Build high, build high
Build high, build high

'Cause my old man is bleeding
And my poor dog needs feeding
And this time I'm really broke
So let me feel your leg of hope around me

Build high, build high
Build high, build high
I said, "Build high, yeah, build high"
Build high, build high
Build high, build high

Hold me up with pride
'Cause I'm not beautiful
And I don't have no pretty friends, can't pretend
I'm tired of believing in the things that go on here

Lately it makes me feel just like
(Some)
One's forming in the air, air, air

Build high, build high
Build high, build high
I said, "Build high, yeah, build high"
Build high, build high
Build high, build high

Overall Meaning

The Pixies' song "Build High" from their 1991 album "Trompe le Monde" is a song about desperation and hopelessness. The repeated phrase "Build high" takes on a double meaning. On one hand, it speaks to the desire to build oneself up, to rise above one's circumstances. On the other hand, it's a plea for help, a cry for someone to come to the rescue and lift the singer out of their current predicament. The imagery of the dog needing to be fed and the old man bleeding suggests poverty and struggle. The singer is looking for a way out, a way to escape the harsh realities of life.

The song also touches on themes of beauty and social acceptance. The singer describes themselves as not being beautiful and not having pretty friends. They are tired of believing in the things that go on around them, implying that they are disillusioned with the social norms and expected standards of beauty and behavior. The line "Lately it makes me feel just like / (Some) one's forming in the air, air, air" is somewhat cryptic, but it could be interpreted as a sense of impending doom or a feeling that something is amiss in the world around them.

Overall, "Build High" is a powerful song that speaks to the struggle of the marginalized and the desperate, while also touching on larger societal issues of beauty standards and social norms.

Line by Line Meaning

Build high, build high
The singer is encouraging someone, possibly themselves, to build something large or significant.

Build high, build high
The singer repeats the opening line as a form of emphasis and encouragement.

'Cause my old man is bleeding
The singer is motivated to build something because their father is in need of medical attention.

And my poor dog needs feeding
The artist also needs to build something in order to provide for their dog.

And this time I'm really broke
The artist is in a financially difficult situation and thus must build something to improve their circumstances.

So let me feel your leg of hope around me
The singer is asking for support, hoping that building something will bring them hope and a better future.

Hold me up with pride
The singer wants to be supported and uplifted with a strong sense of honor and dignity.

'Cause I'm not beautiful
The artist is not conventionally attractive and thus may feel overlooked or inferior in some way.

And I don't have no pretty friends, can't pretend
In addition to being unattractive, the artist feels isolated and unable to fake having more attractive friends.

I'm tired of believing in the things that go on here
The artist is disillusioned about their current environment and wants to create something better.

Lately it makes me feel just like (Some) One's forming in the air, air, air
The singer is experiencing a strong sense of possibility and creativity, feeling like something new is on the verge of being created.

Build high, build high Build high, build high I said, "Build high, yeah, build high" Build high, build high Build high, build high
The artist repeats their encouragement to build something significant as a way to improve their current situation.

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