearl Jam
alive, once, and footsteps are 1, 2, 3 in the mamasan trilogy. Eddie calls them a mini opera.
the music is also on temple of the dog with different lyrics and called "times of trouble"
Don't even think about reachin' me, I won't be home
Don't even think about stoppin' by, don't think of me at all
I did, what I had to do, if there was a reason, it was you...
Aah...don't even think about gettin' inside
Voices in me head...ooh, voices
I got scratches, all over my arms
One for each day, since I fell apart
I did...oh, what I had to do, if there was a reason, it was you
Footsteps in the hall, it was you, you...oh...
Pictures on my chest, it was you, it was you...
Hey...I did, what I had to do...oh, and if there was a reason
Oh, there wasn't no reason, no
And if, there's something you'd like to do
Just let me continue, to blame you
Footsteps in the hall, it was you, you...oh...
Pictures on my chest, it was you, you...oh...
Traduzir para o português
Sets the mood for a man on deathrow pretty nicely! (3rd part of a three song story Alive, Once, Footsteps)
Beautiful song, this is amazing!! 😊❤️🤘
i dont like making comparisons. Everyone has their own opinions but that doesnt make one better than the other. Chris and Eddie are both legends. Both great songs.
@vijion2020 this song is for his mother ! A part of mamasan trilogy , a serial killer's history .
Genialny utwór!!!
love this song!!!
God I love them!
I was born in '97, so I feel your pain.
I thank God everyday for the girl that he fell in Love with that eventually broke his heart and f'd him up so bad to inspire these songs...wow what happened to music? I used to stay up till 2, 3 in the morning when in was in middle school high school just groovin to music, am i gettin old or am i right music blows today huh ?