“Dance of the Clairvoyants” is a song by American rock band Pearl Jam, released on January 22, 2020, as the lead single from their eleventh studio album, Gigaton. The song is a metaphor for the human obsession with living in the present, often ignoring the possibility of serious changes. The lyrics are based on the popular idiom “the more things change, the more they stay the same”. Pearl Jam frontman Eddie Vedder accepts the certainty of uncertainty in a world that seems more chaotic than ever, expecting perfection.
The song is messy without being sloppy, creating complexity by layering simplicity. It suggests surrendering to the spirit that overwhelms us and opening up to the future, life’s flowing, and love that guides all of this. The song is labeling those concerned with Climate Change as once who believes in ghosts.
Pearl Jam formed in 1990, marking 30 years as a group (29 since their first album release). The lyrics of “Dance of the Clairvoyants” suggest that the more things change, the more they stay the same, and that the more things change, the more they stay the same. The song serves as an anthem for those who are concerned with Climate Change and those who believe in ghosts.
📹 Pearl Jam Dance of the Clairvoyants Review (lyrics)
In this video I attempt to decipher the meaning of the lyrics to Pearl Jam’s new single Dance of the Clairvoyants off their upcoming …
📹 Pearl Jam – Dance Of The Clairvoyants (Mach III)
Produced by: Evolve Studios (www.evolve.studio) Executive Produced by: Tim Bierman, Joel Edwards Studio Director: Ryan Cory …
The “I know that boys wanna grow, their dicks & fix & file things” line irks me. To me it feels like he’s saying that all males only know how to think with their dicks & to quickly sweep any problems under the rug instead of being capable of showing any emotion or empathy. I’m probably way off but that’s just my interpretation. Along with “can’t deny me” his lyrics seem to be heading in a very pro female, anti male direction. I hope the new record is not full of that kind of stuff. I’m so sick of seeing things like that in the media. I know that Eddie has always taken a political stance but please, I just want 45 mins listening to a record that isn’t focusing on Climate change, me too, Trump, gender & racism. The world does NOT need another lecture on these things. I love pearl jam so much but I really fear Ed’s wife Jill could influence his lyrics & that this record will be woke.
Wow…a Pearl Jam article. I’m old enough to know how rare a treat this is. I still remember Eddie Vedder mumbling at the Grammys or Music article Awards in the early ’90s, “Thank you for liking our commercial.” This is a killer song, a very strong Talking Heads vibe. And it’s just like PJ to throw you a massive curve ball like this. I could see them evolving into this direction as they finally grow old. And note how Eddie’s voice is beginning to enter into its “old man” sound, with a richer low end and wooly growl.
Cool hearing eddies vocals over a different soundscape. He doesn’t get enough credit for how expressive and colorful his voice is. You kinda pin him into that early Ten-era PJ sound, angsty, loud, roaring, deep, harsh, gritty. That Jim Morrison lion roar. But his work on later 90s albums, where his voice is higher and he’s def exploring vocally, I think is some of Pearl Jam’s best work. He’s one of the best at expressing every emotion in his voice. From the soaring, anthemic joy of some songs, to the pure angst and disillusionment of others, everything in between. The man can even sing you to sleep with a ukulele. His voice transcends what people pin it down to, he deserves to be heard over every kind of soundscape. Just like Chris Cornell. Their versatility is under appreciated
Pearl Jam has has shown us once again why they’re one of the best bands in the world. When the modern state of music sucks so much what do we do to separate ourselves? We go back to 80’s post punk! Much like Backspacer, this whole album is dripping with the early 1980’s but where Backspacer needled towards new wave this album is a collection of avant garde art rock with some jangle punk thrown in. This is unbelievable! I can close my eyes and hear the Fixx, XTC, Tears For Fears,Talking Heads, Simple Minds, Peter Gabriel, U2’s first 4 albums, Violent Femmes, and even Dead Milkmen! Excellent work guys! Show these frauds today how we broaden our horizons! Top notch, top notch!
I remember seeing them as S&J found E and rose from the ashes of Mother Love Bone, playing in a small club called the Off Ramp in Seattle, under the name Mookie Blaylock. I remember feeling chills down the spine at the opening of Even Flow with Mike, Jeff, and Stone rolling while Ed rode those waves with a voice like thunder over water. Pure magic then and now.
Lyrics: Confusing it is to commotion What love is to our devotion Imperceptibly big As big as the ocean And equally hard to control So save your predictions And burn your assumptions Love is friction Ripe for comfort Endless equations And tugging persuasions Doors open up To interpretation Expecting perfection Leaves a lot to ignore When the past is the present And the future’s no more When every tomorrow Is the same as before The looser things get The tighter you become The looser things get Tighter Not one man can be greater than the sun It’s not a negative thought But positive, positive, positive Falling down, not staying down Coulda held me up, rather tear me down Drown in the river Expecting perfection Leaves a lot to ignore When the past is the present And the future’s no more When every tomorrow Is the same as before Numbers keep falling off the calendar’s floor We’re stuck in our boxes When it’s open no more Could’ve lifted up they’re forgetting us Not recalling what they’re for I’m in love with clairvoyants ‘Cause they’re out of this world I know the girls wanna dance Fall away their circumstance I know the boys wanna grow Their dicks, and fix and file things I know the girls wanna dance Clairvoyants in a trance I know the boys wanna grow Their dicks and fix and file things Stand back when the spirit comes Stand back when the spirit comes Stand back when the spirit comes Stand back Stand back when the spirit comes Stand back when the spirit comes Stand back when the spirit comes Stand back Stand back when the spirit comes Stand back when the spirit comes Stand back when the spirit comes Stand back I know the girls wanna dance Away their circumstance I know the boys wanna grow Their dicks and fix and file things Drown in the river Stand back when the spirit comes Stand back when the spirit comes Stand back when the spirit comes Stand back Stand back when the spirit comes Stand back when the spirit comes Stand back when the spirit comes Stand back (Their dicks, and fix and file things) Stand back when the spirit comes Stand back when the spirit comes Stand back when the spirit comes (Drown in the river)
t’s kind of crazy. on July 17th, 2019 I was admitted to the intensive care unit with extremely severe pain. Severe pancreatitis. But I got myself up and went back to life step by step. What struck me is the date. On July 17th my father died. Well finally, I’ve been waiting for a Pearl Jam concert since I was 15. and now finally I can go to Zurich in the summer. On July 17th, 2020. This is crazy and a very strong sign. see us in Zurich! Love you guys.
I really love the psychedelic atmosphere of this song. When they sing clairvoyants in a trance, they really sound like they are inducing a trance. I feel like I’m entering a higher plane or a higher being is descending. The guitar riff before the coda/outro is godly and the images in the article reminds me of their approach with the Do the Evolution music article where they use morph fade/dissolve.
I’m the same age as Eddie. Been a devoted fan since they began, ten club member, have seen them live in multiple countries. I love this. People mention Bowie and I totally get that. Depeche Mode is how I described it to my friends. So pleased to see them experiment and extend. It will take a while but people will enjoy and talk about it as a left turn that kept them fresh and relevant. Yay.
I’m 46 I heard Pearl jam in 1992 and fell in love with themm and I have a tattoo of the stickman on my arm Eddie vedder speaks to me There’s always been songs that take time. for example nothing man first time I heard it couldn’t stand it by the third time it was the story of my love horror..long story short or perhaps this is long when I first heard this, I cringed I said what the hell now about the sixth time I’ve heard it I cannot get it out of my head and it’s one of the best things I’ve ever heard Pearl jam challenges you they’re much more than just a rock band they’re tapping into something special I’m telling you anyways cheers in hooray for or let me say Hail hail this song and good God what an awesome article
I gotta admit that although PJ is one of all time favorite bands – especially between 1991-2003, PJ were making some of the best rock music in the world, I don’t care what any hipster or hardcore fans think. After that, the band and I kinda went our separate ways for quite a while. This track right here gives me the same feels I had when I first heard “Once”, “Oceans”, Porch, “Release,” etc. I’ll definitely have to give the entire album a good listen.
Ya know i struggle with the whole this song sounds like this and that and a little bit of the other. Of course it sounds a little like everything to everyone-the way it was meant to be, These 5 guys grew up with influences and it is only natural to hear those influences coupled with the desire to experiment and maybe push the edge a little bit that makes for an exciting band. That these 5 guys can bring their listerners along on a sonic journey means a lot to this 51 yr old fan. The music gives me the will to keep fighting,struggling,enjoying and remembering each day. AHHHH Pearl Jam-what a BLEAK world it would be without you. Thanks guys for the music!!!!!!
I’ve been a diehard fan since day one seeing PJ nearly 30 times in 11 countries and I love that this band isn’t afraid to change things up and write music from the heart and put it out, I don’t think this band is capable of putting out anything bad. Ed is one of the best lyrist out there and with Mike, stone, Jeff and Matt writing music you got perfection in my opinion. Long long live Pearl Jam the last of the early 90s movement and still going strong.
This band is the best thing to happen to Rock ‘n Roll since I’ve been alive. I mean, I have other favorites & at times it’s been a photo finish (lol) but these guys have held my #1 spot from the first time I heard 10 @ age 15.. I love every single album, as they’ve all followed me thru the wandering path of my (& everyone else’s) life. I could never have imagined what they’ve become & I love it all the more because of it.. Masters of they’re craft. & Gigaton is another Masterpiece. THANK YOU, PJ. It’s been an honor to be a fan.
IT IS THE LYRICS THAT BEND AND TEACH ME, PREACH ON Mr. JAM….. Glad to have known you since the early 90s Mr. Clairoyant. Eddie, just keep on Jam(mming), I ‘get you’ Bruh, maybe not when you wanted me to, BUT I DO NOW, I AM POSITIVE, POSITIVE…! Rock on sir, I am not expecting PERFECTION from you sir, anymore, anymore, I am not stuck in my box anymore, thanks in part to you sir, you are OUT OF THIS WORLD… God Bless you and your amazing band, may ye live forever sirs and at least bring out 5 billion more albums if its true you guys are really the Metaphysical Johnny Cash of my generation (I am old and crusty, 46!). Love you guys so much..
“Dance Of The Clairvoyants” Lyrics Confusion is,…to commotion What love is,…to our devotion Imperceptibly big, big as the ocean And equally hard to control So save your predictions And burn your assumptions Love is friction Ripe for comfort Endless equations And tugging persuasions Doors open up To interpretation Expecting perfection leaves a lot to ignore When the past is the present and the future’s no more When every tomorrow is the same as before The looser things get,…the tighter you become The looser things get,…tighter There’s not one man, who’s greater than the sum That’s not a negative thought, I’m positive Falling down,…not staying down Could’ve held me up, rather tear me down Drown in the river Expecting perfection leaves a lot to endure When the past is the present and the future’s no more When every tomorrow is the same as before Numbers keep falling off the calendars floor Stuck in our boxes, windows open no more Collecting up the forget-me-nots Not recalling what they’re for I’m in love with clairvoyants Cause they’re out of this world I know the girls wanna dance… Away their circumstance I know the boys wanna grow,.. Their dix and fix and fire things I know the girls wanna dance… Clairvoyants in a trance I know the boys wanna grow,… Their dix and fix and fire things Stand back when the spirit comes Stand back when the spirit comes Stand back when the spirit comes Stand back! Took my love…to have and to hold Held me down in the river Took my love…to have and to hold Drowning in the river Stand back when the spirit comes Stand back when the spirit comes Stand back when the spirit comes Stand back
LYRICS: (Verse 1) Confusion is to commotion What love is to our devotion Imperceptibly big Big as the ocean And equally hard to control So save your predictions And burn your assumptions Love is friction Ripe for comfort Endless equations And tugging persuasions Doors open up To interpretation (Chorus) Expecting perfection leaves a lot to endure When the past is the present and the future’s no more When every tomorrow is the same as before (Verse 2) The looser things get The tighter you become The looser things get Tighter Not one man Can be greater than the sum That’s not a negative thought I’m positive, positive, positive Falling down, not staying down Coulda held me up rather than tearing me down Drown in the river (Chorus) Expecting perfection leaves a lot to endure When the past is the present and the future’s no more When every tomorrow is the same as before (Verse 3) Numbers keep falling off the calendar’s floor We’re stuck in our boxes Windows open no more Couldn’t lift up the forget-me-nots Not recalling what they’re for I’m in love with clairvoyants ‘Cause they’re out of this world (Bridge) I know the girls wanna dance Fall away their circumstance I know the boys wanna grow Their dicks and fix and file things I know the girls wanna dance Clairvoyants in a trance I know the boys wanna grow Their dicks and fix and file things (Outro) Stand back when the spirit comes Stand back when the spirit comes Stand back when the spirit comes Stand back Stand back when the spirit comes Stand back when the spirit comes Stand back when the spirit comes Stand back Stand back when the spirit comes Stand back when the spirit comes Stand back when the spirit comes Stand back (I know the girls wanna dance away their circumstance) (I know the boys wanna grow their dicks and fix and file things) Stand back when the spirit comes Stand back when the spirit comes Stand back when the spirit comes Stand back Stand back when the spirit comes Stand back when the spirit comes Stand back when the spirit comes Stand back Stand back when the spirit comes Stand back when the spirit comes Stand back when the spirit comes
Confusion is to commotion What love is to our devotion Imperceptibly big Big as the ocean And equally hard to control So save your predictions And burn your assumptions Love is friction Ripe for comfort Endless equations And tugging persuasions Doors open up To interpretation Expecting perfection Leaves a lot to ignore When the past is the present And the future’s no more When every tomorrow Is the same as before The looser things get The tighter you become The looser things get Tighter Not one man can be greater than the sun That’s not a negative thought I’m positive, positive, positive Falling down, not staying down Coulda held me up, rather tear me down Drown in the river Expecting perfection Leaves a lot to ignore When the past is the present And the future’s no more When every tomorrow Is the same as before Numbers keep falling off the calendar’s floor We’re stuck in our boxes Windows open no more Could’ve lifted up the forget-me-nots Not recalling what they’re for I’m in love with clairvoyants ‘Cause they’re out of this world I know the girls wanna dance Fall away their circumstance I know the boys wanna grow Their dicks, and fix and file things I know the girls wanna dance Clairvoyants in a trance I know the boys wanna grow Their dicks and fix and file things Stand back when the spirit comes Stand back when the spirit comes Stand back when the spirit comes Stand back Stand back when the spirit comes Stand back when the spirit comes Stand back when the spirit comes Stand back Stand back when the spirit comes Stand back when the spirit comes Stand back when the spirit comes Stand back I know the girls wanna dance Away their circumstance I know the boys wanna grow Their dicks and fix and file things Drown in the river Stand back when the spirit comes Stand back when the spirit comes Stand back when the spirit comes Stand back Stand back when the spirit comes Stand back when the spirit comes Stand back when the spirit comes Stand back (Their dicks, and fix and file things) Stand back when the spirit comes Stand back when the spirit comes Stand back when the spirit comes (Drown in the river)
I like this more than Pearl Jam’s usual stuff. More of a dance tune with a lot of energy propelling it forward, and more catchy, almost a bit goth atmospheric, and Eddie Vedder’s singing and multiple-tracked vocals, and the jagged guitar are great. For the most part, I wasn’t a huge fan of most Pearl Jam songs in the past, though I know they are definitely a talented band.
This is absolutely pristine! Not sure why but it didn’t seem as good at first of a article and then they added to it which blows my mind now every time I put it on! Such a great article and if they were still doing awards for articles this should be the article of the year! The song is really grooving a few months in now which I liked right from the beginning but now that Chicago has gone into phase 3 of the re-opening it has really kicked into gear so I can’t wait to hear this album live I now feel it’s something more special then ever!
anyone here who wants to discuss the lyrics? what is it about? what is “the spirit”? who are the “clairvoyants”? what has it to do with our actual crisis? spirituality, at the moment, is blackmailed (like “esoteric right-wing conspiracy theorists”) – what does that mean, where are we standing as a society? i feel like the pendulum is waving back, and we should do our best to make it move forward again.