Given to Fly is a song by the Grunge band Pearl Jam. Featuring lyrics written by vocalist Eddie Vedder and music written by guitarist Mike McCready.Given to Fly was released to radio on December 22, 1997, as the first single from the band’s fifth studio album, Yield (1998).
Given to Fly proved to be the album’s most popular single. The song topped the US Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks chart and eventually peaked at number 21 on the Billboard Hot 100. Worldwide, the single charted well, reaching number five in Finland, number six in Norway and Spain, and the top 20 in Australia, Iceland, Ireland, New Zealand and the United Kingdom.
The song was included on Pearl Jam’s 2004 greatest hits album, rearviewmirror (Greatest Hits 1991–2003).
Tracklist:
- Given to Fly (Mike McCready, Eddie Vedder)
- Pilate (Jeff Ament)
- Leatherman (Vedder)
Given to Fly by Pearl Jam 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 rose up, set him down on his knee
A wave came crashing like a fist to the jaw
Delivered him wings, “Hey, look at him now”
Arms wide open with the sea as his floor
Oh, power, oh
He’s flying
Whole
High, wide, oh
He floated back down ’cause he wanted to share
His key to the locks on the chains he saw everywhere
But first he was stripped, and then he was stabbed
By faceless men, well, fuckers
He still stands
And he still gives his love, he just gives it away
The love he receives is the love that is saved
And sometimes is seen a strange spot in the sky
A human being that was given to fly
Flying
Oh-oh
High, flying
Oh-oh
He’s flying
Oh, high
Oh-oh-oh, oh-oh
Songwriters: Eddie Vedder, Mike Mccready