Pearl Jam released the beautiful “Elderly Woman Behind The Counter In A Small Town” on their second studio album “Vs.” in 1993. The song was written by the band’s frontman Eddie Vedder, who decided to give the catchy song an unusually long name. In this article, we will dive into the meaning, story, and legacy behind one of Pearl Jam’s most loved songs.
The Meaning of the Song
“Elderly Woman Behind The Counter In A Small Town” is a song about two old lovers who happen to meet each other again in the small town they grew up in. One lover – the older woman – stayed in the small town her entire life, while the other lover moved on many years ago. The woman gradually recognizes her old flame, but is too frightened to say anything. In return, the old flame doesn’t seem to recognize the old woman at all.
It makes the old woman realize her small-town life brought forth few memories. As a result, she still recognizes an old flame from so many years ago. The old flame, however, who moved on from the small town all those many years ago, has built up a substantial amount of memories. So much, in fact, that the old flame doesn’t recognize the old woman anymore.
The difference in life experience seems to make the old woman insecure, and as a result, she is too ashamed to reveal her identity to the old flame. The inability to overcome such fears seems to be a common occurrence in the life of the old woman – as is revealed in the pre-choruses of the song. The old woman always wished she had to courage to leave the small town, but she was never capable of actually doing so. As a result, the boring predictability of the small town has become her faith too.
The chorus reveals that the woman seems to realize some of the love and memories she still feels do not last for everyone, as they seem to have faded away in the old flame she thought she shared it with.
The song is told from the perspective of the old woman. Given the song’s title, “Elderly Woman Behind The Counter In A Small Town”, it can be assumed she works behind the counter in a small town shop/cafe. Her old flame, who for whatever reason happens to be in the small town again, enters the shop. That’s where the song starts.
The Inspiration Behind the Song
Eddie Vedder was inspired to write the song after an observation he made about people living in small towns. “Small towns fascinate me,” Vedder said. “You either struggle like hell to get out, to some people want to stay ’cause then they’re the big fish in the small pond’, and then others just kind of get stuck there.”
Vedder wrote the song in a small room in a house in San Francisco. Pearl Jam stayed there to record their second album VS. After waking up one day, Vedder played some basic chords and reportedly wrote the song in 20 minutes.
“Elderly Woman Behind The Counter In A Small Town” is an unusually long title name for a song. It’s especially unusual given the fact that the ‘behind the counter’ part of the title is never mentioned in the song. Vedder actually gave the song this unusually long title after someone remarked to him that all the songs on Ten (Pearl Jam’s debut album) feature just 1 or 2 words.
Nowadays, the song is often shortened to “Elderly Woman” or “Small Town”.
The Legacy of Elderly Woman Behind The Counter In A Small Town
“Elderly Woman Behind The Counter In A Small Town” was released as part of Pearl Jam’s second studio album VS. The song was never released as a single, but nevertheless charted on the mainstream rock charts.
Over the years, “Elderly Woman Behind The Counter In A Small Town” became an absolute fan favorite. It’s among the most-played Pearl Jam live songs, where the crowd often sings the song together with Eddie Vedder.
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I just want to scream….helllooooooooo…..my God it’s been so long never dreamed you’d return, but now here you are and here I am….hearts and thoughts they fade….awaaaaayyy………
Absolutely awesome singing that back to them live!!!