Featuring Deal on lead vocals, the song is one of Pixies' biggest hits and a crowd favorite at concerts, often played as the encore. The melody line comes from Deal's simple but effective bass playing—the same bassline is repeated throughout the song.
"Gigantic" never achieved a ranking on any major charts and was their only release from Surfer Rosa. However, it was a fairly successful first hit for Pixies and maintains radio play to this day. The single version of the song appeared on Pixies' 2004 best-of compilation, Wave of Mutilation: Best of Pixies.
The song was re-recorded soon after the release of Surfer Rosa, with a slightly altered arrangement and production from Gil Norton for release as the band's first single in 1988. The single also featured a new version of "River Euphrates", from the same album. Further included were a live version of "Vamos" (a song that also appeared on mini-LP, Come On Pilgrim and their first LP Surfer Rosa) and a live cover of the song "In Heaven (The Lady in The Radiator Song)" from the David Lynch movie Eraserhead, both recorded at the Town and Country Club in London, England. The single was released in the United Kingdom on 4AD as a 12-inch vinyl and on CD. The CD version was re-issued in 1999. (No version of this single was ever released in the United States.)
The tracks were recorded with Gil Norton who produced the next album, Doolittle. The back cover of the 12 inch features a large leather glove.
Gigantic
Pixies Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
What a gas it was to see him
Walk her everyday into a shady place
With her lips she said
She said, "Hey Paul, hey Paul, hey Paul
Let's have a ball
Hey Paul, hey Paul, hey PaulLet's have a ball
Hey Paul, hey Paul, hey Paul
Let's have a ball"
Gigantic, gigantic, gigantic
A big, big love
Gigantic, gigantic, gigantic
A big, big love
Lovely legs there are
What a big black mass, what a hunk of love
He'll walk her every day into a shady place
Like the dark, but I'd want him
"Hey Paul, hey Paul, hey Paul
Let's have a ball
Hey Paul, hey Paul, hey Paul
Let's have a ball
Hey Paul, hey Paul, hey Paul
Let's have a ball"
Gigantic, gigantic, gigantic
A big, big love
Gigantic, gigantic, gigantic
A big, big love
A big, big love
Gigantic, gigantic, gigantic
A big, big love
A big, big love
A big, big love
A big, big love
A big, big love
A big, big love
A big, big love
A big, big love
A big, big love
The Pixies' song Gigantic is a love song about a woman's admiration for her lover, Paul. She describes him as having teeth as white as snow and she loves to see him walk her into a shady place every day. The woman is intrigued by Paul's big black mass and hunk of love. She flirts with him saying, "Let's have a ball," wanting to have a good time and explore their love together.
The chorus of the song repeats "Gigantic, gigantic, gigantic, a big, big love," emphasizing the intensity of their love. The woman appreciates Paul's lovely legs and the way he walks with her into the darkness. She is clearly infatuated with him and relishes their time together.
The song can be interpreted as a celebration of unconventional love and defying societal norms. It also highlights the power dynamics in relationships and the pleasure that can be found in giving into one's desires. The driving guitar and drums in the song add to the intensity of the lyrics and create a sense of urgency and excitement.
Line by Line Meaning
And this I know his teeth as white as snow
I remember his teeth being very white and clean
What a gas it was to see him
It was a joyful experience to see him
Walk her everyday into a shady place
He takes her to a secluded area every day
With her lips she said
She spoke with her lips
"Hey Paul, hey Paul, hey Paul
Let's have a ball
Hey Paul, hey Paul, hey Paul
Let's have a ball
Hey Paul, hey Paul, hey Paul
Let's have a ball"
She repeatedly asks Paul to have a good time
Gigantic, gigantic, gigantic
A big, big love
Gigantic, gigantic, gigantic
A big, big love
Their love is huge and massive
Lovely legs there are
What a big black mass, what a hunk of love
He'll walk her every day into a shady place
Like the dark, but I'd want him
She admires his physical features and wishes to be with him in the seclusion he takes her to
Gigantic, gigantic, gigantic
A big, big love
Gigantic, gigantic, gigantic
A big, big love
Their love is huge and massive
Gigantic, gigantic, gigantic
A big, big love
Gigantic, gigantic, gigantic
A big, big love
A big, big love
A big, big love
A big, big love
A big, big love
A big, big love
A big, big love
A big, big love
Their love is repeatedly described as colossal
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Kim Deal, Charles Thompson
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@PopCornJamie
"Gigantic"
And this I know
His teeth as white as snow
What a gas it was to see him
Walk her every day
Into a shady place
With her lips she said
She said
Hey Paul, Hey Paul, Hey Paul, let's have a ball [3x]
Gigantic, gigantic, gigantic
A big big love
Gigantic, gigantic, gigantic
A big big love
Lovely legs they are
What a big black mess
What a hunk of love
Walk her every day into a shady place
He's like the dark, but I'd want him
Hey Paul, Hey Paul, Hey Paul, let's have a ball [3x]
Gigantic, gigantic, gigantic
A big big love
Gigantic, gigantic, gigantic
A big big love
Gigantic, gigantic, gigantic
A big big love
Gigantic, gigantic, gigantic
A big big love
@chelseagreene4638
And this I know
His teeth as white as snow
What a gas it was to see him
Walk her every day
Into a shady place
With her lips she said
She said
Hey Paul, Hey Paul, Hey Paul, let's have a ball [3x]
Gigantic, gigantic, gigantic
A big big love
Gigantic, gigantic, gigantic
A big big love
Lovely legs they are
What a big black mess
What a hunk of love
Walk her every day into a shady place
He's like the dark, but I'd want him
Hey Paul, Hey Paul, Hey Paul, let's have a ball [3x]
Gigantic, gigantic, gigantic
A big big love
Gigantic, gigantic, gigantic
A big big love
Gigantic, gigantic, gigantic
A big big love
Gigantic, gigantic, gigantic
A big big love
@iamhereblossom1588
I remember being a teenager and thinking that bass line was so badass. it's so simple but it's the simplicity and that TONE that get you.
@mellolvideos
Iamhereblossom I agree so much.
@danielegoularte
It's, definitively, badass!
@moshspeggeti
This is an iconic bassline!
@paulr6415
The pixies and nirvana were my first draws to want to play bass.
@jonsonkie
I don't think its just the tone, its the restraint. I remember watching a documentary where Kim talks about how bassists feel the need to embellish their riffs and are afraid to play something simple. Kim just doesn't give a fuck, by not adding anything to the baseline she adds so much more.
@cristianodgers4548
Hey Paul, hey Paul, hey Paul Let's have a ball" is the inspiration of Hello, hello, hello, how low?
And the same explosion in the chorus. Smell like teen spirit mother!!
@livingabstraction2206
Well by now I'm sure you know that Nirvana was always honest about "Smells like Teen Spirit" being their attempt to write a Pixies song. And they nearly cut the song from the album because it sounded too much like the Pixies
@AnaRodrigues-ft7kf
😱😱😱😱😱
@anomicandlost46
Kurt Cobain is dog shit