Thumbing My Way

Song infobox
Name = Thumbing My Way


Artist = Pearl Jam
Album = Riot Act
Background = lightsteelblue
Released = November 12, 2002
track_no = Track 7
Recorded = February 2002 – May 2002 at Studio X, Seattle, Washington
Genre = Alternative rock
Length = 4:10
Label = Epic
Producer = Adam Kasper, Pearl Jam
Writer = Eddie Vedder
prev = "I Am Mine"
prev_no = Track 6
next = "You Are"
next_no = Track 8"Thumbing My Way" is a song by the American rock band Pearl Jam. The song is the seventh track on the band's seventh studio album, "Riot Act" (2002).

Origin and recording

The song was written by frontman Eddie Vedder. Drummer Matt Cameron revealed to Vedder that he considers it the nicest chord progression Vedder has come up with. [Scaggs, Austin. [http://www.rollingstone.com/news/qa/story/9961927/eddie_vedder_addicted_to_rock "Eddie Vedder: Addicted to Rock"] . "Rolling Stone". April 21, 2006.] Bassist Jeff Ament on the song:

We were out in the room playing the song and learning it. In the process, [producer Adam Kasper] went and re-miked everything very covertly. So all of the sudden when we were ready to play it, it was up and he captured it. Nailed it. That to me was really critical and kind of how the record sounds. A lot of times, there's that cool thing when you don't quite know the song and everybody is really concentrating. It lasts for four or five takes and then it's gone. After that, it's all cerebral.Cohen, Jonathan. [http://web.archive.org/web/20021030103829/www.billboard.com/billboard/specialreport/pearl_jam/pearl_jam2.jsp "Inciting a 'Riot': Pearl Jam's New Album"] . "Billboard". November 2002.]

Guitarist Stone Gossard about the song:

That's a real live performance with lots of room ambience. It's us trying to keep up with the chord changes! There are some nice drums and bass. The sentiment of the song is amazing.

Lyrics

The song's lyrics are about a person in turmoil.Kaufman, Gil. [http://www.vh1.com/artists/news/1458559/11072002/pearl_jam.jhtml "Pearl Jam: Readin' The Riot Act"] . VH1.com. November 7, 2002.] In an interview, Vedder stated that the song is not about himself. He elaborated by saying, "I'm pretty good at removing myself from most of the songs. One thing about writing songs is, they don't always have to be about you. When they are always about someone, I lose interest after a while." The song includes several references to hitchhiking.

Reception

In its review of "Riot Act", "The Guardian" stated that the song "resembles an acoustic 'Love Will Tear Us Apart'" and called it one of the album's "best moments." [Sweeting, Adam. [http://arts.guardian.co.uk/fridayreview/story/0,,835326,00.html "Pearl Jam: "Riot Act"] . "The Guardian". November 8, 2002.] Brett Hickman of "Stylus" said, "Never a band to make their quieter forays really work, the band deliver their best one with 'Thumbing My Way'. Through its muted organ, acoustic guitars, brushed drums and Vedder's semi-coherent line readings, the band matches intent with mood perfectly." [Hickman, Brett. [http://www.stylusmagazine.com/reviews/pearl-jam/riot-act.htm Pearl Jam: "Riot Act"] . "Stylus". September 1, 2003.]

Music video

". The video was released in late 2002.

Live performances

The song's live debut was during an Eddie Vedder solo performance at the Wiltern Theatre in Los Angeles, California on February 26, 2002. [http://www.fivehorizons.com/tour/cc/t2002.shtml Pearl Jam: 2002 Concert Chronology] . fivehorizons.com.] The first performance of the song with the full band took place at the band's December 6, 2002 concert in Seattle, Washington. [ [http://pearljam.com/songs/song.php?song=ThumbingMyWay "Pearl Jam Songs: "Thumbing My Way""] . pearljam.com.] A live performance of "Thumbing My Way" can be found on the live album "Live at Benaroya Hall". Performances of the song are also included on the DVDs "Live at the Showbox" and "Live at the Garden".

References

External links

* [http://pearljam.com/songs/song.php?song=ThumbingMyWay Lyrics]