Zach Smith is noted for his unique style of bass-playing, as he combines strumming (the most prevalent of his techniques), popping, and slapping. He uses an Alembic Stanley Clarke bass and is currently working on a solo project entitled Systems Officer. Smith tends to write most of the instrumental parts of Pinback's songs while Rob Crow's forte is lyric-writing. At their concerts, they are known for giving away limited edition tour EPs. Both feel strongly about keeping their music in the independent scene, free from excessive media attention and corporate pressures that could affect the band's original sound.
Bloods on Fire
Pinback Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Vein to vein. Torn and Sore.
Carpet so thick and worn.
Blanketed, dark, and warm.
Break the bed, Burn the floor.
Heat to Head. Twisted. Sore.
Accident. Never warned.
Calm Yourself.
Bloods on fire.
It's not in the spark that's not in your eye.
Like we used to talk.
It's not in the phrase that's not in the language
That we used to talk.
Not in the face, You missed me. There.
It's not in the science that we didn't learn
When we used to talk.
Sit outside, Penètance, Just
Just let me know, Please say the words.
I'm alright, what was that sound?
Woke me up, Now you're around.
Pick me up, Drag me around.
Don't forget to breathe now.
Calm yourself.
Bloods on fire.
We all forgot.
We're all lost in Autumn.
It's not in the dead shocks that dropped underneath us
When we used the car.
It's not in the strings we didn't pull to move you around the floor.
Where are you now?
Pacing a faceless maw somewhere vague.
You're not outside. You're not inside. You're not anymore.
Where did you go?
Here's to the pranks we never pulled
And never will.
The song "Bloods on Fire" by Pinback is a hauntingly beautiful confession of regrets and missed opportunities wrapped in the guise of a dreamy lullaby. The opening line, "brain to head, what is that for?" sets the tone for a surreal and introspective journey inside the singer's mind where he can't make sense of his thoughts and feelings. The imagery of "vein to vein, torn and sore" suggests a physical pain as well, perhaps caused by the fervor of emotions that the singer is struggling to contain.
The second verse paints a picture of a room that seems almost alive with memories and emotions, yet suffocating and inanimate at the same time. The singer seems to be recoiling from this place, trying to escape the crushing weight of it all. The lines "can't explain, nevermore" and "accident, never warned" hint at a sense of unreconciled guilt or trauma that the singer is trying to come to terms with.
The chorus repeats the phrase "calm yourself, bloods on fire" like a mantra, as if the singer is trying to hold on to some semblance of control over his emotions. He reflects on how things used to be between him and someone he cared about deeply, but now the connection seems lost. The lines "It's not in the science that we didn't learn when we used to talk" suggest that the singer may have taken their relationship for granted, failing to invest in it and nurture it like it deserved.
The last verse is a poignant cry of longing for someone who's gone, almost as if the singer has realized too late what they meant to him. The final lines "here's to the pranks we never pulled and never will" echo with a melancholic regret for all the missed opportunities and unfulfilled promises that life sometimes brings.
Line by Line Meaning
Brain to head. What is that for?
Questioning the purpose of one's own thoughts and actions.
Vein to vein. Torn and Sore.
Physical pain and emotional anguish.
Carpet so thick and worn.
An environment that feels oppressive and suffocating.
Blanketed, dark, and warm.
A sense of comfort and security despite the oppressive atmosphere.
Break the bed, Burn the floor.
An intense and destructive release of emotions.
Heat to Head. Twisted. Sore.
The overwhelming and torturous nature of emotions.
Accident. Never warned.
Unexpected and unavoidable events.
Can't explain. Nevermore.
The inability to put into words the depth of emotions felt in a moment.
Calm Yourself. Bloods on fire.
A plea for emotional stability in the midst of turmoil.
It's not in the spark that's not in your eye. Like we used to talk.
The loss of intimacy and connection in a relationship.
It's not in the phrase that's not in the language That we used to talk.
The inability to communicate effectively in a relationship.
Not in the face, You missed me. There.
The feeling of being misunderstood and unseen in a relationship.
It's not in the science that we didn't learn When we used to talk.
The lack of understanding and knowledge in a relationship.
Sit outside, Penètance, Just Just let me know, Please say the words.
A desperate plea for communication and clarity.
I'm alright, what was that sound? Woke me up, Now you're around.
The jarring presence of someone in a moment of vulnerability.
Pick me up, Drag me around. Don't forget to breathe now.
A feeling of being overwhelmed and out of control.
We all forgot. We're all lost in Autumn.
A shared sense of confusion and lack of direction.
It's not in the dead shocks that dropped underneath us When we used the car.
The fleeting nature of past experiences and memories.
It's not in the strings we didn't pull to move you around the floor. Where are you now?
The missed opportunities and failed attempts to connect with someone.
Pacing a faceless maw somewhere vague. You're not outside. You're not inside. You're not anymore.
The feeling of being lost and disconnected from one's surroundings and self.
Here's to the pranks we never pulled And never will.
A nostalgic reflection on missed opportunities and regret.
Contributed by Elijah V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.