Just Breathe (Pearl Jam song)

"Just Breathe" is a song by the American rock band Pearl Jam. It was released on October 31, 2009 as the second single from the band's ninth studio album Backspacer (2009). The song was triggered by a chord from "Tuolumne", an instrumental from Eddie Vedder's soundtrack for the 2007 film Into the Wild.^[1]

"Just Breathe"
Single by Pearl Jam
from the album Backspacer
B-side	"Got Some"
Released	October 31, 2009
Recorded	2009
Genre	Folk rock
Length	3:34
Label	Monkeywrench
Songwriter(s)	Eddie Vedder
Producer(s)	Brendan O'Brien
Pearl Jam singles chronology
"The Fixer" (2009) "Got Some" / "Just Breathe" (2009) "Amongst the Waves" (2010)
Music video
"Just Breathe" on YouTube

The song spent 13 weeks at number one on Billboard''s Adult Alternative Airplay chart; in 2021, it was named the 14th-most successful song in the chart's history.^[2][3] It also peaked at number six on the Alternative Airplay chart, becoming the band's highest-charting second single since "Wishlist" in 1998.^[4] In Europe, the song was a top-10 hit in Portugal and a top 20 hit in the Netherlands.

Background

The first chord of the song comes from "Tuolumne", an instrumental from Eddie Vedder's soundtrack for the 2007 film Into the Wild. What became the chorus for "Just Breathe" was originally intended by Vedder as the song's bridge, but was changed because producer Brendan O'Brien preferred it that way.^[5]

On January 22, 2014, "Just Breathe" was certified platinum in digital sales by the RIAA.^[6] It is the band's first platinum-certified song.

The song has been featured in several TV shows and movies, including Kodachrome, Castle, One Tree Hill, Brothers & Sisters, Life as We Know It, The Blacklist, The Night Shift and iZombie in addition to the documentaries Buck and Gleason.

Track listing

All lyrics written by Eddie Vedder.

CD (UK), 7" vinyl single, and digital download (UK)

1. "Got Some" (music: Jeff Ament) – 3:01
2. "Just Breathe" (music: Vedder) – 3:34

Digital download (Australia)

1. "Got Some" – 3:03
2. "Just Breathe" – 3:36
3. "Just Breathe" (Live at Austin City Limits video) – 3:52

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (2009–2010)	Peak position
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[7]	30
Canada Rock (Billboard)[8]	1
Croatia (ARC Top 100)[9]	80
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[10]	14
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[11]	18
Portugal (AFP)[12]	9
US Billboard Hot 100[13]	78
US Adult Pop Airplay (Billboard)[14]	20
US Hot Rock & Alternative Songs (Billboard)[15]	5

Year-end charts

Chart (2010)	Position
Canadian Hot 100[16]	95

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil)[17]	Platinum	60,000‡
Italy (FIMI)[18]	Gold	15,000‡
United States (RIAA)[19]	Platinum	1,000,000‡
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Covers

Willie Nelson released his version of the song on the 2012 album Heroes, as well as a promotional single.

Jennifer Warnes released her version of the song on the 2018 album Another Time, Another Place.^[20]

Miley Cyrus released a version of the song on YouTube in 2020, as part of the MTV Unplugged Presents Miley Cyrus Backyard Sessions.^[21]

Dave Matthews covered the song solo on September 2, 2023, as part of the encore of Dave Matthews Band's show at the Gorge Amphitheater, in tribute to Jimmy Buffett and other friends who “breathed their last this week”. He continued to play the song during the band's 2023 fall tour and into their 2024 summer tour.^[22]