Knotty Pine
David Byrne feat. Dirty Projectors Lyrics

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Here is the sound that photographs make
When I see them, when I hear them
I see regions of sharp precision
Over abundance, over indulgence

Tied together with rope and twine
Stuck together with paste and glue
Two old planks of knotty pine

And a couple of nails that poke right on through

Here is the sound that photographs make
When I see them, when I hear them
I see regions of sharp precision
Over abundance, over indulgence

Tied together with rope and twine
Stuck together with paste and glue

Two old planks of knotty pine
And a couple of nails that poke right on through

Overall Meaning

In David Byrne and The Dirty Projectors' song Knotty Pine, the lyrics seem to describe the intricate nature of life and memory. The singer begins by describing how photographs make a sound, and how that sound creates a vision of precision and abundance. The use of rope, twine, paste, and glue to hold together two old planks of knotty pine and nails that poke right on through creates a metaphor for the way memories are held together - by strings and glue, by pieces that poke through and hold everything in place.

The repetition of the chorus reinforces the idea that the singer is trying to make sense of something, or hold on to something important. The use of images like knotty pine and nails also suggest a kind of rustic or DIY aesthetic - the idea that memory is something pieced together by hand, rather than something that can be easily reproduced. This is reinforced by the idea that photographs themselves make a sound, an almost tactile experience that is difficult to describe.

Through all of this, the singer suggests that memories are valuable, worth preserving, and worth investing time and energy in. The song itself is a tribute to the power of memory, and the power of music to help us make sense of it.

Line by Line Meaning

Here is the sound that photographs make
The feeling that pictures give when we see and hear them

When I see them, when I hear them
The vibes that we get while experiencing the photographs

I see regions of sharp precision
The details captured by the camera are distinct and clear

Over abundance, over indulgence
The pictures show an excess of something, it could be light or details

Tied together with rope and twine
The things that are bound together by rope and twine

Stuck together with paste and glue
The objects stuck to each other by paste and glue

Two old planks of knotty pine
There are two old, not-so-smooth wooden boards

And a couple of nails that poke right on through
There are two nails that stick out from the planks

Writer(s): David Byrne, David Donnell Longstreth

Contributed by Sadie O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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