Rival Lyrics
[Verse 1]
All my rivals will see what I have in store
My gun
I've been harborin' fleets in this reservoir
The red sun
And this nation's about to explode
[Verse 2]
Your disciples are riddled with metaphors
Well hung (yuh)
Better pony up and bring both your barrelfulls
Not one
As we release this unspeakable toll (Woo!)
[Bridge]
And I stand my ground
All alone around the world (and I stand my ground)
[Guitar Solo]
[Verse 3]
How's our mother to damn these contributors
With mud?
How will the man who made chemicals difficult
Shed blood?
How's our father supposed to be told? Woo!
(I don't)
About
Written by Stone Gossard, this song was originally titled “Growing Up Gay in Littleton”.
When performed live at Pinkpop 2000, Vedder states:
“In America, what we do for fun, because we’re kind of an advanced culture, we have some really kind of futuristic ways of handling our overpopulation problem. And that is, we give each other guns and we all kill one another, ‘cause it’s fuckin’ fun! Anyways, here’s a couple songs about Americans killing one another, this one’s called ‘Rival’”
I believe this song was influenced by the Columbine Massacre in 1999.
This track was recorded using binaural recording techniques, using two microphones to create sensation for the listener of actually being in the room with the performers or instruments.
Q&A
Find answers to frequently asked questions about the song and explore its deeper meaning
- 1.Breakerfall
- 2.Gods’ Dice
- 3.Evacuation
- 4.Light Years
- 6.Thin Air
- 8.Of the Girl
- 9.Grievance
- 10.Rival
- 11.Sleight of Hand
- 12.Soon Forget
- 13.Parting Ways
