Although quite popular on alternative rock radio in the United States due to heavy airplay of the singles "Monkey Gone to Heaven" and "Here Comes Your Man", they were never widely popular there, but found success in Europe, especially in the UK (where they managed three top 40 singles "Velouria", "Planet of Sound" and a re-release of "Debaser") and Belgium and the Netherlands, where they were heavily broadcasted by alternative public radio.
The band's style of alternative rock music is heavily influenced by punk and surf rock, and while highly melodic, is capable of being tremendously abrasive at the same time. Francis is the Pixies' primary songwriter and singer and has a distinctly desperate, yowling delivery. He has typically written cryptic songs about offbeat subjects, such as UFOs and surrealism. References to mental instability, violent Biblical imagery, and physical injury feature in many of the band's songs.
The group is frequently posited as the immediate forebear of the alternative rock boom of the 1990s, though they disbanded before reaping any of the benefits this might have brought them. Avowed fan Kurt Cobain's acknowledgement of the debt Nirvana owed to the Pixies, along with similar tributes by other alternative bands, ensured that the Pixies' legacy and influence grew substantially in the years following their demise.
In 1993, during an interview with BBC Radio 5, Black Francis announced that the band had split - something he had not told his bandmates. After the interview, he called Santiago, who in turn faxed Deal and Lovering the news the next morning. After the split, Black Francis inverted his stage name to Frank Black and embarked on a successful solo career, while Deal resumed her role in The Breeders with her identical twin sister Kelley. In 2004, the band reunited for a tour - documented in the film loudQUIETloud - and released a new single, "Bam Thwok" that summer. In 2007, Black Francis (now going by that name again) stated in an interview that the reunion was "done" even though the members remain in good terms with each other. In later interviews however, he began to mention that he might be willing to record another Pixies album. Nonetheless, Francis has returned to his solo career and Deal to the Breeders, both of which released albums and toured in 2008. Lovering and Santiago, meanwhile, set up their own project, a band called Everybody.
In order to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the release of Doolittle, Pixies launched a tour in October 2009, on which they perform all the album's songs and B-sides. In the autumn of 2011 the "Lost Cities" tour continued the "Doolittle Tour" as they played many venues for the first time.
Brick Is Red
Pixies Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And Jimmy's cast
Hang me
A white moon's hot
The other side's not
Hang me
It's not time for me to go
My eyes have turned just the color of
Diamond
Just the color
The frayed color of ice
Diamond
Just the color
The frayed color of ice
The Pixies's song Brick Is Red is a short and intense track that features cryptic lyrics that leave much to the interpretation of the listener. The opening lines, "A fist is fast / And Jimmy's cast / Hang me," create a disorienting and eerie atmosphere from the start, leaving the listener wondering who Jimmy is and why he has a cast on. The repetition of "hang me" is also disturbing and suggests some kind of threat or danger.
The following lines, "A white moon's hot / The other side's not / Hang me," further contribute to the song's unsettling vibe. The juxtaposition of a hot moon against a cold, dark side creates an image that is both intriguing and disturbing. The repeated phrase "hang me" suggests a desire for punishment or martyrdom, but it's unclear who is speaking or why they want to be hanged.
The final lines of the song, "My eyes have turned just the color of diamond / Just the color / The frayed color of ice / Diamond / Just the color / The frayed color of ice," continue the theme of ambiguity and mystery. It's unclear who is speaking and what they mean by their eyes turning the color of diamond or ice. The use of the word "frayed" suggests damage or wear and tear, adding to the song's sense of unease and tension.
Overall, Brick Is Red is a song that thrives on its enigmatic and unsettling lyrics, leaving the listener to draw their own conclusions about the meaning and significance behind them.
Line by Line Meaning
A fist is fast
A fist moves quickly and can inflict harm
And Jimmy's cast
Jimmy has a cast on his body, indicating that he may have been injured or hurt
Hang me
An expression of resignation, as if the singer is ready to face consequences or punishment
A white moon's hot
Although the moon often appears cool and serene, it can also be seen as intense and passionate
The other side's not
In contrast to the hot side of the moon, the other side is relatively cooler or more subdued
It's not time for me to go
The singer is not yet ready or willing to leave their current situation or life
My eyes have turned just the color of
The singer's eyes have changed in appearance to match a particular color
Diamond
Diamonds are often associated with wealth and luxury, or with a hard, unyielding surface
Just the color
The change in color is significant, and it is the only thing the artist is emphasizing
The frayed color of ice
The color of ice can be seen as faded or worn due to its exposure to the elements or breaking down over time
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: CHARLES THOMPSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Mike D
on Nimrod's Son
It’s “shock the people” not chocolate people