Jeremy

About this song

The song draws its main inspiration from a newspaper article about a 15-year-old boy named Jeremy Wade Delle, from Richardson, Texas, who took his own life in front of his English classmates at Richardson High School in January 1991. Vedder said he felt the need to take that small article and give the act more importance. He also drew on a student he knew from his junior high school in San Diego, California, who did something similar by shooting up an oceanography room.

What it's about

The song centers on a troubled young person who takes his own life, and Vedder has said it considers how such an act is quickly reduced to a small newspaper paragraph while the world simply goes on. Vedder has said the song's true meaning is tied to these real events, and that he thinks of Jeremy whenever he sings it.

Fun facts

• Sampled in 1 other song, like “COME 2 ATTENTION by §E▲ ▓F D▓G§”.
• Covered 2 times, including “Jeremy by Vitamin String Quartet”.
• Written by Jeff Ament and Eddie Vedder.
• Produced by Pearl Jam and Rick Parashar.
• Recorded at London Bridge Studios.