Nothingman is a track by Pearl Jam from their album Vitalogy, released in 1994. According to bassist Jeff Ament, the song was almost entirely written in a single rehearsal session. He brought the chord progression to the band, and Vedder immediately started singing. The lyrics discuss the transience of love and the importance of personal choice. The term nothingman is a reflection on how actions or the lack thereof can define a person.
Once divided, nothing left to subtract Some words when spoken can't be taken back Walks on his own with thoughts he can't help thinking Future's above, but in the past he's slow and sinking Caught a bolt of lightning, cursed the day he let it go
Nothingman, nothingman Isn't it something? Nothingman
She once believed in every story he had to tell One day she stiffened, took the other side Empty stares from each corner of a shared prison cell One just escapes, one's left inside the well And he who forgets will be destined to remember oh oh oh oh
Nothingman, nothingman Isn't it something? Nothingman Oh, she don't want him (she don't want him) Oh, she won't feed him, after he's flown away Oh, into the sun, yeah into the sun Burn, burn, burn burn
Nothingman, nothingman Isn't it something? Nothingman Nothingman, nothingman Coulda been something, nothingman