"Alive" is the debut single by American rock band Pearl Jam. It was released on July 7, 1991, 51 days before the release of the band's debut album, Ten, on which "Alive" appears. Written by guitarist Stone Gossard, the song originated as an instrumental titled "Dollar Short" and was included on a demo tape circulated in hopes of finding a singer for the group.

Vocalist Eddie Vedder obtained a copy of the tape and wrote lyrics that describe a somewhat fictionalized account of the time when he was told that the man he thought was his father was not actually his biological parent.

"Alive" charted at number 16 in the United Kingdom and number nine in Australia. It was the first Pearl Jam song to receive a certification from the British Phonographic Industry, going Silver in August 2018 for sales and streams of over 200,000. It also reached the top 20 in Belgium, Ireland, the Netherlands, and New Zealand.

The single was available only through import in the United States, so it was not able to chart on the Billboard Hot 100. However, the song did peak at number 16 on the Album Rock Tracks chart and number 18 on the Modern Rock Tracks chart.

Remixed versions of the song were included on Pearl Jam's 2004 greatest hits album, Rearviewmirror (Greatest Hits 1991–2003), and the 2009 Ten reissue.

Lyrics

"Son," she said, "have I got a little story for you

What you thought was your daddy was nothing but a

While you were sitting home alone at age thirteen

Your real daddy was dying

Sorry you didn't see him, but I'm glad we talked"

Oh, I, oh I'm still alive

Hey, I, oh I'm still alive

Hey, I, oh I'm still alive

Hey, oh

While she walks slowly across a young man's room

She said, "I'm ready for you"

Why I can't remember anything to this very day

'Cept the look, the look

Oh, you know where, now I can't see I just stare

I, I'm still alive

Hey, I, oh, I'm still alive

Hey, I, oh, I'm still alive

Hey, I, oh, I'm still alive, yeah

Ooh yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, oh, ooh

"Is something wrong", she said, of course there is

"You're still alive," she said, oh, and do I deserve to be?

Is that the question?

And if so, if so who answers?

Who answers?

I, oh I'm still alive

Hey, I, oh I'm still alive

Yeah, I, oh I'm still alive

Yeah, I

Ooh, I'm still alive!

Yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah!

Ooh yeah, ooh ooh

Ooh yeah, yeah yeah yeah