THE WHALE SONG

The sun was in clouds. The sun looked out. Exposed a trail of mist and spouts.
Ships followed the ancient lead. Deceiving friends under the sea.

Wow, imagine that? They won't fight back. I got a theory on that.
A whale's heart is as big as a car. A whaler's thought must be smudged by the dark.

They won't fight back. I'm sure they know how. Means they love or are too proud.
They won't fight back. I'm sure they know how. Means they love or too proud.
They swim. It's really free. It's a beautiful thing to see. They sing.

Hunters of land. Hunters of sea. Exploit anything for money.
I refer to anybody that takes advantage of what that is free.
They won't fight back.
It's only a thought that makes it seem right. What you don't see is because of your sight.
Take what you want. Kill what you can. That's just one way of the mind of man.
Take their lives. Sell their parts but there is not taking of their hearts.

If I was lost at sea. That harpoon boat in front of me. It's the whale I'd like to be.

They won't fight back. They won't fight back. They won't fight back.
They won't fight back. They won't fight back.
They don't know how.
They won't fight back. They won't fight back. They won't fight back.

Previous Songs of the Moment
1. In My Tree
2. Red Mosquito
3. Porch
4. I Got Id
5. Release
6. Do The Evolution
7. Breath
8. Corduroy
9. Elderly Woman...
10. Leash
11. Hail Hail
12. Grievance
13. Love Boat Captain
14. Even Flow
15. Black Red Yellow
16. In Hiding
17. Can't Keep
18. Indifference
19. Insignificance
20. Whipping
21. Black
22. Smile
23. Push Me Pull Me
24. Rats
25. God's Dice
26. All or None
27. Yellow Ledbetter
28. Last Exit
29. Who You Are
30. Rearview Mirror
31. Hold On
32. Present Tense
33. Light Years
34. Alive
35. Brain of J
36. Thumbing My Way
37. Hard to Imagine
38. Tremor Christ
39. Rival
40. Animal
41. Lukin
42. You Are
43. betterman
44. Given to Fly
45. Once
46. Low Light
47. Parting Ways
48. Off He Goes
49. Go
50. get right
51. World Wide Suicide
52. Angel
53. MFC
54. Long Road
55. Why Go
56. Nothingman
57. Save You
58. Of A Girl
59. Habit
60. Satan's Bed
61. Faithful
62. Oceans
63. Gone
64. WMA
65. State of Love and Trust
66. Spin The Black Circle
67. Life Wasted
68. Arc
69. Garden
70. All Those Yesterdays
71. Sleight of Hand
72. Other Side
73. Let Me Sleep
74. I'm Open
75. Blood
76. Nothing As It Seems
77. All Night
78. Jeremy
79. No Way
80. Around The Bend
81. Immortality
82. Comatose
83. Daughter
84. Alone
85. I am Mine
86. Down
87. Cropduster
88. Strangest Tribe
89. Inside Job
90. Drifting
91. Wishlist
92. Big Wave
93. Sad
94. Stupid Mop
95. Come Back
96. Glorified G
97. Puzzles and Games (Light Years Demo)
98. Dirty Frank
99. Ghost
100. Marker In the Sand
101. Undone
102. Green Disease

I always said that if there’s one non-Yield song that totally has the Yield vibe and feeling, then it’s this one. I remember discussing with some of the Yield crew where we’d put it on the album and I remember agreeing somewhere around DTE. There’s a lot of Ishmael in this song as well in my opinion. Anyway, the Whale Song…

We get to hear Jack Irons sing. I mean, after all the good things this man has done for this band, now he’s singing a gorgeous tune. And it simply wouldn’t have been as beautiful if it was sung by Eddie. Eddie comes off really nice as a background singer.

I love how the song starts so calmly, soft guitar, Jack more talking than singing. Lots of whalish background noises in the song. I love the lead guitar sound during the chorus. It’s awesome how guitar and whale almost sound the same after the second chorus.

But the most beautiful part is the confession Jack makes that he’d rather be the as good as killed whale than the guy on the harpoon boat. Which is followed by a very fitting, very nice guitar solo. I totally love that transition.

Also,
It is no coincidence Jack wrote a song about whales. The first tattoo he ever got, was a whale and a dolphin on his heart. That says something.

I Jack Irons.

I've loved this song since the first time I heard it. While I don't think it would have fit right on Yield, it's still a nice little gem produced from those sessions. Angus pretty much hit the nail on the head about the song - the whale-like guitar and Ed's background vocals are both excellent. 4 stars for me. Much better than the first Pearl Jam song to end up on a MOM album.

I dig it... doesn't knock my socks off, but still a fun little ditty.

3 stars.

one star. I don't begrudge its fans but I have no desire to ever listen to it. Happy when I'm crying is a better song, but frankly I get pissed whenever anyone who isn't Eddie is singing on a pearl jam song

actually two might have been a little better. the idea behind it is kinda cute

3 stars
for it's an interresting novelty and i like the e-bow effects, the breathe-in breathe-out feel of the band on this
and it's for a good cause although somewhat belated - did people still killed blue whales in 98?

jerks did

4 stars, a nice song really, even kinda atmospheric if I remember correctly

I'm always tickled by Jack's accent on this. "Fur-rends", "Buh-ack"

I hadn't listened to this song in a long time, but put it on when wanting home last night and I really enjoyed it. Gotta put it higher up the rotation list...

I'm thinking 3 stars for an interesting rara avis.

Let's be honest...this "song" is stupid. Granted, it's funny to listen to every now and then - but you can't take it seriously as a real PJ song.

1 star. If I could give it less, I would. Just like if I could give Even Flow more than 5 stars, I would.

Actually, the song is doing better in the ratings than I anticipated.

I really like the music. I love when the guitar solo part kicks in over the rather repetitive, but light riff. The songs is kind of a letdown. If I bought MOM3 expecting this new PJ song, and got Whale Song...I'd be dissapointed. Luckily, I got it off the net.

I give it 3 stars. The music saves it and the fact that we this gives us a "Jack Song" through and through also adds another star.

I don't dislike it but I don't really consider it a "real" song, either. I'd say it had no business being on an album ... but a lot of songs that shouldn't have been have showed up on albums. Still, Red Dot is far less intrusive on yield than this would have been.

2 stars.

i like it for a nice change of pace pj song. i agree w/ pretty much everything angus said. ed's back up vocals are great and it has a really cool yieldish vibe.

2 stars: I understand why it wasn't on an album. its a good song nonetheless. a bit simplistic maybe, but not bad.

it amazes me that bammer manages to come up with a new even flow comment for every SOTM. Someone should collect all of them. They are one of the highlights of this series for me

Does he even post anywhere else on RM now?

2 stars. The music is ok.

I'm a HUGE fan of this song. LOVE its place on the rarities. HATE reading Angus's SOTMs. LOVE reading Bammer's EvenFlow comments. HATE when people dog on this song, just because I like it so much.

I think if you don't listen to it as a "Pearl Jam" song, and instead just take it on its own terms, it holds up very nicely. I do like it though as a companion to Gremmie Outta Control. Also echo someone's props to Ed Ved's background singing.

The way Jack sings, it reminds me of Lou Reed except with Malkmus's sardonicism, except Jack's very passionate about these whales.

HUGE fan of this song.

*bows*

I'm always afraid that I'll repeat myself, but as far as I know I've been able to make a different remark each time. Sometimes I really have to think about it, other times...it just comes to me.

The most important thing is, you're right.