Dead
Pixies Lyrics

The lyrics to "Dead" by Pixies may seem nonsensical and enigmatic at first glance, but upon closer examination, they reveal a dark and disturbing message about the destructive and suffocating nature of a romantic relationship.

The song opens with the singer addressing his partner with the moniker "Bathsheba," a reference to the biblical character who was pursued by King David and ultimately became his wife. The use of this name underscores the singer's feelings of lust, desire, and even obsession with his lover. He acknowledges that their relationship is dysfunctional and toxic, with his partner suffocating him emotionally. He implores her to give him what he craves most: death.

The second verse references a trio of activities that evoke feelings of violence and aggression: "apin' rapin' tapin' catharsis." The combination of these words suggests a brutal and almost sadistic release of pent-up emotions. The singer then contrasts his physical vitality ("My blood is working") with the emotional void he feels ("my, my heart is dead").

The final lines of the song introduce a new character, Uriah, who repeatedly hits the "crapper" (toilet) before dying. This final repetition of the word "dead" drives home the song's bleak message about the inevitable consequences of a relationship that is suffocating and destructive.

Overall, "Dead" is a stark and unsettling commentary on the darker aspects of love and desire.