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 Thing
Pixies Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
When they put it on the air, I put it in the hammer lane
I soon forgot myself and I forgot about the brake
I forgot about all laws and I forgot about the rain
They were talking on the Nine and all across the Amy band
Across the road, they were turning around and headed south with me
My head was feeling scared but my heart was feeling free
The desert turned to mud, it seems that everybody heard
Everybody was remembering to forget they had the chills
Then I heard the voices on a broadcast from up on the bird
They were getting interviewed by some good man whose name was Bill
I'm almost there to Vegas, where they're puttin' on a show
They've come so far, I've lived this long
At least I must just go and say, "Hello"
The lyrics to Pixies' song The Thing describe a surreal and chaotic scene where the singer, driving aimlessly near the Great Salt Lake, becomes obsessed with a radio broadcast that seems to be taking over their mind. They forget about the laws of driving and the safety precautions needed to drive on the road, and they start to drive on the sand, trying to escape the crowd on the road. The lyrics are open to interpretation, but many speculate that the "broadcast" symbolizes the power of media and how it can influence people's behavior and thoughts.
The song is musically intense and abrasive, showcasing Pixies' signature sound. The distorted and jagged guitar riffs and pounding drums reflect the chaos of the scene described in the lyrics. Pixies' singer, Black Francis, delivers the lyrics in a frenzied and emotional tone, conveying the panic and desperation of the singer.
Line by Line Meaning
I was driving, doing nothing on the shores of great Salt Lake
I was cruising on the shores of Great Salt Lake, enjoying the view and not doing anything in particular.
When they put it on the air, I put it in the hammer lane
When I turned on the radio, I drove fast in the left lane.
I soon forgot myself and I forgot about the brake
I lost myself in the music and forgot to brake.
I forgot about all laws and I forgot about the rain
I didn't care about the rules or the bad weather.
They were talking on the Nine and all across the Amy band
The announcers were broadcasting on Channel 9 and on the military's frequency.
Across the road, they were turning around and headed south with me
Other drivers were turning around and following me to head south.
It got so crowded on the road, I started driving in the sand
The road was so congested that I began to drive on the sand.
My head was feeling scared but my heart was feeling free
I was a little nervous but also liberated by the adventure.
The desert turned to mud, it seems that everybody heard
The dry desert transformed into muddy terrain, and it appeared that everyone was aware of this change.
Everybody was remembering to forget they had the chills
Everyone was trying to forget the fear or discomfort they felt earlier.
Then I heard the voices on a broadcast from up on the bird
I heard voices on a radio broadcast from a plane flying above.
They were getting interviewed by some good man whose name was Bill
The voices were being interviewed by a man named Bill.
I'm almost there to Vegas, where they're puttin' on a show
I am almost to Vegas, where there is a big event happening.
They've come so far, I've lived this long
The performers have traveled a long way, and I am grateful to have made it this far in life.
At least I must just go and say, 'Hello'
At the very least, I must greet or connect with the performers.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: CHARLES THOMPSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@gabrieloliveira1000
"my head was feeling scared but my heart was feeling free"
@HiGlowie
yes!! Absolutely love the melody at the end of The Happening.
@skxlter5747
How all us alternative people feel
@Conflictlightning6
Real
@thenoxz2924
So unfortunate that this song is so short, playing it on repeat constantly, really wish there was more! Amazing!
@vraikorrigan
There is more : The Happening !
@jimmysavageultrabrutal8130
I'd just wrote the same.
Let it play on repeat and fuck everything.
@electric7man
@@vraikorrigan So much more! The best
@aissatsabrina7958
Totally agree 🥲
@PrettyGas
The line “They’ve come so far I’ve lived this long…” always gets me