"I Am Mine" was written by vocalist Eddie Vedder in a hotel room near Virginia Beach, Virginia before the band's first show after the Roskilde tragedy in 2000.[2] Vedder said that he wrote the song to "reassure myself that this is going to be all right."[3]
It seems like it has all the elements this band is known for: strong lyrics, strong hook, and a good sense of melody. It wasn't a really tough decision to have that be the starting point for the record.[4]
Lyrics
The lyrics for "I Am Mine" tackle existential matters. At the band's April 8, 2003, show in New Orleans, Louisiana at the UNO Lakefront Arena, Vedder stated, "This song is about what's inside you. You own it, and you have the freedom for it to come out. It's allowed to come out."[3] At the band's July 8, 2003, show in New York City at Madison Square Garden, Vedder stated, "This song's about personal safety, and the feeling of being secure, and even free."[5]
Release and reception
"I Am Mine" was released to several radio formats on September 23, 2002,[6] while the physical release of the single was issued on October 8, 2002.[7] The various versions of the "I Am Mine" single include the previously unreleased B-sides "Down" and "Undone", both of which can also be found on the compilation album Lost Dogs (2003), with the latter in an alternate version. "I Am Mine" was the most successful song from Riot Act on the American rock charts. The song peaked at number 43 on the BillboardHot 100,[8] number seven on the BillboardMainstream Rock Tracks chart,[9] and number six on the BillboardModern Rock Tracks chart.[10] In Canada, the song reached the top 10 on the Canadian Singles Chart.[11] Outside North America, "I Am Mine" reached the top 30 in the United Kingdom and peaked at number 12 in Australia, where it was certified gold.[12][13][14] The track reached the top 50 in New Zealand, the top 40 in Ireland, the top 30 in Sweden, the top 20 in Finland, and the top 10 in Italy, Norway, and Portugal.[13][15][16]
Music video
The music video for "I Am Mine" was directed by James Frost.[17] The video was filmed at Seattle, Washington's Chop Suey club in September 2002.[18] The video consists of a filmed live performance of the band rather than a conceptual video. It was one of five videos shot at the club to promote Riot Act (including "Save You", "Love Boat Captain", "Thumbing My Way", and "1/2 Full"). Up to that point, the band had not made any music videos since 1998's "Do the Evolution". The video was released in October 2002.[19]
^"New Pearl Jam takes on minimalism, Bush". Yale Daily News. November 15, 2002. Retrieved May 31, 2020. But the real standout here is 'I am Mine,' a swirling folk-rock epic that is easily Pearl Jam's best song in years.
^I Am Mine (European CD single liner notes). Pearl Jam. Epic Records. 2002. EPC 673176 1.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
^I Am Mine (European 7-inch single sleeve). Pearl Jam. Epic Records. 2002. EPC 673176 7.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
^I Am Mine (US 7-inch single sleeve). Pearl Jam. Epic Records. 2002. 34 79809, ZSS 79809.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
^I Am Mine (Australian CD single liner notes). Pearl Jam. Epic Records. 2002. 673176.2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
^I Am Mine (European maxi-single liner notes). Pearl Jam. Epic Records. 2002. EPC 673176 2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
^I Am Mine (UK CD single liner notes). Pearl Jam. Epic Records. 2002. 673308 2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
