[ ]   [ ]   [ ]                        [ ]      [ ]   [ ]
Pearl Jam — Wishlist
Album: Yield
Avg rating:
7.4

Your rating:
Total ratings: 3585









Released: 1998
Length: 3:18
Plays (last 30 days): 3
I wish I was a neutron bomb, for once I could go off
I wish I was a sacrifice, but somehow still lived on
I wish I was a sentimental ornament you hung on
The Christmas tree, I wish I was the star that went on top
I wish I was the evidence, I wish I was the grounds
For 50 million hands upraised and open toward the sky

I wish I was a sailor with someone who waited for me
I wish I was as fortunate, as fortunate as me
I wish I was a messenger and all the news was good
I wish I was the full moon shining off your Camaro's hood

I wish I was an alien at home behind the sun
I wish I was the souvenir you kept your house key on
I wish I was the pedal brake that you depended on
I wish I was the verb 'to trust' and never let you down

I wish I was a radio song, the one that you turned up
I wish...
I wish...
Comments (242)add comment








EXCELLENT!!  Thanx RP!   
 bforr wrote:

This song has it all... incredible melody, production, restraint, AND THOSE LYRICS.  Some of the best ever written.

"I wish I was a messenger and all the news was good."

Sublime

No, it's Pearl Jam, not Sublime.

I kid.
c.

Great song and the line: "I wish I was the full moon shining off your Camaro's hood" is inspired
It says there's 236 comments but I'm only counting 127.  Where's the others?
Eddie shines
 Zoonhollis wrote:

If we could all just take a deep breath, relax, and stop using apostrophes with plurals...




What is up with that?  Drives me crazy.

Oh, and PSD PJ.
This transition just doesn’t get old
 jim.stimeck wrote:


I agree!!  That also happened today (12/12/20).  I LOVED LOVED this segue!!  It makes me realize that certain song combos are pre-programmed into RP's cycle of songs.  Long live RP!  Great work!


Today (January 2, 2022), the station played Wishlist, then "I Burn Today" by Frank Black, then PIN by Rheostatics. Still close by, but a different segue. 
Wow great song
Elevator music.  Very meh.
 Geecheeboy wrote:
Segue from PIN Theostatics to Wishlist.... brilliant!! 
 

I agree!!  That also happened today (12/12/20).  I LOVED LOVED this segue!!  It makes me realize that certain song combos are pre-programmed into RP's cycle of songs.  Long live RP!  Great work!
This song has it all... incredible melody, production, restraint, AND THOSE LYRICS.  Some of the best ever written.

"I wish I was a messenger and all the news was good."

Sublime
Poor guy seems to have swallowed his own nose, I hope he's alright.
This song flows nicely, but a neutron bomb going-off wouldn't be that spectacular. It saves buildings, not lives.
Segue from PIN Theostatics to Wishlist.... brilliant!! 
 Deltoya wrote:
Good song! Perfect for the ears
 

heh?  what are you hearing?
I wish I was as fortunate, as fortunate as me.

Hum, let's stop a second and  read aloud... yes ok you are right.
{#Heartkiss}{#Heartkiss}{#Heartkiss}{#Heartkiss}
 redmachine wrote:

Only if they never play a single track more from U2, Travis, Coldplay or Elbow. Deal?

 
Sounds like RP isn't for you. You should ask for your money back.
 redmachine wrote:

Only if they never play a single track more from U2, Travis, Coldplay or Elbow. Deal?

 
And Radiohead. And Arcade Fire. And Decembrists. Now, if you're a fan of any of those, would you still want the deal? 

Nyah nyah ain't gonna happen, so I'll take PJ.  Anyway, great band, and whether me or you, more or less PJ comes sooner or later with the downer sauce of RH and AF. 
 javelipix wrote:
Please, please, please, if you can't stop, at least cut down on the PJ?

 
Only if they never play a single track more from U2, Travis, Coldplay or Elbow. Deal?
Please, please, please, if you can't stop, at least cut down on the PJ?
 hayduke2 wrote:
PJ is Excellant

8 up to 9

Happy Holidays Dear Rockers 

 
Happy Independence Day All  : )
I thought this was a Strawbs / Dire Straits collaboration for a minute.  Silly me.
gorgeous*
I wish Bill played more PJ.  Both Jam and Harvey.  {#Bananapiano}

Steve wrote:
I wish Bill didn't play so much PJ. {#Frustrated}

 


 Steve wrote:
I wish Bill didn't play so much PJ. {#Frustrated}

 
Agree.  {#Sleep}
I wish Bill didn't play so much PJ. {#Frustrated}
Congrats on the Hall of Fame Pearl Jam!
 
 fredriley wrote:
As the founder (and probably only) member of the Society for the Preservation of the English Subjunctive, it would be nice if yer man were to sing "I wish I were ". Mind you, the subjunctive is rapidly disappearing in everyday language and becoming a relic like the appendix :(

 
Gabba gabba. One of us.
 fredriley wrote:
As the founder (and probably only) member of the Society for the Preservation of the English Subjunctive, it would be nice if yer man were to sing "I wish I were ". Mind you, the subjunctive is rapidly disappearing in everyday language and becoming a relic like the appendix :(

 
If I were you I would told him the truth.

My high school professor taught me this 35 yrs ago. 
Oh sweet bird of youth.
 
Wishing is a natural spring
  and it's a done thing.
 fredriley wrote:
As the founder (and probably only) member of the Society for the Preservation of the English Subjunctive, it would be nice if yer man were to sing "I wish I were ". Mind you, the subjunctive is rapidly disappearing in everyday language and becoming a relic like the appendix :(

 
I wouldn't call that singing, Fred. 
nope
Nice. 
PJ is Excellant

8 up to 9

Happy Holidays Dear Rockers 
:)
If we could all just take a deep breath, relax, and stop using apostrophes with plurals...
 rdo wrote:

There is this new movie out on cable call “Pearl Jam twenty”.  There is a scene of footage from a concert where the band has a George W. Bush mask perched high on a stick while they burn it and sing some creepy verses while they get resounding boos from the crowd.  Vedder is unperturbed of course when asked why he did this. He is on an entirely different plane from ordinary people.  He truly believes he is the messiah.  I’ve never seen anything like it.



A little reality check for you rdo.  I was at the controversial concert in Long Island NY's Nassau Coliseum where Ed was roundly booed by the audience when the band did Bushleaguer. The concert came at the height of the post 911 lets go to war frenzy Bush Leaguer which was quite critical of the then administration's war stance.
Long Island is a bastion of suburban Republican's and particular the white ethnic kind that got very understandably worked up by the attack of 9/11.  By 2003 many American's, including PJ and including me realized that a) we attacked the wrong country (Iraq did not harbor Al Queda) 2) the Bush/Cheney administration had other reasons ($$$) for their war stance etc.  Many other American's disagreed - as is their right as an American.  Ed and the band expressed their free speech rights by  playing the song. A large part of the crowd expressed their 1st amendment rights by booing and starting the USA chant.  Ed, being a patriotic American, picked up on and continued the USA chant and summarizing it up -- talked about what a great example of free speech and American ideals that the "debate" over the song was.

It wasn't Ed thinking he was the messiah.  Bruce doesn't think he is the messiah. Peter Gabriel doesn't think he's the messiah.Bono doesn't think ---- well he may think he is but it doesn't matter.  Just because they choose to use their art to express their politics or values.  They have just as much right to express themselves in free societies - like the US and most of Europe and other countries as anyone





 
 In total agreement, lemmoth.



One of the better PJ tunes. Still not something I would seek out though.
 rdo wrote:

There is this new movie out on cable call “Pearl Jam twenty”.  There is a scene of footage from a concert where the band has a George W. Bush mask perched high on a stick while they burn it and sing some creepy verses while they get resounding boos from the crowd.  Vedder is unperturbed of course when asked why he did this. He is on an entirely different plane from ordinary people.  He truly believes he is the messiah.  I’ve never seen anything like it.



A little reality check for you rdo.  I was at the controversial concert in Long Island NY's Nassau Coliseum where Ed was roundly booed by the audience when the band did Bushleaguer. The concert came at the height of the post 911 lets go to war frenzy Bush Leaguer which was quite critical of the then administration's war stance.
Long Island is a bastion of suburban Republican's and particular the white ethnic kind that got very understandably worked up by the attack of 9/11.  By 2003 many American's, including PJ and including me realized that a) we attacked the wrong country (Iraq did not harbor Al Queda) 2) the Bush/Cheney administration had other reasons ($$$) for their war stance etc.  Many other American's disagreed - as is their right as an American.  Ed and the band expressed their free speech rights by  playing the song. A large part of the crowd expressed their 1st amendment rights by booing and starting the USA chant.  Ed, being a patriotic American, picked up on and continued the USA chant and summarizing it up -- talked about what a great example of free speech and American ideals that the "debate" over the song was.

It wasn't Ed thinking he was the messiah.  Bruce doesn't think he is the messiah. Peter Gabriel doesn't think he's the messiah.Bono doesn't think ---- well he may think he is but it doesn't matter.  Just because they choose to use their art to express their politics or values.  They have just as much right to express themselves in free societies - like the US and most of Europe and other countries as anyone




 fredriley wrote:
As the founder (and probably only) member of the Society for the Preservation of the English Subjunctive, it would be nice if yer man were to sing "I wish I were ". Mind you, the subjunctive is rapidly disappearing in everyday language and becoming a relic like the appendix :(

 
Please add me as a member of the SPES. You are not alone! ;-)
This songs sounds like they were bored recording this.

There is this new movie out on cable call “Pearl Jam twenty”.  There is a scene of footage from a concert where the band has a George W. Bush mask perched high on a stick while they burn it and sing some creepy verses while they get resounding boos from the crowd.  Vedder is unperturbed of course when asked why he did this. He is on an entirely different plane from ordinary people.  He truly believes he is the messiah.  I’ve never seen anything like it.


As the founder (and probably only) member of the Society for the Preservation of the English Subjunctive, it would be nice if yer man were to sing "I wish I were ". Mind you, the subjunctive is rapidly disappearing in everyday language and becoming a relic like the appendix :(
Good song! Perfect for the ears
Pretty good tune when it's not overplayed!!
excellent song... excellent band!!!
Love the whimsy in this.
 sirdroseph wrote:
No, I do not like Pearl Jam.
 
... I do not like them, Sam I am.


 scraig wrote:
Big PJ fan, but this doesn't do it for me. The fadeout at the end sealed the deal. 5.
 
Agreed, except not a big PJ fan.
Big PJ fan, but this doesn't do it for me. The fadeout at the end sealed the deal. 5.
 sronis wrote:

That would be impressive if flipping burgers wasn't so frigging easy.
owned! {#Tongue}
 

You cannot change the figures on my paycheck though and they do not match a frycooks. Owned.
 Vinni_NL wrote:


Although I agree with you on the fact that one cannot say that something sucks or not, I do feel compelled to say the voting doesn't mean anything either. Especially if you take into account that renowned artists and bands such as Pearl Jam often get high scores no matter what song is on. I feel this song's rating is overly positive, but hey, who am I?
 
I think you summed up the great all-time debate about art.  To wit, there is a certain objectivity about "good" art (i.e., reputation), and a certain subjectivity about "good" art (i.e., do you like it?).   If we were all to adopt the orthodoxy of the former, more powerful and oppressive school, then we may as well all stop commenting henceforth and submit to the tyranny of the innumerable nitwit parrots who perfunctorily give high ratings to anything by reputable bands.  I'll side with Sir Joseph on this one, for sticking to his guns, even though I like this song.
lemmoth wrote: We got you - Pearl Jam, Led Zeppelin and especially Nirvana were a poison on the rock music world - according to you. You are completely off base - but I guess you are entitled to your opinion. The great 2 and their Seattle friends - and the Pumpkins, reinvigorated the hard rock universe that the Who and Zeppelin created, while bringing in the master song craft they learned from spending hours and hours listening to the Beatles.  
 
Paul_in_Australia wrote:

The ineluctable modality of the audible. I think the last paragraph of your comment deserves further analysis. It sounds like it is a quote from a character in a novel. "Brad drew on his first Marlboro of the day, and opined at length about the origins of the Universe. Being still intoxicated from last night's bourbon, he segued seamlessly to the origins of music, before getting confused, and ascribing the origins of the Universe to Chuck Berry, then Little Richard, and finally developing a Grand Theory of Relativity which embraced the 'Great Two' as originators of all matter in the Universe, as well as being progenitors of be-bop, rock and roll, new wave, but not hip hop and rap, which he denounced as the work of the devil, < or on retelling Eminem, assuming the two were actually different people> "
 

Can't believe I missed this.  Paul — if your still out there — Bravo man.  This is brilliant. LMAO
 Byronape wrote:

I think you are outvoted on if the song really sucks.  Look at the average rating.

Just because YOU think it sucks, does not ACTUALLY mean that it sucks, fyi.

 

Although I agree with you on the fact that one cannot say that something sucks or not, I do feel compelled to say the voting doesn't mean anything either. Especially if you take into account that renowned artists and bands such as Pearl Jam often get high scores no matter what song is on. I feel this song's rating is overly positive, but hey, who am I?
Another example of the tremendous range and creativity of the best live band in the world.

Brilliant. -Huge favorite at the live shows.
 sirdroseph wrote:
but am guilt free since I am damn good at what I get paid for!{#Cheers}
 
That would be impressive if flipping burgers wasn't so frigging easy.
owned! {#Tongue}
 sbegf wrote:

Were you a student there?

 


 Byronape wrote:

I think you are outvoted on if the song really sucks.  Look at the average rating.

Just because YOU think it sucks, does not ACTUALLY mean that it sucks, fyi.

 

Duh. I think this song sucks. There, does that make you feel any better?
 sirdroseph wrote:


OH yes, no question. However if I got paid for writing songs as Pearl Jam does and I knew I sucked, I would feel at least a twinge of guilt for getting paid. So I may suck at it the same as Pearl Jam, but am guilt free since I am damn good at what I get paid for!{#Cheers}
 
I think you are outvoted on if the song really sucks.  Look at the average rating.

Just because YOU think it sucks, does not ACTUALLY mean that it sucks, fyi.

 sbegf wrote:

Were you a student there?

 
No, I do not like Pearl Jam.

 sirdroseph wrote:
I still think that Pearl Jam was on a humanitarian visit to a special school and they submitted this song as a nice gesture to one of the students who gave it to them written by crayon on construction paper. They just put it on the album and smile every time they hear it as to how gullible their fans are. However, this does not take away from the kindness of that gesture and the fact that they spend their personal time giving joy to those less fortunate and for that I salute them!{#Cheers}
 
Were you a student there?

Oh nice segue from Rheostatics. Well done, Bill!
 htowncoog wrote:

LOL.  I bet "you wish" you could write music, period.

About right?  {#Tongue-out}
 

OH yes, no question. However if I got paid for writing songs as Pearl Jam does and I knew I sucked, I would feel at least a twinge of guilt for getting paid. So I may suck at it the same as Pearl Jam, but am guilt free since I am damn good at what I get paid for!{#Cheers}
This song is a sublime masterpiece!!
A fantastic sing-a-long when seen live.
 sirdroseph wrote:
I still think that Pearl Jam was on a humanitarian visit to a special school and they submitted this song as a nice gesture to one of the students who gave it to them written by crayon on construction paper. They just put it on the album and smile every time they hear it as to how gullible their fans are. However, this does not take away from the kindness of that gesture and the fact that they spend their personal time giving joy to those less fortunate and for that I salute them!{#Cheers}
 
LOL.  I bet "you wish" you could write music, period.

About right?  {#Tongue-out}
 sirdroseph wrote:
I still think that Pearl Jam was on a humanitarian visit to a special school and they submitted this song as a nice gesture to one of the students who gave it to them written by crayon on construction paper. They just put it on the album and smile every time they hear it as to how gullible their fans are. However, this does not take away from the kindness of that gesture and the fact that they spend their personal time giving joy to those less fortunate and for that I salute them!{#Cheers}
 
I wish I was the verb "to trust" and never let you down. Hm, how old would you have to be to come up with that? You'd have to at least be 13? {#Mrgreen}

I still think that Pearl Jam was on a humanitarian visit to a special school and they submitted this song as a nice gesture to one of the students who gave it to them written by crayon on construction paper. They just put it on the album and smile every time they hear it as to how gullible their fans are. However, this does not take away from the kindness of that gesture and the fact that they spend their personal time giving joy to those less fortunate and for that I salute them!{#Cheers}
Heart and soul, no one today puts more of themselves into their music than Eddie. Always a 10.
Not a PJ head but i love this album and this song....{#Clap}
 stevebeaver wrote:

Go away.
 

No
 sirdroseph wrote:
This quite possibly might be the worst song in recorded history.{#Yes}
 


Go away.
 spacemoose wrote:

I'm not a huge fan either, but really, hyperbole much?  Haven't you ever hear "We are the world"?  or any boy band?

 

{#Lol}I actually like we are the world better! Seriously, I remember the first time I heard this song, I was like, really? This is not some kind of joke?{#Stop}
 sirdroseph wrote:
This quite possibly might be the worst song in recorded history.{#Yes}
 
I'm not a huge fan either, but really, hyperbole much?  Haven't you ever hear "We are the world"?  or any boy band?

art.


A great song from a great cd.
This quite possibly might be the worst song in recorded history.{#Yes}
Summer in NYC. Central Park. Lying in the grass - loving the sun. This song in my ears.

Every time I hear this it always takes me back there.

For that - nothing short of 10.
 lemmoth wrote:
Excellent segue from Rheostatics - P.I.N. into one of my favorite PJ mellow tunes.
  Same segue.
Hey- this is actually a PJ song that I don't hate...


 lemmoth wrote:
Excellent segue from Rheostatics - P.I.N. into one of my favorite PJ mellow tunes.
 
seamless, in fact.

 Paul_in_Australia wrote:

The ineluctable modality of the audible. I think the last paragraph of your comment deserves further analysis. It sounds like it is a quote from a character in a novel. "Brad drew on his first Marlboro of the day, and opined at length about the origins of the Universe. Being still intoxicated from last night's bourbon, he segued seamlessly to the origins of music, before getting confused, and ascribing the origins of the Universe to Chuck Berry, then Little Richard, and finally developing a Grand Theory of Relativity which embraced the 'Great Two' as originators of all matter in the Universe, as well as being progenitors of be-bop, rock and roll, new wave, but not hip hop and rap, which he denounced as the work of the devil, < or on retelling Eminem, assuming the two were actually different people> "
 

? {#Stupid}?
I wish I was an internet radio DJ that plays very cooooool music! {#Cheesygrin}
 lemmoth wrote:
We got you - Pearl Jam, Led Zeppelin and especially Nirvana were a poison on the rock music world - according to you. You are completely off base — but I guess you are entitled to your opinion. The great 2 and their Seattle friends - and the Pumpkins, reinvigorated the hard rock universe that the Who and Zeppelin created, while bringing in the master song craft they learned from spending hours and hours listening to the Beatles.
 
The ineluctable modality of the audible. I think the last paragraph of your comment deserves further analysis. It sounds like it is a quote from a character in a novel. "Brad drew on his first Marlboro of the day, and opined at length about the origins of the Universe. Being still intoxicated from last night's bourbon, he segued seamlessly to the origins of music, before getting confused, and ascribing the origins of the Universe to Chuck Berry, then Little Richard, and finally developing a Grand Theory of Relativity which embraced the 'Great Two' as originators of all matter in the Universe, as well as being progenitors of be-bop, rock and roll, new wave, but not hip hop and rap, which he denounced as the work of the devil, < or on retelling Eminem, assuming the two were actually different people> "
 KurtfromLaQuinta wrote:
Cuda's and Challenger's trump Camaro's forever!
 
While you're in MOPAR mode, don't forget the Charger.  At one point I had all three, 2 '70's and a '69.  {#Angel}

 lemmoth wrote:


Help me - oh hippiecheck - to understand how you choose "heaven is a place where nothing ever happens" for a tag, and hate this song.

The T Heads tune is a mellow reflective tune similar to Wishlist.  Both by great bands with great range, a great lead singer and a great live show.

I don't get it.

 
Sorry! Got to side with Hippiechick on this one! Admittedly I do not like Pearl Jam in general, never have although their first album is pretty good and they do have a few songs I like. Bottom line though, this song SUCKS!!!!!{#Puke}
peter_james_bond wrote:
What a fantastic seamless segue - Bill is the Master {#Notworthy}
Probably has something to do with his software!  (But I think we all agree: Bill IS The Master!) Sunny

 hippiechick wrote:
God, I hate this song!
 

Help me - oh hippiecheck - to understand how you choose "heaven is a place where nothing ever happens" for a tag, and hate this song.

The T Heads tune is a mellow reflective tune similar to Wishlist.  Both by great bands with great range, a great lead singer and a great live show.

I don't get it.

One of my favorite Pearl Jam songs... 
Excellent segue from Rheostatics - P.I.N. into one of my favorite PJ mellow tunes.
This is a lot of whiny songs all together.  {#No}
God, I hate this song!
I really like this change of pace - not only in melody, but the lyrics are rather sad and wistful, with some great imagery.

What a fantastic seamless segue - Bill is the Master {#Notworthy}
 fluffybum wrote:
ONE OF THEIR WORST...
 
That explains why it's about the only one I like a little.
 
7.

ONE OF THEIR WORST...
 smehan55 wrote:

Yeah, me too. Although I wish Mike would lose that tinny-sounding Stratocaster and get a guitar with a good solid tone, like a Les Paul. But that's just the picky guitarist in me talking. 
 
with all the gadgets out there now, there's any number of guitars you can emulate without getting a new guitar
one of their best
 fredriley wrote:
The Pearl Jam I've heard on RP has usually been invigorating, and made me sit up and take notice, but this is just dullsville, sadly. Aural Mogadon.
  This is just the other more mellow side of the boys.  Can't be rocking hard all the time. Every album mixes em up.  The concerts are even better.  The best live band touring today.


MUTE!
 TimmyMack wrote:
I love the guitar break in this song. Great tune.
 
Yeah, me too. Although I wish Mike would lose that tinny-sounding Stratocaster and get a guitar with a good solid tone, like a Les Paul. But that's just the picky guitarist in me talking. 
Fine album bought in Holland so brings back good memories
I love the guitar break in this song. Great tune.
One of my favorite bands ever, and I think this might be my fave song from them.

Come to think of it, I wish I was the star that went on top of the Christmas tree, too...

Great guitar licks. Great song.

Timmy Mack, Brooklyn, NY
The Pearl Jam I've heard on RP has usually been invigorating, and made me sit up and take notice, but this is just dullsville, sadly. Aural Mogadon.
Bitchin' Caaaamaro! (oh and full moon and all that)
 hippiechick wrote:

I say the same thing every time I hear this: God I hate this song!

 

Oh, just go smoke a bowl and sit in your corner.{#Beat}
 Sullen wrote:
This song played live with a drop down mirrorball is probably one of the greatest visuals i can recall.

 
I say the same thing every time I hear this: God I hate this song!

This song played live with a drop down mirrorball is probably one of the greatest visuals i can recall.
nate917 wrote:
That's kind of like having a favorite root canal.
We got you - Pearl Jam, Led Zeppelin and especially Nirvana were a poison on the rock music world - according to you. You are completely off base -- but I guess you are entitled to your opinion. The great 2 and their Seattle friends - and the Pumpkins, reinvigorated the hard rock universe that the Who and Zeppelin created, while bringing in the master song craft they learned from spending hours and hours listening to the Beatles.
dapower wrote:
"making teenagers depressed is like shooting fish in a barrel" - The Simpsons.
LOL
hippiechick wrote:
This song is annoying as hell!
no-----you are
3
Cuda's and Challenger's trump Camaro's forever!
heartbreaking
oh oh oh what a great seque from Rheostatics!!
I wish a I had a mariner to wait for :D