#-----------------------------------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. 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. #
#----------------------------------------------------------------------------#
Author/Artist: Pearl Jam
Title: Man of the Hour
Album: Big Fish
Transcribed by: Rick
Written For: http://www.giventowail.com
Email: rick@giventowail.com
-|----------------------3--0-----------------(3)----------------------3--0----
-|--1--1----3---1-3---0-3----3--1--1----3---1-3---1--1---3---1-3---0--3----3--
-|--0--0--0---0-----0-----------0--0--0---0---0---0--0-0---0-----0------------
-|----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-|--3--3----3-3-3-3----(2)------3--3----3-3-3-----3--3---3-3-3-3------2-------
-|----------------------3-(3)----------------(3)----------------------3--3-3--
Intro/Verse w/ variations
-|----------------0-----------------------------------------------------------
-|--1--1-1--0-1-3---3----1------------3---------------------------------------
-|--2--2-2--2-2-0-----0--2--2-2---0-------------------------------------------
-|--2--------------------2------2---------------------------------------------
-|--0-----------2--------0-----(2)--------------------------------------------
-|-------------(3)-------------(3)--------------------------------------------
-|---1---3---1-----0---------3----------------1-0-1-----------------1-0-1-----
-|---1---1---1--------3----1---1--3-(3)-0-1-1--------0---0--1-3------------0--
-|---2------------------(2)----0--0-(2)-----2--------2---2--2-2---------------
-|---3-------------------2-----x--x--0------3---------------------------------
-|--------------2--2-----0-----2--2------------------------------2---------2--
-|----------------------------(3)(3)-2----------------------------------------
Chorus w/ variations man of the hour..
-|-------------------------------------|-|------------------------------------
-|--1--3----1--------------------------|-|--108------------------------------
-|----------0--------------------------|-|--------5/7-------------------------
-|----------2--------------------------|-|--------------95-------------------
-|----------3--------------------------|-|------------------------------------
-|-------------------------------------|-|------------------------------------
back to verse w/ lead 1 Lead 1 w/ slide into Chorus
-|-------0--------------------------3-3-3--3-3-3--3-3-------------------------
-|----3----1--3--3-3--3--3-3--3-3---3-3-3--3-3-3--3-3-------------------------
-|--0-0-------0--0-0--0--0-0--0-0---0-0-0--0-0-0--0-0-------------------------
-|----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-|--------------------3--3-3--3-3---3-3-3--3-3-3--3-3-------------------------
-|----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pre-Bridge
-|------0-0--0-0--0---1--1-1----------------------------------------1--1-1----
-|------0-0--0-0--0---1--1-1---1-1---1--1-1--1-1-------3-3--1-3-3---1--1-1----
-|--1--------1-1--1---2--2-2---2-2---0--0-0--0-0-------2-2--2-2-2---2--2-2----
-|--2--------2-2--2---3--3-3---3-3---2--2-2--2-2----0--0-0--0-0-0---3--3-3----
-|--2--------2-2--2---3--3-3---3-3---3--3-3--3-3----x--x-x--x-x-x---3--3-3----
-|--0--------0-0--0---1--1-1------------------------2--2-2--2-2-2---1--1-1----
Bridge to end
-|--1-1---0---0-0--0-0-0----------------------------------1--0-1----------1---
-|--1-1---0---0-0--0-0-0---1--1--1----1--1--1-------3-----1------0-1-3--------
-|--2-2---1---1-1--1-1-1---2--2--2----0--0--0---2-2---2---2-------------------
-|--3-3---2---2-2--2-2-2---2--2--2----2--2--2---0-0-------3------------0------
-|--3-3---2---2-2--2-2-2---0--0--0----x--x--x---x-x-------3------------2------
-|--1-1---0---0-0--0-0-0--------------3--3--3---2-2---------------------------
-|--0-1------------1-0--1--------------1-0-1----------------------------------
-|------0---1-3-----------0---1--3-----------0--1--3--------------------------
-|----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-|---------------3-------------------0----------------------------------------
-|-----------------------------------2----------------------------------------
-|----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-|----------------------3--0-----------------(3)----------------------3--0----
-|--1--1----3---1-3---0-3----3--1--1----3---1-3---1--1---3---1-3---0--3----3--
-|--0--0--0---0-----0-----------0--0--0---0---0---0--0-0---0-----0------------
-|----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-|--3--3----3-3-3-3----(2)------3--3----3-3-3-----3--3---3-3-3-3------2-------
-|----------------------3-(3)----------------(3)----------------------3--3-3--
Outtro also w/ variations
-|----------------0---------------3-------------------------------------------
-|--1--1-1--0-1-3---3----1--0-1---3-------------------------------------------
-|--2--2-2--2-2-0-----0--2--2-2---0-------------------------------------------
-|--2--------------------2--------0-------------------------------------------
-|--0-----------2--------0--------2-------------------------------------------
-|-------------(3)----------------3-------------------------------------------
Tab (c) 2003 - Given To Wail
Brought to you by the GUITARMASTA - http://www.guitarmasta.net
Tab Discussion, Comments, and Critiques
|
No Picture
Mr. Always Mezm Average |
#1 by Mr. Always Mezmerized (o)(o) at Jun 28, 1970 at 2:21 AM EST |
| Regenstone8, just think about what you've said there. You've just said that we shouldn't take into account what the author of a song has said in working out what that song means. That's ridiculous - surely the author has a much better idea of what the words he wrote mean than we could ever have from just looking at the lyrics. We all bring our own pre-conceptions and assumptions to bear on this sort of thing, but I reckon the author's word should over-ride anything we may bring to the table. At least it should if we're concerned about what the author intended the song to communicate. Of course, one of the great things about poetry is that the coded wording can often communicate something different, beautiful and helpful that the author didn't intend. But let's not suggest that the author's word is irrelevant to the meaning of a song. | |
|
No Picture
julian Average |
#2 by julian at Jan 4, 1971 at 3:19 AM EST |
| Eddie Vedder said himself that Pearl Jam was named for his grandmother's hallucinatory jelly. He's also notorious for not sharing the true meanings behind all his lyrics, or even his lyrics in their full accuracy or entirety (see liner notes for every Pearl Jam record from Ten to Riot Act--I haven't bought the new record myself). Believe everything he says? | |
|
No Picture
Allen Average |
#3 by Allen Stone at Oct 22, 1974 at 9:41 PM EST |
| Ok, I haven't seen Big FIsh in a while but I'm pretty positive it wasn't based on that, in fact songs are typically chosen for soundtracks, not written for them, correct? anyway this song is clearly clearly ecological writing 'tidal waves don't beg forgiveness' they don't have to, they don't hurt anythign or do anythign unnatural...humans onthe otherhand are killing everythign in sight, ruining the environment they depends on, and it will deffinatley come back to haunt them not too far off in the future 'nature has its own religion, gospel from the land' thats beautiful and i think speaks for itself... Father ruled by long division, young men they pretend Old men comprehend these lines remind me of books like Ishmeal (which apparently had a huge effect on eddie vedder) and The Last Hours of Ancient Sunlight which both speak of ancient cultures in comparrison to new cultures the ancient ones which respected nature and life and never hurt other creatures or endangered themselves as we do, these people 'comprehend' they understand what modern cultures are blind to and the destructive parasitic cultures controlling the world at present cannot carry on this way for ever, they are only the 'man of the hour' every world power that ever existed had fallen at some point, as will the current this whole explanation was probably in vain, it only touches teh tip of the iceberg but upon Bengal Tiger's request, I answered to the best of my ability if your really interested, read the books I mentioned earlier...great books | |
|
No Picture
Nick Rhythm Player |
#4 by Nick Carrasco at Jan 13, 1979 at 12:46 PM EST |
| Its what the song means to us popperoski so i mean it can be about joey ramone but everyone can see it a different way. Whenever i hear this song i directly connect it too Jeff Buckleys "Statisfied Mind" because i feel that one comes after the other. In my eyes there are the two greatest songs dedicated to family or friends becuase they have so much meaning. | |
|
No Picture
$~Andrew~$ Average |
#5 by $~Andrew~$ at Mar 16, 1980 at 2:44 AM EST |
| the song was written for the movie, eddie says so himself when he introduces the song on the cd "live at benaroya hall". tim burton showed pearl jam the film he made (big fish) and then asked if they had anything to add to it. | |
|
No Picture
ashley Wanna Be |
#6 by ashley pudding at Apr 29, 1981 at 1:03 AM EST |
| Just because a song was written for one purpose does not mean it could apply well in another. I think it's pretty clear that Man of the Hour was written for and about Big Fish (an excellent movie), but it's a good enough song to be used in many, many other circumstances. | |
|
No Picture
eric was here Professional Badass |
#7 by eric was here at Oct 20, 1981 at 1:00 AM EST |
| What does this song mean to you?... I cried when i hear this song for the first time.....that means to me... | |
|
No Picture
Ĵǿ Wanna Be |
#8 by Ĵǿħŋ Ĝęřđěŋĭţš at Nov 29, 1981 at 1:33 AM EST |
| Eddie Vedder said himself that this song is part one of two, part two being "Come Back" in their latest album. Makes sense. | |
|
No Picture
Joan Average |
#9 by Joan Rius at Oct 13, 1987 at 9:12 AM EST |
| i guess you should watch the movie. i personally was a bit confused as well... | |
|
No Picture
The Mexican Who Average |
#10 by The Mexican Who's Living Under Satan's Wing at May 4, 1988 at 2:24 AM EST |
| I'm pretty sure that it was written for the movie. Look in the 'Big Fish' credits. This song is about the speaker remembering his deceased father, and appreciating everything he was to him. I don't think the song fits perfectly with the movie, but the overall idea is there. The father in the movie was the 'man of the hour'. | |
|
No Picture
Francis Average |
#11 by Francis Delongchamp at Jan 21, 1989 at 3:09 PM EST |
| i spent my teenage life arguing with dad, and i could never win. He'd never back down and i got used to it; when i saw the tidal wave coming i put up my barrier, which was to verbally fight back. funny thing is, steve's the nicest bloke in the world, just insecure like me, and now we live apart im not sure that we'll ever be mates until im saying the final goodbye. i love this song and all the people who've commented, i hope iv'e shed a little light.... | |
|
No Picture
Rob Average |
#12 by Rob Jones at May 30, 1989 at 12:49 PM EST |
| very very very very very very good song. | |
|
No Picture
J_ROC Lead Player |
#13 by J_ROC at Aug 22, 1989 at 4:48 PM EST |
| yep, gremlin is right. he also said that he was so moved by the movie, they wrote this song within a few hours after the movie was over. i think it fits perfectly for the end of the film. i also read somewhere that eddie had a tough time with his dad, and i guess this movie meant a lot personally to him. | |
|
No Picture
Shay Average |
#14 by Shay at Aug 5, 1992 at 6:08 PM EST |
| The only Pearl Jam song I've ever really loved. | |
|
No Picture
Manu Professional Badass |
#15 by Manu at Apr 23, 1993 at 3:46 AM EST |
| i just setup this account today for the sole purpose of writing this. i happend to come to song meanings to see what was written to explain the lyrics, its to bad that there isnt any... relevant explanations yet... its also wierd that everyone made it about eddies father, i know he had problems with his dad, but who doesnt? thats probably why everyone was relating it to that im from st johns newfoundland, pearl jam played here exactly a week ago, the second show here in as many nights, and eddie introduced this song with a few words. after saying it was for a close friend eddie said " You knew him as Joey Ramone. I knew him as one of my best friends. This song's called man of the hour." hopefully someone can now try to explain the lyrics, cus Im no english major, but i am 100 percent positive that this song was written FOR/ABOUT Joey. now.. for anyone else that reads all these other postings, just go back.. and see where everyone is talking about fathers, and think how brilliant it was that eddie made it feel like that. joey ramone. lead singer of one of the most influential bands of the twentieth century. FATHER to punk rock, alternative and inspirational to artists from many different genres. this song pays the ultimate respect to one of the great musicians of the twentieth century. and at the same time it is also a humble goodbye to a close friend. and yes 'i love jf' there ARE a hell of alot of other reasons for this song, as there are for any music, im just trying to explain why eddie wrote it. not what it means to you or anyone else. not trying to argue anyone elses postings here, just clearing things up, and by all means whatever this song means to you keep posting it. shit all im trying to do is give you guys some more to work with. | |
|
No Picture
cody Rhythm Player |
#16 by cody watts at Apr 8, 1994 at 8:49 PM EST |
| I agree evry last one of you beautiful people. This is my favourite ever Pearl Jam song. They hit the nail on the head with this diamond. Can I get a woop woop! | |
|
No Picture
Subhash Average |
#17 by Subhash Shady at May 20, 1994 at 6:44 PM EST |
| i see where the eveidence for the movie is coming from but i still believe that there are a hell of a lot more than 2 reasons for this song. 1 the movie INSPIRED them 2 eds personal life 3 how ed thinks people see him with his father (ha father) 4 how ed thinks about his father overall i think the movie inspired him to make this song and what a better way topromote it than in a filim what a great idea | |
|
No Picture
Simon (Si) Lead Player |
#18 by Simon (Si) Brown at Mar 22, 1996 at 1:37 PM EST |
| I only was here to read the lyrics, I saw Big Fish for the first time today and liked the music on the end credits.. Pearl Jam has always been a band that I generally like the music but never understand what it is Eddie is saying.. This song OWNS though.. | |
|
No Picture
*evan* Average |
#19 by *evan* at Sep 29, 1997 at 8:01 PM EST |
| can someone explain the song.... what exactly si it about? | |
|
No Picture
kev Average |
#20 by kev fitzgerald at Mar 7, 1998 at 5:17 PM EST |
| hmmm I love this song. the melody, the words ... I love it | |
|
No Picture
birdman Average |
#21 by birdman ethdh at Aug 23, 2001 at 8:53 PM EST |
| popperoski, not sure whether Vedder said the song was about Joey R. or not. But even if it was, that's irrelevant mate. One must interpret lyrics by themselved alone, nothing else. Just what's written on the page. Forget what Vedder said, forget what Burton said, forget it was in Big Fish...let's just concentrate on the lyrics. Now, if we do that, its pretty obvious its about the speaker's father. He dies in a car crash; he was pretty authoritative. The song is set at the guys funeral, and as the big, church, oak doors open, the speaker fronts a long road ahead of him. Metaphorically, its his life awaiting him...he knows that his father left him a few rusty signs along the way (ie tips on how to live well), and if he does well maybe one day he'll see his father again (ie in heaven; hence the goodbye only for now). | |
|
No Picture
chris Average |
#22 by chris jenko at Mar 18, 2004 at 8:05 AM EST |
| inspired by the motion picture 'Big Fish' its themes are very similar to those in the movie | |
|
No Picture
Mike Average |
#23 by Mike Murphy at Apr 28, 2006 at 8:42 AM EST |
| 'Tidal waves don’t beg forgiveness Crashed and on their way' means something huge and awesome doesnt say im sorry for being the way i am 'Father he enjoyed collisions; others walked away' the man enjoyed helping people who were in troubled times even though others said forget it im leaving 'A snowflake falls in may.' means that its different for someone to be the way he acted 'And the doors are open now as the bells are ringing out Cause the man of the hour is taking his final bow Goodbye for now. ' the church bells are ringing, and saying goodbye because he is passed away, and they will see him in the afterlife 'Nature has its own religion; gospel from the land' nature doesnt go by any rules, it takes people when they are ready to go, even if they are as significant as this man is 'Father ruled by long division, young men they pretend Old men comprehend. 'this man is old enough to comprehend what someone talks about, because he has been through it all, whereas the young men pretend to know in order to show that they can think as well as others, even though they do not have have the experience 'And the sky breaks at dawn; shedding light upon this town They’ll all come ‘round Cause the man of the hour is taking his final bow Goodbye for now. ' everyone wants to say goodbye to the old man that has passed away, and everyone knows him, so they came to say goodbye 'And the road The old man paved' the oldman paved the road becuase he has done so much in his life that he can say hes done it all 'The broken seams along the way The rusted signs, left just for me He was guiding me, love, his own way' the broken seams are spots where the boy should learn to fill in after the man has left, and the rusted signs say that he told the boy what to do when he was gone, and taught his lessons in life about how to live wow that was in depth, sorry for spelling errors, its 3 am :( | |
|
No Picture
Master Shaïtan Wanna Be |
#24 by Master Shaïtan at Jul 7, 2006 at 8:37 AM EST |
| Big Fish is probably my favorite movie...ed did wrote it for it. it basically about how they guys father bassically tought life lessons through his stories even though most of the details were lies. "and the road the old man paved, broken seams along the way, the risted signs left just for me, he was guiding me love his one way." and the father dies at the end hense the chorus "cause the man of the hour is taking, his final bow, goodbye for now." | |
|
No Picture
Joshua Wanna Be |
#25 by Joshua Osprey at Dec 20, 2006 at 5:54 PM EST |
| true that | |
Top 7 Pearl Jam Guitar Tabs
Popular Guitar Tabs