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.
Broken Face
Pixies Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I got a
I got a broken face
Uh-hu, uh-hu, uh-hu, uh-hu, ooo
I got a broken face
I got a broken face
I got a broken face
Children with his sisters
They were his daughters
They were his favorite lovers
I got no lips, I got no tongue
Whatever I say is only spit
I got no lips, I got no tongue
I got a broken face, uh-hu, uh-hu
I got a broken face
There was this man who snapped his poke
In little pieces
And then they drilled holes
And then they put 'em back in there
I got no lips, I got no tongue
Whatever I say is only spit
I got no lips, I got no tongue
I got a broken face
Uh-hu, uh-hu, uh-hu, uh-hu, ooo
I got a broken face
The little thing who does my laundry
Speaks no English
But if you saw her
You'd say "isn't she lovely"
I got no lips, I got no tongue
Whatever I say is only spit
I got no lips, I got no tongue
The first part of the lyrics of Pixies' song 'Broken Face' is repeated several times, emphasizing the importance of the broken-ness of his face. The lyrics then delve into a story of incestuous love between a brother and his sisters, resulting in two daughters who were also his lovers. The broken face of the singer becomes an ironic symbol, as he continues to talk about how he has no lips or tongue, rendering him unable to speak properly. The repetition of the line "I got no lips, I got no tongue / Whatever I say is only spit" adds to the feeling of hopelessness and despite the severity of his face's disfigurement, his inability to speak is what ultimately torments him.
The second part of the lyrics tells a tale of a man who broke his poke into pieces, and then they were drilled and put back together. The lyrics could be interpreted as metaphorical, describing the emotional and mental turmoil the man was experiencing. The repetition of "I got a broken face" at the beginning and the end of each verse becomes almost hypnotic, highlighting the theme of brokenness in the song.
Overall, 'Broken Face' is a song that explores themes of abuse, disfigurement, and emotional turmoil. The use of repetition in the song, particularly with the words "I got a broken face," adds to the haunting feeling of the lyrics.
Line by Line Meaning
I got a broken face
The singer's face is disfigured or damaged in some way.
I got no lips, I got no tongue Whatever I say is only spit
The singer's mouth is also damaged, preventing them from speaking properly.
There was this boy who had two Children with his sisters They were his daughters They were his favorite lovers
This line is about incest and sexual abuse, which suggests a possible cause of the singer's face and mouth injuries.
There was this man who snapped his poke In little pieces And then they drilled holes And then they put 'em back in there
This line describes a violent and disturbing act, which reinforces the idea that the artist's injuries may be a result of abuse or trauma.
The little thing who does my laundry Speaks no English But if you saw her You'd say "isn't she lovely"
This line appears to be unrelated to the rest of the song, but it may be a commentary on the way we prioritize beauty and appearance over more important qualities like language and communication.
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