Getaway
Summary
Getaway opens Lightning Bolt with “dark stormy weather” rolling in—a driving rock track that tackles faith, doubt, and tolerance in a polarized world. Stone Gossard provided context:
“We’re at the age now where relationships are 20 and 30 years long, parents are getting older and loved ones are dying… The pace and content—faith and mortality—of Lightning Bolt is reflective of hitting middle age and slowing down a bit.”
— Stone Gossard Billboard
The song is “a bit of a religion rant and also a bit of a cry for tolerance” Bearded Gentlemen Music .
Key Details
| Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Album | Lightning Bolt (2013) |
| Track Number | 1 |
| Duration | 3:27 |
| Writer | Eddie Vedder |
| Producer | Brendan O’Brien |
| Live Debut | October 30, 2013, Charlotte, NC |
| Live Performances | 17 (per setlist.fm) |
Background & Inspiration
Lightning Bolt emerged from a band hitting middle age. Eddie Vedder summed up the album’s lyrical concerns:
“The same mysteries that I’ve been trying to unravel for a few decades now.”
— Eddie Vedder Billboard
Producer Brendan O’Brien explained the two-phase recording:
“We did them in two sessions. The first session, over a year and a half ago, took three weeks. Then we were probably in Los Angeles for a couple of weeks to record at this last session.”
— Brendan O’Brien Rolling Stone
Lyrics & Meaning
The song opens with imagery of putting “all your faith in no faith” while criticizing “holy rollers sitting with their backs to the middle.” But Vedder’s critique is balanced—he also takes aim at reductive scientific materialism.
Despite the critique, Vedder extends tolerance: “If you wanna have to pray, it’s alright / We all be thinking with our different brains.” The song argues for personal belief systems while respecting others’ right to their own paths.
Composition & Production
Musical specifications:
- Key: E major
- Tempo: ~135 BPM
- Duration: 3:27
Studios: Henson Recording Studios (Los Angeles) Recording Period: Early 2012, March 2013
McCready and Gossard’s guitars interlock effectively, creating a wall of sound that pushes forward without overwhelming vocals.
Live Performances
| Metric | Data |
|---|---|
| Live Debut | October 30, 2013, Charlotte, NC |
| Total Performances | 17 |
| Typical Placement | Opening slot or early set |
Its 17 performances make it one of Pearl Jam’s less-played album openers. The song dropped from regular rotation after the 2013-2014 cycle.
Personnel
| Member | Role |
|---|---|
| Eddie Vedder | Vocals, guitar |
| Stone Gossard | Guitar |
| Mike McCready | Guitar |
| Jeff Ament | Bass |
| Matt Cameron | Drums |
Production: Brendan O’Brien
Context
Opening Lightning Bolt with “Getaway” announces that Pearl Jam wasn’t softening with age. After Backspacer’s concision, this album returns to heavier, more thematically complex territory.
Related Songs
- “Do the Evolution” (Yield): Earlier religious/scientific critique
- “Mind Your Manners” (same album): Companion piece on religion
- “Brain of J” (Yield): Another driving album opener