Speed Of Sound

Pearl Jam frontman Eddie Vedder wrote this brooding, down-tempo track. He explained the meaning to VertigoFM, saying it's "a song taken from the perspective of a man who is still sitting in a bar after everyone else has left." He added that even though the song is sad it became more "confident" when played with the whole band.

This track with complex chord changes originated from a songwriting session Vedder had with Rolling Stones guitarist Ronnie Wood. He explained to the Toronto Globe and Mail: "I was working with Ronnie Wood on a record he's putting together. He asked me if I could contribute some words, which really excited me because I love his voice. This particular song was a little difficult to transcribe though, so it ended up in [Pearl Jam's] court. I played it to Brendan [O'Brien, producer] at four in the afternoon, and by the next afternoon it was complete."

Pearl Jam has played this one live just a few times, but Vedder has played it more often during his solo tours.