Pearl Jam Better Man meaning

The song talks about the complicated family relationship that his mother suffered with her supposed father, who he would later find out was his stepfather. It alludes to his mother as a subdued woman who endures situations of abuse because she cannot find a better man.

Curious facts on Better Man

It was the eleventh song from the third studio album Vitalogy from 1994. The song was performed live for the first time in San Diego, California, with his previous band called Bad Radio. It was initially rejected by Pearl Jam for being considered a pop song but was later recorded for the album Vitalogy. Rolling Stone rated it as a 'haunting ballad about a woman trapped in a bad relationship.'