Comfortable Disappearance

This is one of my favorite Pearl Jam songs, and I was fortunate enough to hear it played when Dana and I saw them recently, here in Washington.

I try to live my life in a way that I don’t regret things I’ve done in the past, which is what Ed talks about on this song. Clearly, in this song something pretty bad as been done, but I think it speaks to other instances in our lives as well. This is not to say one shouldn’t learn from past mistakes, but regretting them will get you know where. Or, as Ed says, “You can spend your time redigesting past regrets - makes much more sense to live in the present tense.” Well said Ed.

“Present Tense” by Pearl Jam originally appeared on No Code:

do you see the way that tree bends?
does it inspire?
leaning out to catch the sun’s rays
a lesson to be applied
are you getting something out of this all encompassing trip?
you can spend your time alone, redigesting past regrets, oh
or you can come to terms and realize
you’re the only one who can’t forgive yourself, oh
makes much more sense to live in the present tense
have you ideas on how this life ends?
checked your hands and studied the lines
have you the belief that the road ahead ascends off into the light?
seems that needlessly it’s getting harder
to find an approach and a way to live
are we getting something out of this all-encompassing trip?
you can spend your time alone redigesting past regrets, oh
or you can come to terms and realize
you’re the only one who cannot forgive yourself, oh
makes much more sense to live in the present tense