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.
Caribou
Pixies Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I hate this street
Give dirt to me
I've got lament
This human form
Where I was born
I now repent
Caribou
Caribou
Ooh
Repent
Repent
Give me white
Ground to run
Air for guns
Lets me knife
Knife me, let's
I will get
What I like
Caribou
Caribou
Caribou
Ooh
Repent
Repent
The lyrics to "Caribou" by Pixies might seem cryptic on the surface, but they reveal a lot about the conflicted emotions of the singer. The opening lines express a sense of dissatisfaction with the place where the singer lives, as they describe the "cement" and "street" in negative terms. They long for something more natural and organic, as they express a desire to be given "dirt." However, even as they express this dissatisfaction with their surroundings, they also seem to feel a sense of self-loathing. They "bite lament," suggesting that they are consumed by regret or sadness, and they "repent" for their very existence.
The chorus, which repeats the word "Caribou" twice before and after the word "repent," adds to the sense of confusion and inner turmoil. The caribou, which is a type of deer that lives in the Arctic, might represent the wildness and freedom that the singer desires. It could also symbolize the singer's own untamed instincts, which they feel a need to suppress or control. The repetition of the word "repent" reinforces the idea that the singer is struggling with guilt or shame.
The second verse takes on a more aggressive tone, as the singer expresses a desire to run free and "knife" their way through life. This could be interpreted as a violent fantasy, or it could be seen as a metaphor for the singer's desire to break free from the constraints of society and live on their own terms. In any case, the verse ends with another repetition of the word "Caribou," suggesting that this is the ultimate goal or ideal that the singer is striving for.
Overall, "Caribou" is a song that explores themes of alienation, guilt, and a longing for freedom. It is full of vivid imagery and enigmatic lyrics that leave plenty of room for interpretation.
Line by Line Meaning
I live cement
I am surrounded by the cold and unfeeling nature of the urban world.
I hate this street
The specific location where I currently exist brings me great discomfort and disdain.
Give dirt to me
I long for the raw and natural beauty of the earth, as opposed to the sterile and manufactured environments of cities.
I bite lament
My sorrow and frustration manifest in my biting and destructive actions towards myself and others.
This human form
My physical body is a burden and hinders my ability to achieve true happiness and contentment.
Where I was born
The circumstances of my birth have limited and defined my experiences and potential for growth.
I now repent
I acknowledge my past mistakes and missteps, and vow to actively work towards becoming a better version of myself.
Give me wide
I desire vast and expansive spaces in which to explore and roam freely.
Ground to run
I want the opportunity to move and run unencumbered.
And foregone
I want to leave my past behind and move towards a new and untainted future.
Lets me knife
I want to be able to cut through the limitations and obstacles that have held me back.
Knife me lets
I am willing to endure pain and discomfort in order to achieve my goals and desires.
I will get
I am determined to obtain what I desire, no matter the cost or sacrifice required.
What I like
I will pursue only those things that bring me joy and satisfaction.
Caribou
This is a recurring statement, potentially representing a desire to escape the constraints of human society and exist in a more natural state like the caribou.
Repent
This is also a recurring statement, representing the ongoing process of self-reflection and atonement that the artist is engaging in.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Charles Thompson
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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on Nimrod's Son
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