Their sound has been described as an amalgamation of psychedelic rock, industrial, synth-pop and avant-garde. They have released over 40 records and continuously tour the world.
Members of the band have also collaborated with Nurse With Wound, The Dresden Dolls, Jarboe, HNAS, Jim O'Rourke, Skinny Puppy's cEvin Key, forming The Tear Garden. Ka Spel accompanied Skinny Puppy for a small part of their 1988 European 'Head Trauma' tour in Sweden. Key also appears on the 1994 album 9 Lives to Wonder.
A terra firma welcome
The Legendary Pink Dots Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It stuttered on the phone.
Tried extensive hypnotherapy
Sat there like a stone.
They checked its pockets,
They pumped the pentathol...
Stole marrow from its bones...
Quite alone.
Debated for a year.
The casebook, it stretched from here to here...
Quoted precedents and dissidents.
And Johnny joined the space police
And searched the stars for refugees-
His finger on the stunner
In the name of earthly peace.
And when it seemed that space was empty
And the moon was made of cheese,
They decided on a terra firma 'welcome'.
But, guess...
Our guest was now deceased...
Rest in peace...
They cut it into pieces.
They sterilized them,
They placed them in a case and charged admission.
Now I'm watching television
I see laughter in his eyes.
I hear a rumble in the sky,
They're coming...
Yes, they're coming for their boy!
They're coming...
Yes, they're coming for their boy...
The Legendary Pink Dots' "A Terra Firma Welcome" is a haunting and cryptic song that tells the story of a mysterious being from outer space who arrives on Earth but is met with suspicion and hostility. The lyrics describe how the authorities subject the being to numerous tests and experiments, ultimately leading to its death and dismemberment. The song is told from the perspective of a person who is watching the events unfold and reflecting on their own role in them.
The opening line, "E-minus on its ancestry", suggests that the being is somehow deficient or lacking in terms of its origins. It is described as stuttering on the phone and unresponsive to hypnotherapy, rendering it a largely uncommunicative and enigmatic figure. The authorities subject the being to invasive testing procedures, including the extraction of bone marrow and truth serum injections. Despite their efforts to understand and control the being, it remains an enigma.
The most telling line in the song may be "And when it seemed that space was empty / And the moon was made of cheese", which highlights the absurdity of humanity's attempts to find clear answers or explanations for phenomena that are beyond our understanding. The being ultimately becomes a spectacle for human consumption, with its dismembered pieces being displayed in a case for all to see. The song ends on a chilling note, as the singer watches the sky and senses that the being's "owners" are coming to reclaim their "boy".
Line by Line Meaning
E-minus on its ancestry.
The being had a lackluster family history.
It stuttered on the phone.
It had trouble communicating effectively.
Tried extensive hypnotherapy
Attempts were made to hypnotize the being.
Sat there like a stone.
The being was unresponsive to the hypnotherapy.
They checked its pockets,
Officials searched the being's belongings.
They pumped the pentathol...
They administered truth serum.
Stole marrow from its bones...
They extracted bone marrow from the being.
Left it naked in the guest room,
The being was alone and vulnerable.
Quite alone.
The being had no one to turn to.
Debated for a year.
The officials spent a year discussing the case.
The casebook, it stretched from here to here...
The case was extensive and complicated.
Quoted precedents and dissidents.
They referenced past cases and opposing opinions.
And Johnny joined the space police
A person named Johnny became a member of the space police.
And searched the stars for refugees-
Johnny scoured the universe for displaced individuals.
His finger on the stunner
Johnny had his weapon at the ready.
In the name of earthly peace.
Johnny believed he was serving the greater good of Earth.
And when it seemed that space was empty
The officials believed there were no other beings around.
And the moon was made of cheese,
The officials were mistaken about the nature of the moon.
They decided on a terra firma 'welcome'.
The officials decided to greet the being on Earth.
But, guess...
Unfortunately...
Our guest was now deceased...
The being had died.
Rest in peace...
Hope the being finds peace in death.
They cut it into pieces.
The officials dismembered the being.
They sterilized them,
The officials made the pieces germ-free.
They placed them in a case and charged admission.
The officials turned the pieces into a spectacle for profit.
Now I'm watching television
The singer is currently observing TV.
I see laughter in his eyes.
The person on TV seems joyous.
I hear a rumble in the sky,
There is disturbance in the air.
They're coming...
An outside entity is on its way.
Yes, they're coming for their boy!
The other beings are coming to retrieve the dismembered being's remains.
They're coming...
The entity is still en route.
Yes, they're coming for their boy...
The other beings are determined to reclaim their fallen comrade.
Contributed by Cameron C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.