Why ‘Future Days’ by Pearl Jam Became Joel and Ellie’s Song in The Last of Us

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From its debut episode onwards, Gustavo Santaolalla’s score offers tranquility amidst an unsettling apocalypse, contrasting with other tracks that evoke memories of the world lost to the Cordyceps virus. The HBO series introduces numerous new songs not found in the original video games, while preserving classic tunes that carry significant narrative weight.

One tune that fits this description is “Future Days,” a track from Pearl Jam, which came out in 2013 and belongs to their rock repertoire.

Why “Future Days” by Pearl Jam Is Important in The Last of Us

“Future Days” Becomes Joel and Ellie’s Song

In the narrative of The Last of Us, “Future Days” is informally recognized as Joel and Ellie’s special song. This melody was initially introduced within the storyline in the game or show. Significantly, it’s the first tune that Joel sings for Ellie. On her 15th birthday in the series, Joel presents Ellie with a guitar adorned with a moth, inspired by her artwork. As part of her present, she asks him to play and sing a song, reminiscent of his earlier aspirations to be a musician.

For Joel, this instance marks a significant step out of his comfort zone, as he seems somewhat bashful when revealing his vulnerable side before an enthusiastic Ellie in the series. However, as he continues to sing, he gradually becomes more at ease. In the video game, The Last of Us Part II, Joel is seen taking the initiative and singing for Ellie to keep his promise of teaching her guitar playing skills.

The song “Future Days” has become strongly linked to the TV show The Last of Us, increasing its fame, and it was specifically selected as the anthem for Joel and Ellie because the lyrics resonate deeply with their relationship. The lyrics portray a man declaring profound affection, whether romantic or platonic, for someone significant in his life, expressing the immense sorrow he would feel should they be lost (“If I ever were to lose you / I’d surely lose myself”). He also acknowledges that this other person has made him a better individual (“Everything I have found dear / I’ve not found by myself”) and envisions a promising future for them together (“And I believe ’cause I can see / Our future days / Days of you and me”).

How The Last of Us Explains the Song’s Existence in the Canon Timeline

“Future Days” Still Exists on The Last of Us, Despite Having Never Been Released

Since the game’s apocalypse started in 2013, while the show’s began in 2003, the song was never played because it was released after the show’s timeline. However, the profound impact that the song has on Joel and Ellie in ‘The Last of Us’ is so potent that the series seems to bend time to incorporate it into the storyline.

In The Last of Us game, we don’t get an explanation for where the song comes from within the storyline. Yet, the emotional impact of Joel singing those specific lyrics to Ellie is so potent that the reasoning behind when it was sung becomes almost irrelevant. Instead, fans are left to entertain their own theories as to why this song exists in the game. One could speculate that Pearl Jam had already released the song a decade earlier on one of their albums, or perhaps one of the musicians in Jackson wrote the song, or maybe Pearl Jam continued making music even through the apocalypse. The idea that they might have survived and kept creating music is unlikely, but it’s a comforting thought knowing that music can endure tough times. Another touching theory is that Joel himself composed the song, which is why it holds such significance for Ellie to this day.

The Season 2 finale of The Last of Us premieres Sunday at 9 PM ET on HBO.

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2025-05-20 04:09