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.
The Sad Punk
Pixies Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Named extinction
Named extinction
Named extinction
Named
It was a long time ago, could have happened to anyone
Named extinction
Named extinction
Named extinction
Named
Extinction
One thousand miles an hour, I'm just like anyone
I want to feel the road of tar beneath the wheel
Named extinction
Named extinction
Named extinction
Named
And evolving from the sea would no be too much time for me
To walk beside you in the sun
I read something about a son of a gun
Named extinction
Extinction
Extinction
The lyrics to Pixies' song "The Sad Punk" are open to interpretation, but they seem to be about violence, mortality, and the desire for freedom. The repeated phrase "named extinction" suggests that the singer is contemplating death and the possibility of human extinction. The line "I smell smoke that comes from a gun" reinforces this idea, evoking the image of a gunshot and the resulting smoke. The stanza "He was struck by a bullet and he melted into fluid" is particularly gruesome, painting a vivid picture of someone who has been shot and killed.
The next stanza contains a contrast to the violent imagery of the previous one. The line "One thousand miles an hour, I'm just like anyone" shifts the focus back to the singer's desire for freedom and the open road. The line "I want to feel the road of tar beneath the wheel" suggests a yearning for the simple pleasures of life, like taking a drive on a sunny day. The final lines of the song, "And evolving from the sea would not be too much time for me to walk beside you in the sun / I read something about a son of a gun," leave the listener with the image of life emerging from the ocean and a reference to someone who is the child of a violent individual.
Line by Line Meaning
I smell smoke that comes from a gun
I sense the repercussions of violence and destruction, as if it's a lingering scent.
Named extinction
This phrase is repeated like a bleak chant or warning, highlighting the inevitability of loss and decline.
It was a long time ago, could have happened to anyone
The singer reflects that a devastating incident could occur randomly and to anyone, emphasizing how fragile and unpredictable life can be.
He was struck by a bullet and he melted into fluid
This vivid imagery implies that the victim's physical form was damaged beyond recognition or repair, leaving only a messy aftermath of violence.
One thousand miles an hour, I'm just like anyone
Regardless of speed or direction, the artist identifies with the common human experience and desires associated with driving down the road.
I want to feel the road of tar beneath the wheel
There's a desire for connection with the physical environment and sensory experience, as well as a sense of control over the vehicle.
And evolving from the sea would no be too much time for me to walk beside you in the sun
The singer expresses a willingness to endure vast expanses of time or suffering just to share moments of happiness and warmth with someone special.
I read something about a son of a gun
This is a reference to a colloquial expression about a rascal or troublemaker, perhaps indicating the artist's suspicion or cynicism about others.
Extinction
The song ends with a final repetition of this word, driving home its ominous connotations and the inevitability of loss and decay.
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