Former Talking Heads frontman David Byrne's collaboration with Dave Longstr… Read Full Bio ↴Former Talking Heads frontman David Byrne's collaboration with Dave Longstreth of Brooklyn's Dirty Projectors for the charity compilation Dark Was the Night, released through 4AD on February 16, 2009 in the UK and February 17, 2009 in the US. The album is the twentieth compilation release benefiting the Red Hot Organization, an international charity dedicated to raising funds and awareness for HIV and AIDS.

Knotty Pine
Dirty Projectors + David Byrne Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

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 poked right on through

Overall Meaning

The opening lines of Dirty Projectors and David Byrne's "Knotty Pine" suggest an exploration of the relationship between sound and image. The lyrics speak of the "sound that photographs make," emphasizing the way in which our senses can be activated in different ways by the same object. The visuals of the photographs evoke "regions of sharp precision," which are then balanced by the "over abundance" and "over indulgence" of the sonic experience. Thus, the song may be commenting on the ways in which our perceptions can be distorted or enhanced by the interplay of different senses, and how this affects our understanding of the world around us.

The final lines of the verse refer to "two old planks of knotty pine / and a couple of nails poked right on through." Here, the physicality of these simple materials seems to contrast with the complex emotions evoked by the earlier lines. Yet, the repetition of the word "knotty" suggests that even the most basic materials can contain hidden complexities and unresolved issues. This theme of complexity lurking beneath simplicity is key to the overall message of the song.

In summary, "Knotty Pine" by Dirty Projectors and David Byrne is a lyrically dense exploration of the relationship between sound, image, and perception. The song uses evocative language to suggest both the ways in which our different senses can inform and inform each other, and the hidden complexities that can lie beneath even the most simple materials.

Line by Line Meaning

Here is the sound that photographs make
This is the auditory experience evoked by photographs

When I see them
Upon visual inspection of the photographs

When I hear them
This refers to the synesthesic experience of sound correlating to the visuals

I see regions of sharp precision
The images are sharply focused and have high levels of detail and clarity

Over abundance
The images may have too many elements or be excessive in some manner

Over indulgence
The images may be excessively ornate or overdone

Tied together with rope and twine
The images are held together with simple, rustic materials

Stuck together with paste and glue
The images are joined together in a makeshift or improvised manner

Two old planks of knotty pine
These are the physical components of the structure being depicted

And a couple of nails poked right on through
This portrays the simplicity and rustic nature of the structure being depicted

Contributed by Joseph Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.