Lyrics of
Nothingman

Nothingman is a track by Pearl Jam from their album Vitalogy, released in 1994. According to bassist Jeff Ament, the song was almost entirely written in a single rehearsal session. He brought the chord progression to the band, and Vedder immediately started singing. The lyrics discuss the transience of love and the importance of personal choice. The term nothingman is a reflection on how actions or the lack thereof can define a person.

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 of lightning, 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 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 oh oh oh oh

Nothingman, nothingman
Isn't it something? Nothingman
Oh, she don't want him (she don't want him)
Oh, she won't feed him, after he's flown away
Oh, into the sun, yeah into the sun
Burn, burn, burn burn

Nothingman, nothingman
Isn't it something? Nothingman
Nothingman, nothingman
Coulda been something, nothingman

oooooooo uoooooo