#-----------------------------------PLEASE NOTE------------------------------------#
# This file is the author's own work and represents their interpretation of the #
# song. The owner of this website has not reviewed the contents of this file and #
# does not support copyright infringement or violating the rights of any artist #
# or legal entity. If you feel that the content of this file may be violating #
# copyright law, you may not use the information displayed here in any way. #
#----------------------------------------------------------------------------------#
the following song are by Pearl Jam off "Vitology". All songs tabbed by Zeekford
Immortality
guitar intro
verse variation
G|-------------|-----------------------|
D|-------------|-----------------------|
A|-7--7-5--5/-|---7--7-7-7--5--5-5-5-|
E|-------------|-0---------------------|
Chorus
G|----------|----------------|-------------|----------------|
D|----------|----------------|-------------|----------------|
A|-3-3-3/-7-|-3-3-3-3-3-/-7-|-3-3-3-3/-0-|-12---3-0-3/-12-|
E|----------|----------------|-------------|----------------|
Interlude- first part is the verse, then it speeds up
G|------------------|----------------|-----------------------------------------|
D|------------------|----------------|-----------------------------------------|
A|-7-7-7-7-5-5-5-5-|-7-7-7-7-5-5-5-|-7-7-7-7/-9-9-9-9/-12-12-12-12/-19-19-19|
E|------------------|----------------|-----------------------------------------|
G|------------|
D|-----------*|
A|-0--/12-0-*|
E|------------|
Outro (it's all A)
here's one way
G|-------14--|-----14----|---------|
D|---/12-----|-----------|---------|
A|-0---------|---0----12-|-0---/12-|
E|-----------|-----------|---------|
================================================================================
there U go. That's all of Vitology. I hope U like it. Send Your comments to:
zeekford@capecod.net
Taken from The BassMasta -- http://www.bassmasta.net
Tab Discussion, Comments, and Critiques
|
No Picture
Dude I Swear I Musical Thunder |
#1 by Dude I Swear I Dint Know She Was Your Sister at Apr 18, 1971 at 8:52 AM EST |
| To add to the Kurt Cobain theory... "in the sun, in the sun i feel as one..." (no apologies) "but there's a trapdoor in the sun..." (immortality) correlation? I think so... | |
|
No Picture
Cap'n Sexy Wanna Be |
#2 by Cap'n Sexy at Jul 16, 1976 at 8:27 PM EST |
| Kurt Cobain has 2 sides to his death story, you need to remember that there was evidence leading to his shooting by Courtney, so keep that in mind. Anyhoo, Good song! | |
|
No Picture
Tom Wanna Be |
#3 by Tom C at Oct 13, 1979 at 6:20 AM EST |
| The allusions to Cobain's death is severely uncanny, yet I don't believe that the song is enitirely about it. Some lines just don't fit with that idea. To me: Immortality speaks of truants: those who neglect their in duties in life and the consequences they must pay for thereafter. Vacate, meaning to countermand as in a death sentence, refers to the redemption truants can achieve if they choose to take responsibilities. Because they have no one to blame other than themselves, reprisal for their circumstances is an impossibility (“Vengeance has no place so near to her”). However, none shall feel pity for those who ignore obligations and thus the phrase, “artificial tears.” In such a case, one cannot find salvation through intelligence, but rather their change in morals. “Wisdom can’t adhere.” When some people feel that they have found a place in life, they strive to keep hold of their rank, but without the right priorities, they can easily lose fame and glory. This is depicted by the line: “A truant finds home, and a wish to hold on, but there’s a trapdoor in the sun.” Some of those who fail to strive, lose respect from others, and consequently lose any privileges given unto them. "As privelaged as a whore." “coming up a which way sign” refers to the decision they must make. If they make the wrong decision, they are likely to fall into worse conditions, sometimes to the point in which they would rather commit suicide to escape life. “Some just die to live…” | |
|
No Picture
Liam Lead Player |
#4 by Liam Chan at Apr 2, 1980 at 7:44 AM EST |
| This song is awesome. Prob my fav off Vitaolgy. Its just simply amazing. yes it is about kurts death, really makes you think about life and death.... | |
|
No Picture
andy Average |
#5 by andy bourgeois at Aug 15, 1983 at 3:36 AM EST |
| Contrary to what everyone else thinks this song is clearly about the plight of Native Americans in the US. To vacate refers to the mass relocation of native americans onto reservations. vengence has no meaning in that they could not enact revenge. To be a truant (or someone without a place in society) as the native americans are. The trap door in the sun refers to a common native american belief in the sun being godlike and was worshipped however when they prayed for the killing and relocation to stop their worship of the sun ment nothing and they seemed to have been tricked into worshipping it. Victims in demand for public show refers to the many circus acts that payed many native americans to "act like indians" in their shows. This song also in its title refers to both the everlasting hate and pain that has been felt by the native americans. | |
|
No Picture
jay Average |
#6 by jay snow at Nov 9, 1983 at 11:14 PM EST |
| This song was debuted live before Kurt Cobain's death, so it wasn't originally about that. However, after Cobain died some of the lyrics were changed (eg "cigar box on the floor") | |
|
No Picture
Alex Addicted Average |
#7 by Alex Addicted ...why does my real last name matter? at Aug 16, 1985 at 6:51 PM EST |
| i just think its about the immortality of this world by the way we act and kurt was just one of those people close to him with the immortality | |
|
No Picture
Paul Average |
#8 by Paul at Sep 27, 1985 at 5:52 PM EST |
| Immortality is the hardest thing to achieve, some give up their lives for it. The only true immortalization is when you become a saint. Its death when your doing the wrong kind. | |
|
No Picture
Eric Rhythm Player |
#9 by Eric at Jun 8, 1988 at 12:16 PM EST |
| I have to put in my two cents. Even though the Native American story seems to fit, there are way too many reference to Kurt's suicide. Here is one more: "Artificial tear. Vessel stabbed, next up, volunteers?" Kurt injected heroin before he shot himself, and this line makes an even stronger case. "Volunteers" part might refer to who will be the next victim of this horrifying tragedy...there are too many similarities to deny the theory outright. Kristian Hermansen | |
|
No Picture
aleXeXeX Rhythm Player |
#10 by aleXeXeX at Jan 7, 1991 at 9:57 PM EST |
| Great song, i particulary like the really raw-sounding part around the guitar solo | |
|
No Picture
Black Rainbow Professional |
#11 by Black Rainbow at Dec 5, 1992 at 1:07 AM EST |
| Incredible song. its almost ironic, taking ur life through suicide, making u mortal. but i guess everyone is immortal because their spirits will live on forever. | |
|
No Picture
jeremy Average |
#12 by jeremy fenech at Feb 2, 1994 at 5:24 PM EST |
| Well I have to agree with these theories thus far. Inever actually gave it thought, but the Cobain theory rings true. I see the reference to Courtney also. And I must give Spiralofdivinity credit as well for a very profound understanding. Thanks to all for the interesting outlooks. | |
|
No Picture
Chris Average |
#13 by Chris Dunn at Jul 24, 1994 at 5:33 PM EST |
| 3 things I can vouche for 1) Immortality was played live before Kurt died. 2) lyrics were changed that had to be a tie in to Kurts life and death 3)Eddie doesnt admit that the song has anything to do with Kurt to this day...but after Shannon Hoon died he put a little song called "Bee Girl" for him.....same kind of sentiment, and Kurt was definately closer (only geographically Im sure) to Kurt than he was to Shannon. | |
|
No Picture
Aaron Average |
#14 by Aaron NoOneKnows at May 3, 1997 at 12:18 PM EST |
| All the suicide interpretations sound right on, before reading those this always struck me as a death-penalty song. Other than the "surrendered executed anyhow" line, there are some others which seem to pertain. Like "next up volunteers," about the death row prisoners which give up and drop their appeals, thus volunteering for an execution. And "victims in demand for public show" meaning that we as a society somehow need these executions for our own validation. This could be not what Eddie had in mind when he wrote it, but its what I interpreted. | |
|
No Picture
Steve Lead Player |
#15 by Steve Travale at Aug 21, 2002 at 5:49 PM EST |
| I view the line "There's a trapdoor in the sun" as an allusion to the phrase "It's better to burn out than to fade away". Those who commit suicide often romanticize about going out in a big way, and thus acheiving "Immortality". If one listens to the manner in which Vedder sings the word "Immortality (regretfully), one finds a window into Vedder's feelings on suicide. Eddie Vedder is an amazing artist in that he can convey his feelings on issues that effect us all in a way that is unique and quite poetic. And in their music, Pearl Jam have fashioned an "immortal" anthem to the act we call "suicide", whether it be Cobain or anybody who chooses this route of escape | |
|
No Picture
Nyle Average |
#16 by Nyle Leddy at Aug 12, 2003 at 6:33 PM EST |
| Vedder has repeatedly said that its not about Cobain's death, but i still think it is. The line 'cigar box on the floor' probably refers to the cigar box that was found next to Kurt's body. | |
Popular Bass Tabs