Pearl Jam’s “Dance of the Clairvoyants” Lyrics Meaning

A clairvoyant is basically someone who can see the future. And the idea which Pearl Jam seems to be speaking to on this track is that some people have a tendency to be future-oriented. Or stated differently, they perpetually operate under the disposition that tomorrow will be better than today. And whereas the singer is indeed “in love with clairvoyants”, he seems to be more smitten by their optimism than the reality of the situation. 

In fact a fit, popular idiom which “Dance of the Clairvoyants” can be said to be based on is ‘the more things change, the more they stay the same’. Or as Pearl Jam states in the chorus, “the past is the present, and the future is no more”. That is rather than progressing into the future so to speak clairvoyants, like everyone else, tend to be stuck in the same routine. And apparently the word “dance”, as used within context of this song, symbolizes the desire to get over the past and rather experience some type of ideological future. 

So again whereas the vocalist may appreciate clairvoyants, he has also come to the understanding that their visions for the future are more based on the fantasies of an ideal life as opposed to the hard, discouraging realities which constitute everyday living.

Quick Facts about “Dance of the Clairvoyants”

Republic Records and Monkeywrench Records released this track as the lead single from Pearl Jam’s album “Gigaton” on 21 January 2020. FYI, “Gigaton” is the eleventh studio album of the band’s career.

The song was written by the members of Pearl Jam, who at the time are as follows:

• Jeff Ament
• Matt Cameron
• Stone Gossard
• Eddie Vedder
• Mike McCready

And the entire band also produced the tune in collaboration with Josh Evans.

“Dance of the Clairvoyants” is Pearl Jam’s first new music for the year 2020. It also came out as their first new material since the year 2018.