Wave of Mutilation
Joy Zipper Lyrics

The lyrics to Joy Zipper's song "Wave of Mutilation" describe someone who is ready to say goodbye to this world and take the ultimate plunge - driving their car into the ocean. They anticipate that others will think they've died, but in reality, they sail away on a metaphorical "wave of mutilation." The waves of the ocean that normally bring life and vitality here symbolize something darker and more dangerous - a wave of destruction and self-harm. The singer has already experienced adventures and strange encounters in the depths of the ocean, having "kissed mermaids" and "rode the El Niño" (a reference to a powerful ocean current phenomenon). They feel a strange kinship with the sea creatures they have encountered, referring to them as "crustaceans" and even fantasizing that they could find their way to the deepest trenches of the ocean, the Mariana Trench, using the same wave of mutilation. There is a sense of otherworldly beauty and melancholy to the imagery in the song, as if the singer is already halfway between life and death.

The song has an interesting provenance that even hardcore fans may not know. Originally written and performed by influential alternative band the Pixies in 1989, "Wave of Mutilation" is one of their most famous songs. The original lyrical content was more violent and surreal, dealing with cryptic imagery like dismemberment of flying fish and "dancing on the bones of the dead." The song generally fell under the category of "loud-quiet-loud" Pixies songs, starting off with a slow acoustic guitar riff and building to intense sections of screaming and guitar shredding. The wave of mutilation can thus be seen as both a metaphor for death and a metaphor for the power of music to drive people to extremes.

Joy Zipper's cover of "Wave of Mutilation" was released in 2003 as part of a tribute album to the Pixies. They put their own spin on the song, emphasizing the dreamy and melancholic qualities of the melody and adding layers of lush harmonies and keyboard instrumentation. They also toned down some of the more graphic and surreal imagery of the original lyrics. The result is a haunting and beautiful interpretation that stands on its own. "Wave of Mutilation" continues to be a song that resonates with music fans, surfers, and anyone who feels drawn to the ocean and its mysteries.