The National Institute for Occupational Safety Health’s Respiratory Protection Week 2024 is winding down, highlighting the importance of respiratory protection in the workplace. To that end, the Song of the Week returns with “Breath,” a 1992 deep cut from Pearl Jam off the Singles soundtrack.
The music was written by guitarist Stone Gossard when he was in his previous band Mother Love Bone. Pearl Jam vocalist wrote lyrics for it during the recording of Pearl Jam’s debut album Ten, but the song didn’t make the final cut. Eventually, the band contributed a re-recorded version to the soundtrack of Cameron Crowe’s 1992 movie Singles and it became a fan favorite.
Pearl Jam stopped playing “Breath” live after a 1994 show in Boston, but brought it back a few years later after fans started lobbying for it to return to the setlist. The band only plays it occasionally; so far on their 2024 tour, it has only been played once.
The original recording of the song, called “Breath and a Scream,” was included on the 2009 reissue of Ten.