Pearl Jam with Jack Irons as drummer
I just listened to The Doors sing about a mosquito in Ange’s post and it reminded me of this song by Pearl Jam. I thought I’d written it up before and learned it was for SLS post looking for an animal 6 years or so (time flies!) so here it is again. It’s a GREAT song, a little dark. Below, you will see other interpretations of what the red mosquito is. For me, it feels like addiction. Or chronic mental illness. I do know I love the song and the entire album it is on. One of my favorite albums of theirs.
Per wikipedia: “Red Mosquito” is from, “No Code,” which is the fourth studio album by the American rock band Pearl Jam, released on August 27, 1996. No Code was the band’s first album with drummer Jack Irons, who had joined the band as Vitalogy was being completed. The lyrics to “Red Mosquito” (per wiki!) were inspired by the events surrounding Pearl Jam’s June 24, 1995 concert at San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park, which happened on the same day Vedder was hospitalized due to food poisoning. Vedder only made it through seven songs and the band was forced to cancel the remaining dates of the short tour that it was on.
Guiness on the PJ discussion boards in 2006 gave the following interpretation:
I had always heard that this song was written after Ed left a show in San Francisco after 8 songs because he had bad food poisoning. Neil Young came out and finished the show with the band…This is a clear reference to the food poisoning. I think the red mosquito is temptation. At this time, the band was fighting with Ticketmaster and really starting to pull away from the mainstream. I believe the devil and the red mosquito represent the temptation to stay mainstream. – I believe the bitten part refers to the fans at the show turning on the band as well as the media backlash for fighting with Ticketmaster and the partial show. In a sense the devil reminding the band that their decision to pull back was not full proof and that they could lose it all. All they would have to do is give into the temptation and keep making the same albums and they could be on top forever. – I believe the slippery hills represent the band’s decision to fight with Ticketmaster and change their sound and pull back. While they felt this was the right decision, the devil is always present – they end the song questioning if they did the right thing. Which ultimately they did, they might not sell as many albums but at least they have never sacrificed their visions for main stream success. As a result they have the most loyal fan base of any band touring today.
McCready’s guitar buzzes like a mosquito.
Red Mosquito
Watched out the window with a red mosquito...
I was not allowed to leave the room...
I saw the sun go down and now it's comin' up...
Somewhere in the time between...
I was bitten...must have been the devil...
He was just payin' me...
A little visit a reminding me of his presence...
Lettin' me know...he's a waitin' for me...
Red man's your neighbor call it behavior...
While you're climbing up slippery hills...
Two steps ahead of him, punctures in your neck...
Hoverin' just above your bed... (2x)
I was bitten...must have been the devil...
He was just paying me...
A little visit, reminding me of his presence...
And lettin' me know...he's a-waitin'...he's a-waitin'...
Up there...yeah...
If I had known then what I now know... (4x)
Songwriters: Eddie Vedder / Jack Irons / Jeff Ament / Mike Mccready / Stone Gossard
When you hear the song, what are your impressions of the red mosquito?
Jim Adams is the host of Song Lyric Sunday. This week Jim wants a song about an insect.
BONUS: Glyn mentioned the original album had 8 album-sized images. Here is a pic of my CD cover and the pictures inside, which I am guessing are the same 8.
Per wiki:
The album package consists of 156 Polaroid photos that unfold into a 2×2 square. The Polaroid photos are seemingly random. One of the photos featured on the front cover is the eyeball of Dennis Rodman, former Chicago Bulls player and friend of the band, while another photo is of Vedder’s foot after he had been stung by a stingray. The pictures, when viewed from afar, blend to form the No Code triangle/eyeball logo that is the theme throughout the album. Later pressings of the CD featured a 1×4 format packaging, losing the hidden message effect. The CD and vinyl came with lyrics printed on the back of replica Polaroids. Only nine Polaroids came in a set, (with a catalog number Suffix of ‘C’ ‘O’ ‘D’ or ‘E’)leaving one to have to obtain another set to accumulate all thirteen songs.
Tao Talk 
Good choice. I wish I kept that Pearl Jam album. It’s getting quite rare now
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Yes you should have. I have it in CD, which probably isn’t very rare? It’s a great album!
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The original vinyl album had 8 art LP sized cards with it.
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Glyn, look at the post again. I added a pic of my CD cover and the cards that were inside.
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Thanks for sharing this again, Lisa. Was Vedder eating some Red Hot Chili Peppers when he got food poisoning in San Francisco?
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lol! May be! Getting sick on tour has generated some good songs. This one and Pink Floyd’s
Comfortably Numb and probably many more.
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I never followed Pearl Jam, so I’m not familiar with the song posted. I did enjoy it, though. It made me think more of mental illness….. and the struggle….
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<3 Marina, glad you enjoyed the song. So much of their music is an immersive experience. Thank you for sharing your thoughts on it.
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Great track Lisa, I am glad my post nudged your memory, Pearl Jam always have powerful music and meaningful lyrics, I haven’t heard this one in a while 💞
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Ange, believe it or not, before I started blogging in 2018, PJ was what I almost exclusively listened to. Glad I brought this track back to you :)
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🙏
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Big fan of Eddie Vedder. Great hearing this song again, Lisa.
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Powerful music and lyrics, Li! ❣️
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Cindy, yes, it is. It is as real as it gets.
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Totes!
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A little dark but a good tune. I agree with your interpretation Lisa.
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This one was one I’d not heard from them before. I like it very much. I hear PJ a lot on the radio but it’s always the same songs over and over until I get tired of them. This was refreshing to hear. :)
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I hear you on overplaying some songs and never playing others. That whole album is excellent.
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I heard this earlier today while I was walking Martha in the park but didn’t comment because I was on my phone. It sounds really tight and good…and I love the origin.
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Glad you vibe with it, Max. Glad you were on a walk with Martha. I drove over to GR this afternoon and went for a bike ride with younger son and granddaughter. It was a perfect day to be outside :)
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Oh it was 80 degrees with a slight Fall feel in the air…perfection!
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<3
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I never really paid attention to the words of this song…the melody is so wonderful I would just hum along. I would say temptation too. (K)
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Always enjoy Pearl Jam. Great reblog!! Perfect for the theme.
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J, when I saw Ange’s post it reminded me. Glad you like PJ :)
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I joke I’m Eddie Vetter’s long lost twin only I’m two days older and not related to him and all. 🤣
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lol J!
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What a brilliant backstory you shared here. I had never heard any of that before- so it was full of revelations. Excellent choice made even better by your narrative.
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V, thanks for the kind comment <3
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I love No Code. Such a textured and variable album. I saw them at Wembley on this tour. It was the fourth time I’d seen them and the first time it felt like they were a legacy band who would last forever rather than the hottest new band in the world.
No Code was such an inspired move. The genius of it was not revealed for some time
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Steve, I like the sounds of legacy band. Do you remember when we were in the middle of Covid and the post you wrote about their new album and how it raised your spirits? Or maybe that’s the way I remember it as your post raised my spirits greatly at that time. Thank you for that <3
I remember falling instantly in love with No Code. It isn't the first album of theirs I did. Binaural is like that also.
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I do remember. Seven O’Clock from Gigaton. It’s still a huge favourite in our house. When Dark Matter came along and everyone was saying “Return to form” I kept thinking “but their last albums as one of their best ever!”
I’m really pleased my Covid period listening posts helped someone else. They helped me enormously
Your posts have a similar balm effect
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I agree with you on letting them be, whatever they sound like they are great to me. Yes they did and I’m glad on the “balm effect” :)
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