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.
Letter to Memphis
Pixies Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I can't believe it's true
She came here from Memphis
Across the ocean sailing
And I saw her and I pleaded
Why do you come so far?
And she said," Trying to get to you
Trying to get to you"
I'm sending a letter
I'll send it right to you
I'll send it to Memphis
I know that someday
Everything I needed and I wanted
Used to be that my head was haunted
And all these sirens they make me mad
And all this violence it brings me down
I feel strong, I feel lucky
Trying to get to you
Said I'm going to get to you
Trying to get to you
The Pixies’ ‘Letter to Memphis’ is a song about a long-distance relationship. The singer met his lover in Memphis and she sailed across the ocean to be with him. Although he cannot believe she is finally with him, he is still amazed that she came from so far away. The lyrics portray the singer as being anxious about the distance, asking her why she came so far. However, her response shows her strong desire to be with him, stating that she has tried hard to get to him. The singer sends a letter back to Memphis, hoping that someday everything he needs and wants will be waiting for him there.
The song has a somber tone and uses elements of romanticism to evoke strong emotions in the listeners. There is a sense of longing and hopelessness that is expressed by the singer, who is waiting for his lover to return. The use of sirens and violence can be interpreted as a metaphor for the challenges and obstacles that a long-distance relationship presents. The singer feels lucky to have found someone who is willing to cross oceans for him, but at the same time, he feels overwhelmed by the distance between them.
Overall, ‘Letter to Memphis’ is a song that captures the passionate intensity of long-distance relationships. It is a reminder that love can conquer all and that nothing can stop two people who are meant to be together.
Line by Line Meaning
The day since I met her
Since the day I met her
I can't believe it's true
I am in disbelief that it actually happened
She came here from Memphis
She traveled here from Memphis
Across the ocean sailing
She sailed across the ocean to get here
And I saw her and I pleaded
When I saw her, I begged her
Why do you come so far?
Why did you travel such a long distance?
And she said," Trying to get to you
She replied by saying she came to find me
How I tried to get to you
She explained how difficult it was to reach me
Trying to get to you"
Her ultimate goal was to be with me
I'm sending a letter
I will send a letter
I'll send it right to you
I will send it directly to you
I'll send it to Memphis
I will send it to Memphis
I know that someday
I am certain that one day
Everything I needed and I wanted
I had everything I needed and wanted
Used to be that my head was haunted
I used to have a lot of emotional baggage
And all these sirens they make me mad
The loud sirens make me angry
And all this violence it brings me down
The violence in the world depresses me
I feel strong, I feel lucky
I feel empowered and fortunate
Trying to get to you
My goal is to reach you
Said I'm going to get to you
I am determined to reach you
Trying to get to you
My ultimate goal is to be with you
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