Setting Sun
Summary
Setting Sun closes Dark Matter with what Rolling Stone called “a hopeful, transcendently gorgeous nightcap that feels like the band took a drive down from Shangri-La at the end of the day to sit in the sand, and reflect for a while as they watch the waves crash along the PCH” Rolling Stone .
Mike McCready explicitly connected the song to Pearl Jam’s ballad tradition:
“The song has the same mood as ‘Long Road.’”
— Mike McCready PearlJamOnline
Both Vedder and McCready play piano, adding to the song’s intimate, hymnal quality. The song ends with Vedder’s final request to listeners: “Let us not fade.”
Key Details
| Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Album | Dark Matter (2024) |
| Track Number | 11 |
| Release Date | April 19, 2024 |
| Duration | 5:46 |
| Writers | Pearl Jam, Andrew Watt |
| Producer | Andrew Watt |
| Label | Monkeywrench/Republic |
| Recording | Shangri-La Studios, Malibu |
| Live Debut | May 4, 2024, Rogers Arena, Vancouver |
| Live Performances | 23 (per setlist.fm) |
Background & Inspiration
The Long Road Connection
Mike McCready’s comparison to “Long Road”—the 1995 ballad that became a staple of acoustic sets and memorial moments—signals what Pearl Jam intended with “Setting Sun.” Both songs share contemplative warmth and hymnal qualities.
”We Might Have One or Two Left”
Eddie Vedder addressed the themes underlying Dark Matter in a MOJO interview:
“At this stage in a career, in life you lean on the relationships with the people who are still around. It really hits you when you are in a situation where that person would be there. And you’re sad for them that they’re not. But it makes you realise that you gotta be healthy: You want to be around for your kids. You want to make good records, and… We might have one or two left.”
— Eddie Vedder MOJO
Lyrics & Interpretation
”Let Us Not Fade”
The song’s closing line—“Let us not fade”—functions as what one critic called “one final request to the listener to continue pushing forward” Loudwire .
The Repeated Line
Throughout Dark Matter, Vedder sings “If you could see what I see now” in both “Something Special” and “Setting Sun” Generation Mixtape . This repetition creates structural unity.
Not a Neat Ending
Rather than providing the expected definitive ending, Pearl Jam deliberately leave space for listener interpretation. The song builds but then pulls back to just acoustic guitar and Vedder’s voice “sort of trailing off” Loudwire .
Composition & Arrangement
The Waltz-y Nature
Critics noted the song’s “waltz-y nature” Loudwire —a 3/4 feel that distinguishes it from the 4/4 rock that dominates Dark Matter.
Musical specifications:
- Key: D major
- Tempo: Slow (~70 BPM)
- Time Signature: Waltz-like feel
- Duration: 5:46
Dual Piano
Both Vedder and McCready play piano, adding to the hymnal intimacy.
Folk-Inspired Guitar
The song features what one critic called “a folk-inspired guitar melody that ties well together with ‘Wreckage’” Generation Mixtape .
Production & Recording
Studios: Shangri-La Studios, Malibu Recording Period: July 2021, March 2023 Producer: Andrew Watt
The Pacific Coast Highway setting that Rolling Stone evoked wasn’t just metaphor; the band was literally recording near the ocean, with sunsets visible from the studio.
Live Performances
| Metric | Data |
|---|---|
| Live Debut | May 4, 2024, Rogers Arena, Vancouver, BC |
| Total Performances | 23 (per setlist.fm) |
| Typical Placement | Final song of evening |
The song debuted as the 25th and final song of the Dark Matter World Tour opener in Vancouver—a fitting debut for an album closer.
Personnel
| Member | Role |
|---|---|
| Eddie Vedder | Lead vocals, guitar, piano |
| Stone Gossard | Guitar |
| Mike McCready | Guitar, piano |
| Jeff Ament | Bass |
| Matt Cameron | Drums |
Production: Andrew Watt
Context
Dark Matter moves from fear (“Scared of Fear”) to acceptance (“Setting Sun”). The arc is deliberate—confronting darkness, finding what matters, making peace with impermanence.
Related Songs
- “Release” (Ten): Intimate album closer, emotional exhale
- “Indifference” (Vs.): Meditative closing statement
- “Long Road” (Merkin Ball): McCready’s direct comparison
- “River Cross” (Gigaton): Previous hymnal closer