Pendulum
Summary
Pendulum swings between moods, matching its title—a Stone Gossard and Jeff Ament composition that originated during the Backspacer sessions before finding its home on Lightning Bolt. It’s “the rare piano/percussion-driven track in the Pearl Jam catalog,” with Vedder’s muted, chant-like vocals double- and triple-tracked to haunting effect.
The song almost didn’t exist on any Pearl Jam album. Gossard explained:
“‘Pendulum’ is actually a song that didn’t make ‘Backspacer.’ We pulled that back out and worked on that a little bit more, we really were in love with it again.”
— Stone Gossard Billboard
What rescued “Pendulum” was its essential simplicity:
“Its simplicity; it’s basically three or four chords, the whole thing, and it’s really about a groove.”
— Stone Gossard Billboard
That groove—featuring Matt Cameron’s drums ticking out passing seconds, Vedder’s voice swinging between left and right channels—creates an atmospheric meditation on mortality and time.
Key Details
| Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Album | Lightning Bolt (2013) |
| Track Number | 7 |
| Release Date | October 15, 2013 |
| Duration | 3:42 |
| Writers | Stone Gossard, Jeff Ament (music), Eddie Vedder (lyrics) |
| Producer | Brendan O’Brien |
| Label | Monkeywrench/Republic |
| Original Recording | Backspacer sessions (2009) |
| Live Debut | October 11, 2013, Consol Energy Center, Pittsburgh, PA |
| Live Performances | 51 (per setlist.fm) |
Background & Inspiration
Backspacer Origins
“Pendulum” was originally composed during the Backspacer sessions. Gossard confirmed it’s “probably the oldest song on the record” Pearl Jam Community . The tight 36-minute cut of Backspacer forced difficult choices, and “Pendulum” was left on the floor.
But the band couldn’t let it go. When Lightning Bolt sessions began, they returned to the track. Gossard and Ament’s composition found new life—what didn’t fit Backspacer’s concision fit Lightning Bolt’s expansiveness.
Unexpected Development
According to Gossard, “Pendulum” was “a Gossard and Jeff Ament composition that even they didn’t expect Eddie to latch on to and work up into a band song” Static and Feedback . The songwriters themselves were surprised when Vedder developed their instrumental into something complete.
The Same Mysteries
Eddie Vedder summed up Lightning Bolt’s lyrical concerns as “the same mysteries that I’ve been trying to unravel for a few decades now.” “Pendulum” fits that description—time’s passage, mortality’s approach, the constant swing between states.
Lyrics & Interpretation
The Pendulum Metaphor
The pendulum suggests oscillation—swinging between states, moods, or positions. Life as constant motion, never settling at one extreme. The image works on multiple levels:
- Time: Pendulums mark its passage
- Mood: Swinging between emotional states
- Balance: The impossibility of finding stable center
- Mortality: Time ticking toward inevitable end
Limited Time
Critics noted the song addresses “musing on our limited time alive” Bearded Gentlemen Music . Cameron’s drums tick out seconds like a clock. Vedder’s lyrics acknowledge that the pendulum eventually stops.
To and Fro
The vocal panning—Vedder’s voice swinging between left and right channels—literalizes the pendulum motion. “To and fro / the pendulum throws” becomes physical experience through stereo production.
Composition & Arrangement
Rare Instrumentation
“Pendulum” is described as “an atmospheric workout” and “the rare piano/percussion-driven track in the Pearl Jam catalog” Bearded Gentlemen Music . Pearl Jam rarely leads with piano—when they do, it signals deliberate departure from rock norms.
Musical specifications:
- Key: D minor
- Tempo: Atmospheric, swaying (~90 BPM)
- Time Signature: 4/4
- Duration: 3:42
Unusual Elements
The arrangement features unexpected contributions: Ament’s bowed guitar, Gossard’s strategic bongos. These choices create texture beyond typical rock palette.
Vedder’s vocals are “muted and, later, chant-like vocals are double- and triple-tracked to haunting effect. The Spanish-style guitar punches through the darkness, but only in isolated moments.”
Simplicity as Virtue
Despite atmospheric complexity, the harmonic foundation is minimal. Gossard emphasized: “It’s basically three or four chords, the whole thing, and it’s really about a groove.” The sophistication lies in arrangement and production, not in chord complexity.
Production & Recording
Two Recording Periods
Studios: Henson Recording Studios (Los Angeles) Recording Period: Originally 2009 (Backspacer sessions), completed 2012-2013 Producer: Brendan O’Brien
The song spans two album cycles—recorded initially for Backspacer, developed further for Lightning Bolt. This extended timeline allowed refinement impossible in single concentrated sessions.
Atmospheric Emphasis
O’Brien’s production emphasizes the song’s atmospheric qualities. The mix creates space for unusual instrumental choices—piano, bowed guitar, bongos—while maintaining cohesion. The stereo panning of Vedder’s voice adds physical dimension.
Critical Reception & Legacy
Distinctive Achievement
“Pendulum” received praise as one of Lightning Bolt’s most distinctive tracks—unlike anything else in Pearl Jam’s catalog. The atmospheric approach and unusual instrumentation demonstrated range beyond straightforward rock.
Backspacer Connection
The song’s origins in Backspacer sessions explain its somewhat different feel. Backspacer’s concise approach may have forced its exclusion, while Lightning Bolt’s expansiveness welcomed it. The track exists between album identities.
Legacy:
- Demonstrated Pearl Jam’s atmospheric capabilities
- Showcased unusual instrumentation for the band
- Connected to Backspacer-era experimentation
- Provided contrast to album’s harder moments
- “Probably the oldest song on the record”
Live Performances
Statistics
| Metric | Data |
|---|---|
| Live Debut | October 11, 2013, Consol Energy Center, Pittsburgh, PA |
| Total Performances | 51 (per setlist.fm) |
| Most Recent | September 3, 2024, Madison Square Garden, New York, NY |
| Typical Placement | Mid-set, mood-shifting moment |
Enduring Presence
Unlike some Lightning Bolt tracks that dropped from rotation, “Pendulum” has maintained presence in setlists through 2024. Its MSG appearance demonstrates continued relevance—the song works as mid-set mood-setter, a contemplative pause before the band shifts gears.
Dynamic Range
“Pendulum” appeared regularly during the 2013 Lightning Bolt tour, debuting at the Pittsburgh opener. Its dynamic range makes it effective live—the atmospheric buildup creates anticipation before resolution.
Personnel & Credits
Pearl Jam
| Member | Role |
|---|---|
| Eddie Vedder | Vocals |
| Stone Gossard | Guitar, bongos (songwriter) |
| Mike McCready | Guitar |
| Jeff Ament | Bass, bowed guitar (songwriter) |
| Matt Cameron | Drums |
Production Team
| Role | Personnel |
|---|---|
| Producer | Brendan O’Brien |
| Mixer | Brendan O’Brien |
| Mastering | Bob Ludwig |
Fan Theories & Trivia
The Backspacer Reject
“Pendulum” represents a rare second chance—a song cut from one album that found home on another. The shift from Backspacer’s 36-minute efficiency to Lightning Bolt’s longer runtime created space for atmospheric exploration.
Unexpected Development
Gossard and Ament didn’t expect Vedder to develop their instrumental into a full song. The collaborative surprise—material taking unexpected direction—shows how band dynamics produce results no individual member planned.
Trivia
- Originally recorded for Backspacer, didn’t make the cut
- “Probably the oldest song on the record” according to Gossard
- Features bowed guitar from Ament and bongos from Gossard
- Piano/percussion-driven—rare for Pearl Jam
- Gossard and Ament didn’t expect Vedder to develop it
- Vedder’s voice pans between left and right channels
- Still performed in 2024 (MSG)
Fan Discussions
Active topics on r/pearljam and Pearl Jam Community forums include:
- Whether it fit better on Lightning Bolt than Backspacer
- The unusual instrumentation and atmospheric quality
- How the pendulum metaphor applies to life
- Connections to other mortality-themed tracks
- The stereo panning effect on vocals
Comparative Analysis
Within Pearl Jam’s Catalog
“Pendulum” represents one of Pearl Jam’s most atmospheric departures.
- “Off He Goes” (No Code): Previous atmospheric exploration
- “Around the Bend” (No Code): Unusual instrumentation
- “Sirens” (same album): Mortality themes
- “Comatose” (Pearl Jam): Atmospheric interlude territory
- “Inside Job” (Pearl Jam): Extended contemplative track
Album Connections
The Lightning Bolt mortality-focused songs form a sequence: “Pendulum, Yellow Moon, every moment of doubt, desolation and failure comes back to Sirens, and the things in our life that help the fear go away” More Than Ten .
Album Context
At track 7, “Pendulum” marks Lightning Bolt’s shift into more contemplative territory. After the heavier first half, the album opens up into atmospheric exploration. The pendulum metaphor fits the album’s structure—constant oscillation between aggression and reflection.