Given to Fly – He floated back down because he wanted to share. #MusicisLife #TedTocksCovers #PearlJam #EddieVedder #MikeMcCready #LedZeppelin #MichaelJFox #SweetLittleBand #LullabyBabyTrio #Grungeria

Every year Ted Tocks Covers features Eddie Vedder on his birthday. Vedder is one of about ten artists I make a point of honouring in this way. He just strikes me as such a cool guy. Every time I dig deeper into his library of music, I discover more interesting connections and stories of inspiration. I guess it is because he just puts himself out there. In short, he was ‘Given to Fly’.

Pearl Jam fans have a snowstorm in Seattle to thank for ‘Given to Fly’. Guitarist Mike McCready was snowed in, in his condo, so he began working on a basic repetitive riff that he admits is loosely based on ‘Going to California’ by Led Zeppelin.

It was snowing here in Seattle, which it rarely does, and so they kind of shut down all the streets and I couldn’t get my car out of the driveway. And I have a Volvo and you’d think those would be able to drive in the snow, but no, it wasn’t going anywhere, so I was kind of stuck in my condo. And I wrote that riff [for “Given to Fly”] and the “Faithfull” riff that day.”
Mike McCready

As he was working out the chord progression, McCready imagined a wave on the ocean starting out small and then getting larger and larger until it eventually breaks. Typical to the Pearl Jam writing process, he then gave the guitar track to Eddie Vedder who built on McCready’s vision. He saw things in much the same way as his songwriting partner, but he imagined it in the form of a storyboard depicting someone who was struggling. The individual decides to escape for a period in order to gather their thoughts. During a period of introspection, they have a revelation, and rather than retreating further, they choose to share their newfound wisdom. At first, they are not well received but through perseverance and passion they spread positivity to whoever chooses to listen. Some could say it is vaguely autobiographical, but according to Eddie Vedder it is a fable with a message that anyone who wishes to take the time, can grab a hold of and feel empowered. Here are his thoughts on the uplifting song.

[I imagined the song as] a 20-page cardboard (children’s) book with a line on each page and a picture to go with it. It’s a fable, that’s all. The music almost gives you this feeling of flight, and I really love singing the part at the end, which is all about rising above anybody’s comments about what you do and still giving your love away. You know? Not becoming bitter and reclusive, not condemning the whole world because of the actions of a few.”
Eddie Vedder

Here are the lyrics. As one reads and listens, they can feel the inspiration that both Mike McCready and Eddie Vedder drew from in their respective vision. Whether it be a wave on the ocean or a story book of profound affirmations, the power of possibility emerges.

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 me 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
High, flying
Oh, oh
High, flying
Oh, oh
He’s flying
Oh, high
Oh, oh, oh, oh
Eddie Vedder

‘Given to Fly’ was released to radio as a single almost exactly 24 years ago, on December 22, 1997. The official single release occurred in early January before Pearl Jam’s fifth album ‘Yield’ hit the streets in February of 1998. It became a hit on both the mainstream and modern rock charts. Here is a fantastic summation of the song from an ‘AllMusic’ review.

“Given to Fly” is “a soaring epic that goes a long way in conveying Yield’s majestic splendor. Front man Eddie Vedder narrates the tale of a misunderstood, near-Messianic youth in front of hushed verses that explode into stratospheric choruses.”
AllMusic

Soon after its release ‘Given to Fly’ was criticized in some circles for its structural similarity to ‘Going to California’ by Led Zeppelin. Here is one veiled compliment from Tom Lanham of Entertainment Weekly.

This latest PJ perambulator not only apes vintage Page/Plant latticework but also blatantly nicks the entire melody line from Led Zeppelin’s delicate ‘Going to California’ …Still, the song builds into such an emotional crescendo that it almost shakes its historical shackles. Almost.”
Tom Lanham

Here is ‘Going to California’ for good measure.

Mike McCready offers no apology. He doubles down on the fact the Jimmy Page exists as a major inspiration.

It’s probably some sort of rip off of it I’m sure…Whether it’s conscious or unconscious, but that was definitely one of the songs I was listening to for sure. Zeppelin was definitely an influence on that.”
Mike McCready

Let’s not forget that Led Zeppelin are famous for their interpretations of some of the biggest blues artists that came before them. The world of music is an evolution and what we see here are continuing chapters.

Speaking of the chapters in a story, here is a good one related to a big-name fan. After Pearl Jam was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame by David Letterman they performed ‘Given to Fly’ as part of their set. Watch as Eddie Vedder takes a moment to pay tribute to a fan of the band…Michael J. Fox, who is on record as saying that the music of Pearl Jam has been therapeutic for him in his ongoing battle with Parkinson’s disease. A special moment, and you can feel the emotion from both the sender and the recipient.

I was reminded of this when I heard this interview. This is Tom Power on Q, interviewing Michael J. Fox after he released his book ‘No Time Like the Future: An Optimist Considers His Own Mortality’.

https://www.cbc.ca/listen/cbc-podcasts/1025-the-q-interview

In this interview Michael J. Fox is incredibly open about his challenges. It zeroes in on the difficult time he endured during 2018 as the ravages of Parkinson’s went to another level. He manages to blend an element of humour into his candid portrayal with lines like this.

I was at a resort in Turks and Caicos, and I happened to run into Keith Richards, and I realized that Keith Richards looked better than I felt.”
Michael J. Fox

While this strikes one as funny, it lays the groundwork for the interview. Essentially, Michael J. Fox spent a great portion of 2018 learning how to walk again after major spine surgery. While in recovery and therapy for that, he fell and broke his arm. The issues began to compound, and he was faced with several issues that challenged his typically optimistic approach.

As Tom Power captures through the interview process, this is a story of a resilience, but also the story of a man who questions his eternal optimism. But, in his refreshingly honesty candor, Michael J. Fox reveals a degree of truth. Between carefully timed public appearance that make inspiring video and sound clips portraying wonderful moments of personal empowerment, there are struggles. This interview unveils that reality in a startling way.

If optimism is my faith, I fear I am losing my religion.”
Michael J. Fox

And somehow through it all he manages to come through as a guiding light, because at the root of his personality is a positive person.

I share this, because it captures the essence of what Mike McCready and Eddie Vedder were attempting to get across to their audience almost a quarter century ago. The true test of great music is in its ability to stand the test of time both in its quality of sound and in its message. In a year where we are celebrating 50 years of Led Zeppelin IV’s brilliance, we are also paying homage to a song that was inspired by its brilliance. This is why music matters. Because, when the message contained within a song truly resonates with an individual, we are all ‘Given to Fly’.

While searching for versions of ‘Given to Fly’ I was overwhelmed by the many options that presented Pearl Jam live. The song literally soars in the live space.

I discovered two instrumental versions that portray the song as baby lullabies. Here is Sweet Little Band from 2010.

This is the Lullaby Baby Trio from 2020.

Before I sign off, enjoy this cover by a band called Grungeria. A solid version. They stay true to the music and the singer nails Eddie Vedder’s vocals. If you love bands of the grunge era, you will enjoy this band’s cover versions of several artists.

When it comes to Eddie Vedder Ted Tocks Covers has a confession to make. Back in the early ‘90s when Pearl Jam burst onto the music scene at the forefront of the grunge movement, I looked upon them with a contemptible wave of the hand. I thought they and the rest of the acts that emerged would be a flash in the pan and I barely gave them a second look. Part of the reason for my dismissive approach was the fact that I was getting married and over the next decade I became more focused on raising a family than pursuing music interests. I wasn’t able to devote the time to look deeper. On occasion, I raised an eyebrow when I kept seeing Eddie Vedder and/or Pearl Jam appear on stage with some of my favourite acts. Jamming and recording with Neil Young who they affectionately called Uncle Neil. Covering The Who and The Beatle, who they frequently list among their biggest influences. Then there were appearances on stage with Robert Plant and Tom Petty and performing a cover of Warren Zevon’s ‘Keep Me in Your Heart’ on David Letterman. Eddie Vedder and Pearl Jam were everywhere, and they received endorsements from every artist I grew up listening to. Maybe there is something to this? I should explore this Eddie Vedder character? Just maybe, this Pearl Jam really does have some substance. It was a combination of three circumstances that brought me to the right side of this discovery. I believe it was the spring of 1999 when my friend Rich invited Heather and I to a book launch hosted by the one and only Ray Manzarek, the legendary keyboard player for the Doors. I was less than 20 feet away from the man when he told the story of the Doors reunion at their Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction gig. He relayed the story of how playing behind Eddie Vedder as their vocalist reinvigorated his desire to perform live again. You could see the sparkle in his eye when he told the story, smiling the whole time…Man! What a cool guy. This gave me some more pause for thought. Over the next couple of years, my oldest son Sebastian began to delve into his own musical world and sure enough, who should emerge but Pearl Jam. Man! Eddie Vedder is not going away any time soon. The final piece of the puzzle was when Sebastian shared the stark brilliance of the ‘Into the Wild’ soundtrack. It was here that I became hooked. I couldn’t stop listening to this album. It was on a continuous loop. I was late to the party, but I got there and like Joe Walsh said, “It’s hard to leave when you can’t find the door.” The truth is, I am not even looking for the door because figuratively, if Eddie Vedder is in the room, I want to stay and hear what he has got to say.

So, that is my brief Eddie Vedder story. Through his lyrics, and the delivery, by virtue of his charisma and the prowess of his Pearl Jam brethren, he literally brings music alive and takes the listener to a better place.

Here is a list of Ted Tocks Covers features that have included Eddie Vedder and Pearl Jam.

Masters of War

You’ve Got to Hide Your Love Away

I’m Waiting for the Man