Quick Escape

Album: Gigaton (2020)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • "Quick Escape" is a political sci-fi story about a devastated Earth, with the climate change-denying President Trump being held responsible for our planet's demise. The hard-rocking track ends with humanity fleeing to Mars to start life again on another world.
  • The concept of "Quick Escape" highlights the overall climate change theme that runs throughout Gigaton. The album title refers to the measurement for the melting of polar ice caps and the CD cover features Canadian photographer, filmmaker, and marine biologist Paul Nicklen's photo "Ice Waterfall." Taken in Svalbard, Norway, the image shows the Nordaustlandet ice cap gushing huge amounts of melted water.
  • Pearl Jam dropped the song on March 25, 2020. To tie in with its release, the band offered the "Quick Escape" arcade game where fans can select a member of the group to play an intergalactic Space Invader battle.
  • A sleep sack in a bivouac, and a Kerouac sense of time

    Pearl Jam's connection with Jack Kerouac dates back to 1997 when Eddie Vedder was recruited to read the Beat Generation writer's poem Hymn for the audio collection Kerouac: Kicks Joy Darkness.

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Sarah Brightman

Sarah BrightmanSongwriter Interviews

One of the most popular classical vocalists in the land is lining up a trip to space, which is the inspiration for many of her songs.

Al Kooper

Al KooperSongwriter Interviews

Kooper produced Lynyrd Skynyrd, played with Dylan and the Stones, and formed BS&T.

Reverend Horton Heat

Reverend Horton HeatSongwriter Interviews

The Reverend rants on psychobilly and the egghead academics he bashes in one of his more popular songs.

90210 to Buffy to Glee: How Songs Transformed TV

90210 to Buffy to Glee: How Songs Transformed TVSong Writing

Shows like Dawson's Creek, Grey's Anatomy and Buffy the Vampire Slayer changed the way songs were heard on TV, and produced some hits in the process.

Van Dyke Parks

Van Dyke ParksSongwriter Interviews

U2, Carly Simon, Joanna Newsom, Brian Wilson and Fiona Apple have all gone to Van Dyke Parks to make their songs exceptional.

Richard Marx

Richard MarxSongwriter Interviews

Richard explains how Joe Walsh kickstarted his career, and why he chose Hazard, Nebraska for a hit.