Pearl Jam: Given To Fly Meaning

Song Released: 1998

Given To Fly Lyrics

He could’ve tuned in, tuned in

But he tuned out

A bad time, nothing could save him

Alone in a corridor, waiting, locked out

He got up outta there, ran for hundreds of miles

He made it to the ocean, had a smoke in a tree

The wind...

1. 1TOP RATED

   #1 top rated interpretation:
   anonymous

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   Aug 7th 2016 !⃝

   I solely believe this song is about Christ though Eddie told me "many things inspired the words" to Mike's and yes, Jimmy Page's tune.
   
   Only one human being was stripped, stabbed and was Given to Fly! Yet, he wanted to share the keys to the locks he saw everywhere (what Christ does)...No other man flies, right? No other man saves.
   
   But Jesus, still Gives his love he just gives away (what Christ does) everyday many are SAVED! That is what the song says " the love (people) that is saved".
   
   I lost my wife and went to my first PJ show and this was on the set list.
   
   After the show I was way Coked up and was going to kill myself in the car but I got like three seconds of Ed's time before that and he is a way cool, loving fucker and saved my life.
   
   He would totally want you to make the song about what you want it to be about and be whole and peaceful and nothing less.
   
   I promise. But for me, Jesus saves. For you, it is about surfing or Icarus. We are all right and wrong. Just get along and live and love people as life is too fucking short.
2. anonymous

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   Jan 16th 2023 !⃝

   Totally about Jesus. His torture…etc. just like the previous person suggested…what other man “flies”. I don’t care if it’s “not cool”. Get a life.
3. anonymous

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   Oct 1st 2016 !⃝

   It's about Peter
4. anonymous

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   Oct 22nd 2015 !⃝

   Of course "Given..." isn't about the Lord. Nobody in the media even wants to give Him the time of day. But that Day is coming, whether or not we care to consider just Who is Boss. Just sign me an ex-rock fan.
5. anonymous

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   Oct 15th 2014 !⃝

   It's definitely about Jesus
6. anonymous

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   Sep 10th 2014 !⃝

   The great aspect of this song,like many of their others,it is open to the feeling that the listener receives.spiritually in a religious manner or not.Vedder will tell you that it is not about God,but if that is how you feel it to be,he would be fine with that as well i am sure.
7. anonymous

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   Oct 3rd 2012 !⃝

   This song tells the story of a man that went through a hard time due to people bringing him down and being abandoned (given to flies). The story is told like a ride on a wave, when the wave crashes, it goes back and come again, stronger and louder, bringing back the man, now, willing to fly. That's what you can hear on the guitar when it breaks down when he says "A wave came crashing like a fist to the jaw/Delivered him wings, "Hey, look at him now"".
   There's nothing to do with Jesus - that - I can guarantee.
8. anonymous

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   Dec 15th 2011 !⃝

   Song is about surfing " arm wide open with the sea as his floor"
9. anonymous

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   May 26th 2011 !⃝

   This may not be popular, but I always thought it was about Jesus.

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