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Dance of the Clairvoyants

evsgjammevsgjamm Posts: 2,107
edited January 2020 in Words and Music...Communication

Confusion 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
Rightful comfort
Endless equations
And talkin persuasions
Doors open up
To interpretation

(Chorus)
Expecting perfection
leaves a lot to adore
and the past is the present and the future's no more
When every tomorrow is the same as before

(Jam)

The looser things get
The harder you become
The looser things get
The tighter

I’m not going in, to be greater than the sun
It's not a negative thought,

I’m positive, positive, positive
Fallin’ down
I'm face down (I’m faith’d out)
Coulda held me up
Gonna tear it down
And throw it in the river

Ohh, 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

The numbers keep fallin’ off the calendar's floor
We're stuck in our boxes window’s open no more
Collecting up the forget-me-nots

Not recalling what they’re for
I'm in love with clairvoyants cuz they're out of this world

(Jam)

I know the girls wanna dance
Throw away their circumstance
I know the boys wanna grow
Their dicks in pics inspire things

I know the girls wanna dance
Clairvoyants in a trance
I know the boys wanna grow
Their dicks in pics inspire 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 r comes
Stand back

(way down at the river)

Stand back when the spirit comes
Stand back when the spirit comes
Stand back when the spirit r comes
Stand back

I know the girls wanna dance
Throw away their circumstance
I know the boys wanna grow
Their dicks in pics inspire things

(mixing the two verses)

(Down at the river)

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
Clairvoyants in the stance
I know the boys wanna grow
Their dicks in pics inspire things

Down in the river.

Vancouver '03, Paramount Theatre '05, Saskatoon '05, Calgary '05, Edmonton '05, Saskatoon '11, Calgary '11, Calgary '13

2010 WATCH IT GO TO FIRE!!
Post edited by evsgjamm on

Comments

  • evsgjammevsgjamm Posts: 2,107
    I just typed these out after listening to the song. Some hard parts to hear. Thoughts?
    Amazing song. Heart is beating fast.
    Vancouver '03, Paramount Theatre '05, Saskatoon '05, Calgary '05, Edmonton '05, Saskatoon '11, Calgary '11, Calgary '13

    2010 WATCH IT GO TO FIRE!!
  • BF25394BF25394 Posts: 4,633
    edited January 2020

    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, the tighter…

    Not one man could be greater than the sum

    It’s not a negative thought

    I’m positive

    Positive, positive

     

    Falling down, not staying down

    Could’ve held me up, brother, 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

    Window’s 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 want to dance

    Away their circumstance

    I know the boys want to grow

    Their dicks and fix and file things

     

    I know the girls want to dance

    Clairvoyants in a trance

    I know the boys want to 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 want to dance

    Away their circumstance

    I know the boys want to grow

    Their dicks and fix and file things

     

    I know the girls want to dance

    Clairvoyants in a trance

    I know the boys want to 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

    Post edited by BF25394 on
    I gather speed from you fucking with me.
  • evsgjammevsgjamm Posts: 2,107
    Right on,
    Thanks for your transcription. There are some really hard parts to understand lol... classic Eddie! 
    Vancouver '03, Paramount Theatre '05, Saskatoon '05, Calgary '05, Edmonton '05, Saskatoon '11, Calgary '11, Calgary '13

    2010 WATCH IT GO TO FIRE!!
  • spaceman1374spaceman1374 Posts: 22
    I feel A lot of talking heads in this Song does anybody else here a little In the song. I think the lyrics are beautiful and I’m very curious about the rest of the album thanks Eddie for a great tune
  • shadowcastshadowcast Posts: 2,206
    Love I mean love the music. Lyrics on the other hand I am having a tough time with. 
  • otterotter Posts: 769
    Riddle me this...is Boom on synth?
    I found my place......and it's alright
  • rollingsrollings unknown Posts: 7,125
    boys wanna grow their dicks & pics &
    mighty finer things lyrics right thar
  • evsgjammevsgjamm Posts: 2,107
    I don't know why, but I also have a tough time with understanding the lyrics haha. 
    Their dicks in pics inspire things??? Whaaaaat? Can't be. 
    Their dicks and fix and file things??? wellllll okayyyyyyy
    Is boom on synth? I have no idea lol.
    Vancouver '03, Paramount Theatre '05, Saskatoon '05, Calgary '05, Edmonton '05, Saskatoon '11, Calgary '11, Calgary '13

    2010 WATCH IT GO TO FIRE!!
  • otterotter Posts: 769
    This song is cool as shit!
     I fucking love that they are doing some different sounds. It kinda reminds me of New Order / NIN. Can’t deny me sounds a lot like NIN. I’m totally pumped for Gigaton!  I bet it’s gonna be absolutely awesome with some hard rockers, some mid tempo/low tempo jams, and all with new cool interesting sounds!  I can’t freakin wait!!!
    I found my place......and it's alright
  • E.KE.K New South Wales, Australia Posts: 7,726
    edited January 2020
    evsgjamm said:
    I don't know why, but I also have a tough time with understanding the lyrics haha. 
    Their dicks in pics inspire things??? Whaaaaat? Can't be. 
    Their dicks and fix and file things??? wellllll okayyyyyyy
    Is boom on synth? I have no idea lol.
    It sounds like "boys wanna grow their dicks and fix and fire things" to me.  
    Post edited by E.K on
    Sydney, Australia - March 12, 1998; Sydney, Australia - February 14, 2003; Sydney, Australia - November 8, 2006; Sydney, Australia - November 25, 2006;  Brisbane, Australia - November, 2009; Gold Coast, Australia - January, 2014, Gold Coast, Australia - November 2024

  • SpunkieSpunkie i come from downtown. Posts: 6,734
    Ya that's how I hear it usually, too. Maybe Dolby or whatever sound will help haha.
  • rollingsrollings unknown Posts: 7,125
    That's Trump. He just wants to fire things
  • EnjoyBeingEnjoyBeing Posts: 127
    I think I hear  “or” not “I’m”. Not saying I’m right. 

    “Not one man could be greater than the sum

    It’s not a negative thought

    I’m / Or positive

    Positive, positive”

    In other words, saying not one man is greater than the sum is neither a negative or positive thought. It’s just a descriptive statement 

  • Glorified KCGlorified KC KCMO Native Posts: 2,674
    This line is constantly playing through my head.
    Stand back when the spirit comes
    When I first heard some others mentioning the Talking Heads, I didn't quite understand what they were referencing.  Now that I've grasped that, I keep thinking of David Byrne singing this lyric.
    I wish I was a sacrifice, but somehow still lived on.
  • slightofjeffslightofjeff Posts: 7,762
    edited January 2020
    I'm still working it out, but I think it's about a generation of people who can see the future coming but instead of taking steps to do something about it, choose to find ways to distract themselves from impending doom -- either by dancing or growing their dicks ;)
    It doesn't have to specifically be an environmentalist song per se, but you can think of the climate change issue as one example of this phenomenon.

    Also, I hear "leaves a lot to ignore" in the first chorus. I think (??) Ed switches to "leaves a lot to endure" in the second chorus. Those little subtle shifts in language are cool to me. Ed does that kind of thing all the time, lyrically. Both make sense in the context of the song as I've described it.

    And I could be totally off base! But that's what I'm getting from the lyrics at this point.  

    everybody wants the most they can possibly get
    for the least they could possibly do
  • evsgjammevsgjamm Posts: 2,107
    @cdthomas1981 Same here. I find myself repeating it so many times. 
    @slightofjeff that's a great breakdown, to which I agree. I also agree with your "subtle shifts in language" comment. I hear the same one you mentioned plus others. Fun times being a wordsmith lol

    Can't wait to a) see the official liner notes and b) hear Ed sing it live as I think he'll continue adding subtle shifts in language.

    "I'd rather be in .... PORTUGAL"
    "What you thought was your father"
    "Had a joint in a tree"
    and there's one other opening line where he has been known to switch the last word in the first line of lyrics... my memory bank is empty.. can't find it.... my neurons are sending signals like "black..." or "rock..." or ... "party..."... fuck, it might not even be Pearl Jam lol. I'll come back and update this when i have my AH HAH moment.

    Just be careful of those cover songs lol lol https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/eddie-vedder-sued-over-hard-sun-lyric-changes-254706/



    Vancouver '03, Paramount Theatre '05, Saskatoon '05, Calgary '05, Edmonton '05, Saskatoon '11, Calgary '11, Calgary '13

    2010 WATCH IT GO TO FIRE!!
  • KatKat Posts: 4,878
    edited February 2020
    I always loved figuring out the lyrics. :) One of my favorite things.
    Did you see that the lyrics are now in the Show More section on the YouTube pages for the Mach videos? It's ok to bring them here. 
    Falling down,...not staying down
  • SpunkieSpunkie i come from downtown. Posts: 6,734
    Thanks again, will do.
  • rgambsrgambs Posts: 13,576
    slightofjeff said:
    I'm still working it out, but I think it's about a generation of people who can see the future coming but instead of taking steps to do something about it, choose to find ways to distract themselves from impending doom -- either by dancing or growing their dicks ;)
    It doesn't have to specifically be an environmentalist song per se, but you can think of the climate change issue as one example of this phenomenon.

    Also, I hear "leaves a lot to ignore" in the first chorus. I think (??) Ed switches to "leaves a lot to endure" in the second chorus. Those little subtle shifts in language are cool to me. Ed does that kind of thing all the time, lyrically. Both make sense in the context of the song as I've described it.

    And I could be totally off base! But that's what I'm getting from the lyrics at this point.  

    It sounds like file things to me the first time, and fire things the second time.
    Both make sense.  Both make sense in 2 contexts.  
    Whether the theme is climate change, some sort of relationship, or both, that chorus can make sense either as a cause or a reaction.

    The girls wanting to dance can be the cause of trouble in their wantonness, their disregard, or it can be their wanton disregard for finding a solution to the problem at hand.

    The boys wanting to grow their dicks and fix and file/fire things can either be the cause of trouble, or the ill-conceived reaction to it.
    Either way, it speaks to me of male mankind's desire to dominate both the natural world and the various interpersonal connections that people form.
    That desire to reproduce/populate and create order by fixing and filing things really reminds me directly of the entire theme of DTE.  Fire things fits in with that just as well and having both makes it a miniature mirror image of Do the Evolution.
    Ed is certainly well-versed in carrying themes and motifs throughout his career, I love that about his lyrics.  Symbols like lightning bolts, the moon, cars, etc. really call back to other songs and link it all up in a very nice way.
    Monkey Driven, Call this Living?
  • evsgjammevsgjamm Posts: 2,107
    Agree big time. Isn't "window sills" mentioned in at least two songs?  I also hear repetitive themes and motifs over the years... he refers back to some of the same words from other songs and I totally get it as a bit of a wannabe lyricist myself.

    Also, thanks for mentioning that, Kat.
    Vancouver '03, Paramount Theatre '05, Saskatoon '05, Calgary '05, Edmonton '05, Saskatoon '11, Calgary '11, Calgary '13

    2010 WATCH IT GO TO FIRE!!
  • Glorified KCGlorified KC KCMO Native Posts: 2,674
    I've focused in a lot on the title and the meaning of clairvoyant.  Here's something I wrote in to one of the Pearl Jam podcasts:

    The term clairvoyance can be tied to Parapsychology, which immediately got me thinking of Peter Venkman of Ghostbusters, who says he has a Ph.D. in Parapsychology.  To summarize what I've found regarding clairvoyance, it references the paranormal.  Essentially one who 'sees ghosts." So here's where I'm going with this and the meaning of the song.  The "Dance of the Clairvoyants" is labeling those who are concerned with Climate Change as once who believes in ghosts.  This is the anthem for those who are being labeled as those who are believing in a hoax.  Just like in Ghostbusters, no one wants to believe in ghosts until they become a victim or actual witness of a ghost sighting.  Sometimes I wonder if it literally would take another Ice Age to convince those who believe scientists are just blowing smoke up others ass. 

    I wish I was a sacrifice, but somehow still lived on.
  • justamjustam Posts: 21,412
    It's fun to try to decipher the lyrics!
    &&&&&&&&&&&&&&
  • Summersas79Summersas79 Apple Valley, CA Posts: 89
    I hear him saying in the chorus:

    I know the boys wanna grow,
    Their dicks and fix some vile things.

    But, guess we'll just have to wait for the official lyrics. 
  • SpunkieSpunkie i come from downtown. Posts: 6,734
    The official lyrics are already up... somewhere in here... 
    Its Superblood Wolfmoon you won't find officially, as they use the F bomb.
  • Summersas79Summersas79 Apple Valley, CA Posts: 89
    tish said:
    The official lyrics are already up... somewhere in here... 
    Its Superblood Wolfmoon you won't find officially, as they use the F bomb.
    Well, I cant wait to get my copy of the new album. I just hope they put all the lyrics in there! F bombs an all! 😜🤙
  • FW150311FW150311 Posts: 3
    Well, since the last few weeks... «When every tomorrow is NOT the same as before...» rings very loud in my head.
    History is writing itself before our eyes right now.
    Hang tigh everyone.
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