Birds In The Majic Industry
Pavement Lyrics


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Epileptic seizure in the back
Of a red Capri and you're tossing me the keys
Let's ride it out, feed the freak his medicine
And drive it out, wander the new romance
Wander the new romance, Shaka Zulu

Stick your penitentiary clothes
In a furnace vent, it's a dead eye castanet
And ride it out, crash test intermission path
Ride it out 'cause I'm one of the most wanted
One of the most wanted, shotgun three beers

What goes on behind magician's capes?
It's polite to stare when the killer's in the electric chair
He will ride it out, cushioned by his one last meal
An 8 oz steak, all the cola he could drink
Invoke the apparitioner, invoke the apparitioner
Invoke the apparitioner, invoke the apparitioner

Unprotected by a cyclone fence
And a hurricane door and a tornado alarm
The weather man, safest house on the block of safe houses
Decorate the alley way, decorate the alley way
Decorate the alley way, decorate the alley way
Decorate the alley way

Epileptic seizure in the back
Of a red Capri, will you please toss me the keys?
And drive away, feed the freak his medicine
And drive away, wander the new romance
Wander the new romance, shotgun don't stick





Shine, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Pavement's "Birds In The Majic Industry" are cryptic and obscure, and can be interpreted in a variety of ways. At face value, the song seems to be about a drug-induced joyride, with the singer experiencing an epileptic seizure in the back of a red Capri and asking his friend to drive him around while he takes his medication. The lyrics also touch on themes of wantedness and danger, with the singer being "one of the most wanted" and invoking the apparitioner, possibly a reference to death. The song ends with a plea to "drive away" and "wander the new romance", suggesting a desire to escape and start anew.


However, like many of Pavement's songs, "Birds In The Majic Industry" may also contain deeper political and social commentary. The line "invoking the apparitioner" could be seen as a critique of religious institutions and their role in perpetuating oppressive systems. The references to safe houses and cyclone fences suggest a mistrust of authority and a desire to break free from societal constraints. Overall, the song seems to be a meditation on the fleeting nature of life, and the importance of living in the moment and embracing change.


Line by Line Meaning

Epileptic seizure in the back
There's a chaotic scene happening in the car


Of a red Capri and you're tossing me the keys
You're giving me control of the situation


Let's ride it out, feed the freak his medicine
Let's endure this situation and take care of the one who's struggling


And drive it out, wander the new romance
Let's escape the chaos and explore new possibilities


Wander the new romance, Shaka Zulu
Let's do so with bravery and confidence


Stick your penitentiary clothes
Get rid of anything that's weighing you down


In a furnace vent, it's a dead eye castanet
Hide those things in a place where they can no longer affect you


And ride it out, crash test intermission path
Keep going even in the face of obstacles and challenges


Ride it out 'cause I'm one of the most wanted
Keep going even when faced with danger or opposition


One of the most wanted, shotgun three beers
Even though you're wanted, find joy in the simple things in life


What goes on behind magician's capes?
Wonder about the mysteries of the world


It's polite to stare when the killer's in the electric chair
It's natural to be curious even in the face of danger


He will ride it out, cushioned by his one last meal
Even in the end, find comfort in the final moments


An 8 oz steak, all the cola he could drink
Find joy in the simple pleasures of life


Invoke the apparitioner, invoke the apparitioner
Call upon something greater than yourself


Unprotected by a cyclone fence
Being vulnerable to the world around you


And a hurricane door and a tornado alarm
Even with protections in place, you can't control everything


The weather man, safest house on the block of safe houses
Sometimes the one who seems the most secure is the most afraid


Decorate the alley way, decorate the alley way
Find beauty even in the unexpected and hidden places


Epileptic seizure in the back
Returning to the chaos from the beginning


Of a red Capri, will you please toss me the keys?
Asking for control again


And drive away, feed the freak his medicine
Escaping and taking care of the one who needs help


And drive away, wander the new romance
Finding new experiences and possibilities


Wander the new romance, shotgun don't stick
Continuing to be brave and confident


Shine, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah
Embracing and celebrating one's own power and potential




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