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.
Cubic Caesar
The Legendary Pink Dots Lyrics
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My whole wide world was virtual so I sank back in my shell.
It's 16 cubic feet and i shall keep you all outside.
I have this screen before me and I click.
I watch paint dry.
It's such a waste.
I watch paint dry.
I fall from grace.
I rest my case.
I watch paint dry.
Perhaps it's been a decade since I touched another person.
I was always so uncertain so I chose to stay alone.
And all the kids i never had they're standing right before me.
I hope that they'll forgive me as i turn to face the wall.
It's such a waste. I watch paint dry.
I fall from grace.
Oh me oh my.
I watch paint dry.
I know that far away exists mysterious adventures.
A life beyond uncensored where there's nothing guaranteed.
It's not for me.
Oh I'll live with it.
Don't have the time.
My schedule's full from noon til night.
It isn't great but I'll get by.
The lyrics to "Cubic Caesar" by The Legendary Pink Dots are a reflection on the isolation and detachment that can come with a life increasingly lived through electronic screens. The first two lines present an apt metaphor for this modern condition - the singer's "learning curve" (i.e., their understanding of and interaction with the digital realm) has become so steep that it has formed a "perfect circle" back to a state of inactivity or passivity, symbolized by their retreat "back in [their] shell." The next line - "It's 16 cubic feet and I shall keep you all outside" - is more ambiguous, but can be read as a statement of the singer's desire to keep the outside world at bay in order to maintain their screen-based existence.
The song then takes a turn towards regret and melancholy in the second half, as the singer reflects on the human connections they've missed out on due to their isolation. The line "Perhaps it's been a decade since I touched another person" is particularly poignant in this regard, and is followed by a reference to "all the kids I never had" - a nod to the fact that the singer's avoidance of intimacy has also prevented them from experiencing the joys of parenthood. Despite this sense of loss, however, the singer remains resigned to their fate - "It isn't great, but I'll get by" - even as they acknowledge the allure of a more adventurous, uncertain life.
Line by Line Meaning
My learning curve was so acute it formed a perfect circle.
I learned so quickly that it felt like I was going in circles.
My whole wide world was virtual so I sank back in my shell.
I lived my life online and became reclusive.
It's 16 cubic feet and i shall keep you all outside.
My personal space is limited and I don't want anyone in it.
I have this screen before me and I click.
I spend most of my time in front of a computer screen clicking away.
I watch paint dry. It's such a waste. I watch paint dry.
I find myself doing meaningless things like watching paint dry.
I fall from grace. Oh me oh my. I rest my case.
I know I have faults and I accept them.
Perhaps it's been a decade since I touched another person.
It's been a long time since I've had physical contact with someone.
I was always so uncertain so I chose to stay alone.
I was too afraid of rejection and chose to be alone.
And all the kids i never had they're standing right before me.
I regret not having children and imagine what they would look like.
I hope that they'll forgive me as i turn to face the wall.
I feel guilty for not having children and hope they can forgive me.
I know that far away exists mysterious adventures.
I'm aware that there are exciting opportunities far away from me.
A life beyond uncensored where there's nothing guaranteed.
I know that life beyond my current reality is unpredictable and lawless.
It isn't great but I'll get by.
I know my life is not perfect, but I'll manage.
Contributed by Elizabeth L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.