"Bu$hleaguer" is a song by the rock group Pearl Jam off of their 2002 album, Riot Act. It also appears as a B-side on the European, Australian, and UK versions of the "I Am Mine" single. The song is a commentary on President George W. Bush. The song's baseball metaphors are possibly a reference to Bush’s tenure as managing partner of the Texas Rangers.
"Bu$hleaguer" features music written by guitarist Stone Gossard and lyrics co-written by Gossard and lead singer Eddie Vedder. Gossard came up with the line "blackout weaves its way through the city" while Vedder wrote the rest of the song's lyrics. Stone Gossard on the song:
At many shows during Pearl Jam's 2003 North American tour, Vedder performed "Bu$hleaguer" with a rubber mask of Bush, wearing it at the beginning of the song and then typically hanging it on a mike stand to allow him to sing. The band made news when it was reported that several fans left after Vedder had "impaled" the Bush mask on his mike stand at the band's Denver, Colorado show.
Following a performance of the song at Pearl Jam's April 30, 2003 show in Uniondale, New York, the band was met with boos from the crowd and chants of "U-S-A." Vedder responded by defending his right to free speech and the band followed with a performance of The Clash's "Know Your Rights".
A performance of "Bu$hleaguer" can be found on the DVD Live at the Showbox. A performance of the song mixed from various dates is also included on the DVD Live at the Garden as one of the Special Features.
