This Red Book
Pinback Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I've found another way though.
Tells us all it knows
I've finally caught a deal.
Your face above
Fades out all the reels.
Your face above
Fazes all there is.
Uh oh - There's a spot in my eye.
Uh oh - There's a pill I have missed.
The cloves of garlic flow
Like surfing down Pompeii.
I'm messing up your show
You really should have guessed.
Your face above
The only spark I need.
Your face above
If I could reach your throat
Uh oh - I could strangle you all
Uh oh - Did I say that out loud?
Although it passed the mail
It blew a fuse and bailed
It's too blue to be ours.
And though it passed as red
It's too far off and best guess
Has it soaked at home.
Uh oh - There's a spot in my eye
Uh oh - There's a pill I have missed.
And this little red book knows.
It's become my every day.
I've taped over your show
You really should have guessed
Your face above
The only spark I need.
Your face above
If I could reach your throat
Uh oh - I could strangle you all
Uh oh - Did I say that out loud?
And though the text was fed,
Too obvious, they said
and moved it underground.
Between the lines they met
Like sulphur burns they spread
Too angry to go out.
Light my heard
Make me burn out
Like your name
The lyrics to Pinback's song "This Red Book" are shrouded in mystery and open to interpretation. The song seems to be about the singer's obsession with a person, possibly a former lover, whose face is "the only spark" they need. The mention of a "little red book" and a "taped-over show" suggests that the singer is using some kind of self-help guide or therapy to deal with their fixation. They express moments of erratic behavior, such as saying out loud that they could strangle everyone, and feeling "a spot in (their) eye" or "a pill (they) missed." The singer also makes references to "cloves of garlic flow" and "surfing down Pompeii," signaling a sense of chaos and destruction.
Line by Line Meaning
And I don't know how it goes
I'm unsure about what's happening.
I've found another way though.
I've discovered an alternative approach.
Tells us all it knows
Shares everything it's aware of.
I've finally caught a deal.
I've finally struck an agreement.
Your face above
Your image occupies my mind.
Fades out all the reels.
Everything else becomes insignificant.
Fazes all there is.
Creates an overwhelming impact on everything.
Uh oh - There's a spot in my eye.
I'm experiencing some disturbance.
Uh oh - There's a pill I have missed.
I've forgotten to take a medicine.
The cloves of garlic flow
The aroma of garlic spreads throughout.
Like surfing down Pompeii.
It's like riding the waves in a disaster.
I'm messing up your show
I'm ruining your performance.
You really should have guessed.
You should have anticipated it.
The only spark I need.
You are the only source of inspiration.
If I could reach your throat
If only I could silence you.
Uh oh - I could strangle you all
I might want to harm you.
Uh oh - Did I say that out loud?
Did I speak that aloud?
Although it passed the mail
The letter was delivered.
It blew a fuse and bailed
It failed to function.
It's too blue to be ours.
It seems foreign to us.
And though it passed as red
Even when it appeared to be ours.
It's too far off and best guess
It's too far beyond our guess.
Has it soaked at home.
Did it remain in our possession?
And this little red book knows.
This book contains my secrets.
It's become my every day.
It's a regular part of my routine.
I've taped over your show
I've overwritten your performance.
And though the text was fed,
Even when the information was provided.
Too obvious, they said
They deemed it too straightforward.
and moved it underground.
They kept it hidden.
Between the lines they met
They communicated discreetly.
Like sulphur burns they spread
They spread like a chemical reaction.
Too angry to go out.
Too irritated to socialize.
Light my heart
Ignite my passion.
Make me burn out
Let me consume myself.
Like your name
The way your name affects me.
Contributed by Andrew Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.