Who You Are is a song by Pearl Jam, released on July 30, 1996, as the first single from the band’s fourth studio album, No Code (1996). Featuring lyrics written by vocalist Eddie Vedder and music co-written by drummer Jack Irons and guitarist Stone Gossard.
The song topped the US Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart and the Canadian Alternative 30 chart. It also peaked at number 31 on the Billboard Hot 100, number two on the UK Rock Chart, and reached the top 10 in Australia, Canada, Norway, and Finland, where the song reached number two and became the band’s highest-charting single.
The song was included on Pearl Jam‘s 2004 greatest hits album, Rearviewmirror (Greatest Hits 1991–2003). On Pearl Jam‘s greatest hits album, Who You Are has a slight lyric change. Instead of “circumstance, clapping hands”, it’s “avalanche, falling fast”.
The polyrhythmic drum pattern for the song was inspired by a Max Roach drum solo that Irons heard at a drum shop when he was eight years old. Irons said:
“To turn my drum music into a song is pretty challenging, but the guys have been really supportive of me doing it, and we’ve worked some things into a few songs. Vedder played an electric sitar on the song, giving it an Eastern-influenced sound”.
Regarding the song, Vedder said:
“We realized that we had an opportunity to experiment.”
Vedder has admitted that the choice of Who You Are as the first single for No Code was a “conscious decision” intended to keep the size of the band’s audience down. The single, containing the B-side “Habit” across most regions.
Tracklist:
- Who You Are (Vedder, Gossard, Irons)
- Habit (Vedder)
Pearl Jam
Eddie Vedder: lead vocals, guitar, harmonica, electric sitar
Jeff Ament: bass guitar, vocals
Stone Gossard: guitar, vocals
Jack Irons: drums
Mike McCready: guitar
