Pinback are an indie rock band from San Diego, California, currently signed… Read Full Bio ↴Pinback are an indie rock band from San Diego, California, currently signed to Temporary Residence Ltd.. The band was formed in 1998 by singers, songwriters and multi-instrumentalists Armistead Burwell Smith IV (also known as Zach Smith, a former member of Three Mile Pilot and the primary member of Systems Officer) and Rob Crow formerly of Thingy, Heavy Vegetable, and Goblin Cock. First acquainted as roommates, they began making recordings in their home, playing along to pre-recorded beats. Today, the band has 2 drummers that switch off and on, Chris Prescott, and Tom Zinser. Other members of Pinback past and present are: Terrin Durfey, Eric Hoversten, Ryan Bromley, Cameron Jones, Kenseth Thideau, Gabriel Voiles, Dmitri Dziensuwski, Donny Van Zandt, and Thatcher Orbitachi.

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.

Water Run
Pinback Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Water runs
Water runs
Through the pipes tonight, ha
Water runs
Through the pipes tonight

And refill
And refill

And refill
And refill

Water runs
Water runs
Through the pipes tonight, ha
Water runs
Through the pipes tonight, ha
Water runs
Through the pipes tonight, ha

Water runs
Through the pipes tonight

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Pinback's song Water Run are straightforward yet evocative. The repetition of "water runs" and "through the pipes tonight" creates a sense of urgency and restlessness, almost as if the singer is unable to escape the constant flow of water through their environment. The use of the word "ha" adds a bit of playful sarcasm, as if the singer is acknowledging the absurdity of being fixated on something as mundane as the sound of water running through pipes.

The lines "and refill" are interesting as they suggest a cyclic nature to the water flow, further emphasizing the sense of entrapment and repetition conveyed in the song. The theme of confinement is also present in the repetition of the phrase "through the pipes tonight" which creates a sense of confinement and claustrophobia, as if the listener is trapped within a small space. The lyrics could be interpreted as a metaphor for feeling stuck in a rut, unable to escape the monotony of daily life.

Overall, Pinback's Water Run is a deceptively simple yet thought-provoking song that manages to capture a sense of restlessness and entrapment through its minimalist lyrics and repetitive structure.

Line by Line Meaning

Water runs
The flow of water is being observed

Water runs
The water is flowing through a system

Through the pipes tonight, ha
The water is flowing specifically through pipes during the night

Water runs
The water is continuing to flow

Through the pipes tonight
This continuous flow is happening during the night

And refill
There is a need to replenish the water supply

And refill
This replenishment must be done multiple times

And refill
The water supply is not infinite

And refill
The process of refilling must be repeated

Water runs
The flow of water has not stopped

Water runs
The water continues to flow through the system