Pearl Jam - Yellow Ledbetter Lyrics Meaning

The song Yellow Ledbetter was written by lead singer Eddie Vetter and the band's lead guitarist. There are many different opinioned meanings of the song but the only true way to know would be ask the guys who wrote it. From what I know about the band and Eddie Vetter, the song is actually about one of vetters old time friends brothers who was in the military and the lyrics, "Can you see them? out on the porch, yeah, but they don't wave, But I see them,round the front way yeah yea, and I know and I know, I don't wanna stay. Make me cry." are talking about the letterman bringing the latter saying that the member of the family was killed in the war but the people on the porch don't wave because they know if he is coming to them that its not good news so they don't wave. and as far as the title goes it is composed of two thing. The letters are yellow which is "Yellow" Ledbetter, and Vetters friends brothers name was Tim Ledbetter which is where Yellow "Ledbetter" comes from making "Yellow Ledbetter". Eddie Vettter is know and is also in a class of singers know mainly because of the way he mumbles as he is singing. Vetter never keeps the same lyrics on stage as when the song was recorded so to understand what I am talking about, listen to the studio version that is on an album. also listen to their live concert on youtube called Yellow Ledbetter, Live At the Garden. In that video he talks about never seeing his brother alive again but those are just modified lyrics Vetter uses off the top of his head but have nothing to do with the real song meaning