Critics from AllMusic described it as a "soaring epic," while Entertainment Weekly noted its emotional power despite the obvious Zeppelin parallels.
The song's melody and riff bear a striking resemblance to Led Zeppelin’s "Going to California" . McCready has openly acknowledged this, stating that Zeppelin was a definite influence and jokingly calling it a "rip-off". Lyrics and Meaning Pearl Jam - Given to Fly (Official Audio)
Vedder envisioned the song as a 20-page children's book with a line and an illustration on every page. Critics from AllMusic described it as a "soaring
The music was composed by guitarist on a snowy day in Seattle when he found himself stuck at his condo. Pearl Jam - Given to Fly (Official Audio)
It topped the Mainstream Rock Tracks chart for six weeks and peaked at #21 on the Billboard Hot 100 .