Pearl Jam: Even Flow Meaning

Song Released: 1992

Even Flow Lyrics

Freezin, rests his head on a pillow made of concrete,again
Oh, feelin maybe he'll see a little better set a days, ooh yeah
Oh, hand out, faces that he sees time again aint that familiar, ooh yeah
Oh, dark grin, he cant help, when he's happy...

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   #1 top rated interpretation:
   anonymous

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   Jul 15th 2011 !⃝

   I believe this song is about a homeless person (as in "freezing rest his head on a pillow made of concrete", ect.) But, I also believe that this song is about a homeless persons wish to start a new life (as shown in "someday yet he'll begin his life again") Or possibly it could be about mabye he died as shown in "whispering hands lead him away" Either way this is one of my favorite songs of all time and I'm am only 13 years old!

2. 2TOP RATED

   #2 top rated interpretation:
   anonymous

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   Mar 10th 2012 !⃝

   I dunno we were listening to it at work and we thought it was about a stray cat

3. 3TOP RATED

   #3 top rated interpretation:
   anonymous

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   May 24th 2008 !⃝

   This song makes me think of mentally ill people that are turned away from hospitals and institutions and are homeless. The whispering hands sounds like business owners trying to discretely shoo the "homeless crazies" from their doorways.
4. anonymous

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   May 23rd 2020 !⃝

   All art is open for interpretation.
   GOOD art can represent numerous things,
   Yet be TRUE for each.
   Spirituality, Love.
   Addiction, Trauma.
   Money, Life.
   This song to me, represents A train that we're ALL on.
   It never actually stops.
   We just get off.
5. anonymous

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   Dec 3rd 2018 !⃝

   The evenow is when you get to the crossroads in your life and you know you need to make a change but you’re not always sure how and the whispering hands are the ones trying to get you to change for the worse
6. anonymous

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   Jul 24th 2018 !⃝

   This song is about me never paying attention to lyrics and life around me. God is singing to me, but I'm awake now.
7. anonymous

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   May 3rd 2017 !⃝

   Eddy was once homeless, living in his Toyota truck. It's partly about him and the homeless people he saw. Try to keep an even flow, not too high or low. Quiet the voices, butterflies, in your head. Have hope that things will get better.
8. anonymous

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   Apr 30th 2017 !⃝

   You guys totally missed it. Evenflo is a syringe. It's about a homeless junkie
9. anonymous

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   Oct 14th 2013 !⃝

   It's about a homeless man on the street on the street who's sick and trying to find something good in life.
10. anonymous

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    Sep 11th 2013 !⃝

    I think this is a song about hopelessness in 90's america. As in a homeless junkie waits to 'start his life again' but all that materialises is 'whispering hands' carrying him away(i.e. to his grave)
11. anonymous

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    Jan 27th 2013 !⃝

    What Eddie says during the break, before the last set of "Even flows" is the key.... I can't understand it all but at one point he does ask " Can you spare some change?" So it must about a person down on his luck... I just can't understand the rest of it...but I think the answer lies within those barely audible words
12. anonymous

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    Jan 20th 2013 !⃝

    There is a dichotomy between these lyrics and Pink Floyd's "Time." Pearl Jam's guy is either homeless or has lost his mind (or both) where chasing away the butterflies (thoughts and memories) and forgetting regrets of an earlier life.
    
    Similarities exist in PF's song where:
    
    "Ticking away the moments
    That make up a dull day
    Fritter and waste the hours
    In an off-hand way
    
    Kicking around on a piece of ground
    In your home town
    Waiting for someone or something
    To show you the way
    
    ................
    
    And then the one day you find
    Ten years have got behind you
    No one told you when to run
    You missed the starting gun...."
    
    Suddenly they both discover they are all alone, unable to forget the time wasted and doing nothing with you life.
13. anonymous

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    May 22nd 2009 !⃝

    A very weird man the dies in a very weird way
14. Raiha

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    Jun 23rd 2008 !⃝

    Personally I see this song about adult ADD. the line "thoughts arrive like butterflies, he don't know so he chases them away" really reminds me of ADD. the other interpretations also seem correct but Pearl Jam always seemed pretty specific with their mental ailments.
15. anonymous

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    Apr 5th 2007 !⃝

    This song is about a homeless guy that dies. Hence the "whispering hands" line
16. anonymous

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    Apr 3rd 2007 !⃝

    This song is basically about a homeless guy that dies. great song probably my favorite by pearl jam

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