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.
Distance Equals Rate Times Time
Pixies Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
There wasn't any television
From looking into the sun
I'm looking into the sun
We got to think quick
Says the blind ST.Nick hey
From looking into the sun
We got to get some beer
We got no atmosphere
From looking into the sun
Looking into the sun
I had me a vision
There wasn't any television
From looking into the sun
Looking into the sun
Looking into the sun
Looking into the sun
Looking into the
Pixies’s song “Distance Equals Rate Times Time” is a chaotic stream of consciousness that seems to describe a surreal experience of staring directly into the sun. The song starts with Black Francis singing about having a vision, which he claims occurred without any television present. This line could be interpreted as a commentary on the power of imagination and the dangers of relying too heavily on screens to generate our ideas and perceptions. Francis then sing-speaks about the pressure to think quickly that is imposed by a character he refers to as “the blind ST.Nick” - a possible reference to both Santa Claus and the patron saint of thieves. This figure seems to be urging Francis to innovate and come up with something new, despite the difficulties presented by their shared visual impairment.
As the song progresses, it becomes clear that Francis is fixated on the sun, which he continues to stare into despite the obvious risks. He speaks of a need for beer, perhaps in an attempt to numb the discomfort caused by this intense gaze. However, he also acknowledges that there is “no atmosphere” to be found, suggesting that the surreal and dangerous environment he is describing may be entirely internal. The repetition of the phrase “looking into the sun” adds to the general feeling of unease and disorientation that the song evokes.
Overall, “Distance Equals Rate Times Time” can be understood as a meditation on the power of the imagination to warp and disrupt our perceptions of reality. By presenting a surreal and disorienting scenario, Pixies encourage us to question our reliance on screens, and to try to find more authentic and visceral modes of experiencing the world.
Line by Line Meaning
I had me a vision
I had a spiritual revelation
There wasn't any television
I disconnected from modern technology
From looking into the sun
By engaging with something powerful and overwhelming
I'm looking into the sun
I am facing a daunting challenge
We got to think quick
We need to act fast and decisively
Says the blind ST.Nick hey
Even someone who is blind can sense the urgency
We got to get some beer
We need to secure a vital resource
We got no atmosphere
The environment is barren and unnerving
Looking into the sun
Continuing to confront a significant challenge
Looking into the sun
Persisting in the face of adversity
Looking into the sun
Maintaining focus and determination
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