The Legendary Pink Dots are a Netherlands-based band formed in August 1980 … Read Full Bio ↴The Legendary Pink Dots are a Netherlands-based band formed in August 1980 in the UK who, although distinctly underground, have been musically influential over the years. The band name was derived from pink dots of nail varnish on the piano in their squat, where founding members Edward and April lived. The band has as its focal point vocalist Edward Ka-Spel, who is, along with Phil "The Silverman" Knight, one of the original remaining members of the band. In the mid eighties the band resettled in the Netherlands, where they still reside today. Apart from Edward and Phil, the line-up has gone through many changes. Members such as Ryan Moore, a Canadian bass player, who joined in 1991 after the recordings of the Last Man to Fly with the Tear Garden (he joined as a session musician), went on to form their own labels and musical projects. See Twilight Circus and M Records. Their music is nothing if not original and it is difficult to categorise, but comparisons may be drawn with bands like Pink Floyd and Can.

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.

Expresso Noir
The Legendary Pink Dots Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Crushed in the corridor, swimming in smoke. Broken leg, aching head -
tried polite conversation in braille. Broken French. Though my friend
chews his garlic, he's dead from his head to his sandles. I tear at the
handle and we came to a shuddering stop and we topple like dominoes,
swallowed the hot tide of bread crumbs and cheap wine... The cavalry dived
into action with batons... knives... they gave me a fine, ripped the shirt
off my back, threw my case on the tracks - saw it smashed to a fragmented
mess by the midnight express from Atlantis. OO-OO. A manifestation of pure

liquid light. Never stops at the stations, it flies overnight as we crawl
in a circle. The sinks overflow. All the windows are enclosed and the
ape on my shoulder's overdosed. He rattles a can for some change then he

rolls around, over in pain and wraps his legs around my ankles. I try to
complain... All I want is a coffee and GET OFF THIS TRAIN! OO-OO.

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of The Legendary Pink Dots's song "Expresso Noir" tell a chaotic story of being trapped on a train filled with smoke, bread crumbs, and cheap wine. The singer is injured with a broken leg and aching head, and attempts to communicate with their friend in broken French and through braille. However, the friend is described as dead from their head to their sandals despite chewing garlic. As the train shudders to a stop, the duo topples over like dominoes, leading to a violent encounter with the cavalry wielding batons and knives. The singer is fined, their shirt is ripped off their back, and their case is thrown on the tracks and smashed to pieces.

The train itself is personified as a "manifestation of pure liquid light" that never stops at the stations and flies overnight, while the rest of the passengers on board are stuck crawling in a circle with overflowing sinks and enclosed windows. The ape on the singer's shoulder is overdosed and in pain, rattling a can for change and wrapping their legs around the singer's ankles. All the while, the singer just wants a coffee and to be off the train. The chaotic imagery and surreal storytelling leave the listener feeling disoriented and trapped, just like the singer throughout the song.

Line by Line Meaning

Crushed in the corridor, swimming in smoke.
I am tightly packed and suffocating in the train corridor due to an immense amount of smoke.

Broken leg, aching head - tried polite conversation in braille.
My leg is fractured and my head hurts badly. I tried to communicate through Braille but I am unable to do so.

Broken French. Though my friend chews his garlic, he's dead from his head to his sandals.
Although my friend speaks French poorly and eats garlic, he is completely lifeless and unresponsive.

I tear at the handle and we came to a shuddering stop and we topple like dominoes, swallowed the hot tide of bread crumbs and cheap wine...
I ripped the handle and the train came to a sudden halt, causing us to fall like dominos. We were covered in bread crumbs and drinking cheap wine.

The cavalry dived into action with batons... knives... they gave me a fine, ripped the shirt off my back, threw my case on the tracks - saw it smashed to a fragmented mess by the midnight express from Atlantis. OO-OO.
The authorities emerged with batons and knives and issued me a fine. They forcefully removed my shirt and threw my luggage onto the tracks, where it was destroyed by a train. (OO-OO)

A manifestation of pure liquid light. Never stops at the stations, it flies overnight as we crawl in a circle.
A train of pure liquid light appears and continuously moves without stopping, as we are stuck in a repetitive cycle.

The sinks overflow. All the windows are enclosed and the ape on my shoulder's overdosed.
The sinks are overflowing, the windows are shut tight, and the monkey on my shoulder is heavily drugged.

He rattles a can for some change then he rolls around, over in pain and wraps his legs around my ankles. I try to complain...
The monkey begs for money with a can, then rolls around in agony and clings to my ankles. I attempt to protest but am unable to.

All I want is a coffee and GET OFF THIS TRAIN! OO-OO.
I desperately desire a cup of coffee and to exit from this train. (OO-OO)

Contributed by Arianna P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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