Routine was the theme
He'd wake up, wash and pour himself into uniform
Something he hadn't imagined being
As the merging traffic passed
He found himself staring down
At his own hands
Not remembering the change
Not recalling the plan
Was it?...

He was okay
But wondering
About wandering
Was it age?
By consequence?
Or was he moved sleight of hand?

Mondays were made to fall
Lost on a road he knew by heart
It was like a book he read in his sleep, endlessly
Sometimes he hid in his radio
Watching others pull into their homes
While he was drifting

On a line
Of his own
Off the line
Off the side
By the by
As dirt turned to sand
As if moved by sleight of hand

When he reached the shore of his clip-on world
He resurfaced to the norm
Organized his few things, his coat and keys
Any new realizations would have to wait
Till he had more time
More time

A time to dream
To himself
He waves goodbye
To himself
I'll see you on the other side
Another man moved by sleight of hand


Lyrics submitted by Trent, edited by Mellow_Harsher

Sleight of Hand Lyrics as written by Jeff Ament Eddie Vedder

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group

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Sleight of Hand song meanings
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  • +2
    General Comment

    As a lifelong Pearl Jam fan, I have been listening to this song for 10 years now since it was recorded. It now takes on more meaning than ever to me (corporate job etc., all the other cliches). I just want to point out that Eddie Vedder has referenced this theme in several other songs. But specifically, the song "I'm Open" has the lyric, "When he was six he believed that the moon overhead followed him, by nine he had deciphered the illusion, trading magic for fact, no trade-backs...so this is what it's like to be an adult." Also the song "Let Me Sleep" has the line, "Oh when I was a kid, oh how magic it seemed...oh please let me sleep, it's Christmas time." So back to this song, when I hear the line, "another man moved by sleight of hand," I think of how we grow up beleiving in magic, dreams, hopes and fantasies...only to realize eventually that these wishes of a fairy tale life usually go unfulfilled. All I can say is good luck to everyone who has posted here and to who is still searching for answers to life's riddles. But hear me out, if you listen to this song along with "Nothingman" too often, please hide your razor blades...

    Lummmberon September 21, 2010   Link

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