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.
Nimrod's Son
Pixies Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And smashed my body so that all my friends thought I was dead
My sister held me close and whispered to my bleeding head
"You are the son of a motherfucker"
One, two, three, four
I shook all night and held her hand
Chocolate people, well, I'll be damned
To find out I'm Nimrod's son
Oh, bury me
Far away please
Bury me
Ha-ha
The joke has come upon me
In my motorcycle mirror, I think about the life I've led
And how my soul's been leaking out all the holes where I have bled
My image spoke to me, yes, to me it often said
"You are the son of incestuous union"
One, two, three
Now my head is clear, my roof has walls
My daughter's pure, my son is tall
Land of plenty, land of fun
To find out I'm Nimrod's son
Oh, bury me
Far away, please
Bury me
Ha-ha, ha-ha, ha-ha
The joke has come upon me
The lyrics to Pixies' song "Nimrod's Son" convey a sense of confusion, pain, and disillusionment. The song tells the story of a motorcycle accident that leaves the singer severely injured and his friends thinking he is dead. His sister holds him close and whispers to him, telling him that he is "the son of a motherfucker," implying that he comes from an unfortunate and troubled lineage. The song then shifts to the singer's thoughts as he reflects on his life and realizes that he is "Nimrod's son," referencing the Biblical figure who is often seen as a symbol of pride and arrogance. The singer expresses a desire to be buried far away, indicating a desire to leave his troubled past behind.
The lyrics of "Nimrod's Son" are open to interpretation, but they seem to be a meditation on the ways in which our pasts and our families shape who we are. The reference to Nimrod is particularly interesting, as he is a figure who is associated with both great power and great tragedy. By identifying himself as Nimrod's son, the singer is acknowledging the ways in which his own life has been shaped by larger forces that are beyond his control.
Overall, "Nimrod's Son" is a complex and emotionally charged song that grapples with themes of identity, family, and legacy. Its haunting lyrics and driving rhythms create a powerful sense of tension and urgency, making it a standout track in Pixies' impressive discography.
Line by Line Meaning
One night upon my motorcycle through the desert speed
I was riding my motorcycle at night through the desert really fast
And it smashed my body so that all my friends thought I was dead
I crashed my motorcycle so badly that my friends thought I died
My sister held me close and whispered to my bleeding head
My sister comforted me and whispered to me while I was bleeding from my head
"You are the son of a mother fucker"
My sister cursed at me and revealed that our father was someone she considered terrible
I shook all night and held her hand
I was really scared and held my sister's hand all night
Chocolate people, well I'll be damned
I saw some people who were different from me and was surprised
Land of plenty, land of fun
I thought I was living in a place full of good things and enjoyable experiences
To find out I'm Nimrod's son
But then I learned that my father was Nimrod, a biblical figure known for his arrogance and rebellion against God
Oh bury me
I wish to be buried
Far away please, bury me
I want to be buried somewhere distant
The joke has come upon me
I feel like my life has turned into a joke
In my motorcycle mirror I think about the life I've led
While looking at my motorcycle's mirror, I reflect on the life I've lived so far
And how my soul's been aching all the holes where I have bled
I feel emotional pain from the traumatic experiences I've been through
My image spoke to me, yes to me and often said
I heard my own image talk to me and it told me things
"You are the son of incestuous union"
My own self-image revealed to me that my parents were related and my conception was a result of incest
Now my head is clear, my luke hands washed
But now I am able to think clearly and have washed my dirty hands
My daughter's pure, my son is tall
I am proud of my children
Land of plenty, land of fun
I am still living in the same place with all its good things and enjoyable experiences
To find out I'm Nimrod's son
But despite all of that, I still cannot escape the fact that I am Nimrod's son
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Charles Thompson
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Mike D
It’s “shock the people” not chocolate people