Was Pearl Jam’s “Better Man” an abuser?
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For this question, let’s see what the fans on SongFacts have to say:
This is about a woman who settles for the man she has because she doesn’t think she can do any better. Vedder had his stepfather in mind when he wrote it. After Eddie’s biological father died, his mother remarried, and Eddie thought she did it only because she needed someone to help support the family.
At some concerts, Eddie Vedder has dedicated this to “The bastard who married my mother.”
Well, there you have it. This is not a song about a good man, instead we have a song that shows the results a bad man leaves behind.
Better Man
Pearl Jam
Waitin’, watchin’ the clock, it’s four o’clock, it’s got to stop
Tell him, take no more, she practices her speech
As he opens the door, she rolls over
Pretends to sleep as he looks her over
She lies and says she’s in love with him, can’t find a better man
She dreams in color, she dreams in red, can’t find a better man
Can’t find a better man, can’t find a better man, oh
Talkin’ to herself, “There’s no one else who needs to know”
She tells herself, “Oh”
Memories back when she was bold and strong
And waiting for the world to come along
Swears she knew it, now, she swears he’s gone
She lies and says she’s in love with him, can’t find a better man
She dreams in color, she dreams in red, can’t find a better man
>She lies and says she still loves him, can’t find a better man
She dreams in color, she dreams in red, can’t find a better man
Can’t find a better man, can’t find a better man, yeah
She loved him, yeah, she don’t want to leave this way
She needs him, yeah that’s why she’ll be back again
Can’t find a better man, can’t find a better man
Can’t find a better man, can’t find a better man, oh, oh
Uh huh, uh huh, uh huh, uh huh, uh huh, oh