The sweetest moment, however, was his closer, a story about frontman Eddie Vedder, the end of Late Night, and Letterman's son, Harry.Now, I'm going to start reading a list of the songs and you're going to start applauding and we won't get out of here until Sunday so: "Jeremy," "Corduroy." Now, here's one I like, the song, "Yellow Ledbetter." It doesn't make Ten because they have too much good material, they decide we don't want to put this song on there with all of this other really good material. So, later it's released, as like, a B-side. Twenty-five years, it's an anthem. It's a musical icon. For a lot of people, that song would be a career. "Sirens," "Given to Fly," "Kung Fu Fighting."
I want to tell you a story that I'm very fond of. It's about friendship with a guy who has done something for me that I'll remember my entire life. I had three shows left to go and Eddie Vedder was on that show and he sang "Better Man." I like to tell myself it's because it rhymed with Letterman. There was something emotional in the air because as the show wound down the realization that we were saying goodbye, as I said before the experience that I miss most is the experience of live music every night. But that was in the air. It was palpable.
At the end of the show, Eddie Vedder came up to me, he handed me this, and I don't know if you can see that but that's the name of my son. He gave me this letter and said, "This letter, it's for your son I want you to give it to Harry." I think we have a picture of my son, Harry. [Shows picture of young boy smoking a cigarette from his old show.] Look at that, we've had him at all the best clinics taking a gap year in middle school.
So, if you're in show business it's likely there's a good strong streak of cynicism in you, and I would be the president of that club except for things like this. This letter to my son from Eddie Vedder made me keep 2015, three shows left. I'll read you this letter now if you don't mind.
"Hi, Harry. My name is Eddie Vedder and I'm a friend of your dad's. I wanted you to have this small guitar to start with. Try it out, make a little noise, I'll make you a deal. If you learn even one song on this guitar I'll get you a nicer, bigger one for your birthday. Maybe an electric one. You let me know." And my son loves to fish, Eddie adds here, "Playing guitar is kind of like fishing. Fishing for songs. Good luck, Harry, in all things. Yours truly."
You can read the entire speech over at Rolling Stone. David Letterman is a treasure and Pearl Jam is cool.Follow Noisey on Twitter.It turns out that my son does play a string instrument, but it's the violin—close enough. There are quite a few reasons why these people are in the Hall of Fame, but forgive me if this personally is the most important reason.