Laguna Beach
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.

Laguna Beach
The Legendary Pink Dots Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

We tried to watch the sun rise,
but a cloud fell and we froze inside your coat.
One arm for you, and one for me--two arms crossing, winding . . .
as the tide roared in. The highway howling high
above, the smoke rolled in and covered us.
It smothered us but still we wished the seconds
could be years. Laguna Beach was soaked in tears, the sea
retreated, the world retreated. Nothing left but sand . . .
Laguna Beach ran through our hands. A castle rose,




a story closed too soon . . .

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of The Legendary Pink Dots' song Laguna Beach evoke a dreamy, surreal atmosphere where nature and human emotions intertwine. The opening lines describe a failed attempt to watch the sun rise - instead of the expected beauty, a cloud falls and surprise takes hold, making the two protagonists shiver even though they're embraced. The beach around them starts pulsing with life as the tide approaches, and the highway resonates with the sound of engines. However, all of these external elements seem to be overshadowed by the smoke that rolls in and covers everything, creating a sense of claustrophobia and suffocation. Yet, this only makes the two characters realize how much they want to stretch time and make the present moment last longer, even if it means dwelling on their sadness.


The second part of the lyrics sees the world retreating, as the sea recedes and the sand becomes more prominent. In the background, a castle is built - perhaps a metaphor for the ephemeral nature of human achievements. It is said that a "story closed too soon," leaving the listener with the impression that the characters' destiny was never truly achieved.


Overall, Laguna Beach is a song that mixes vivid descriptions of the surrounding world with a deeply emotional twist, leaving much to the imagination of the listener.


Line by Line Meaning

We tried to watch the sun rise,
We attempted to gaze upon the rising of the sun


but a cloud fell and we froze inside your coat.
However, a cloud came along and we became so cold that we required shelter within your coat


One arm for you, and one for me--two arms crossing, winding . . .
We embraced one another, our arms crossing each other's while we entwined


as the tide roared in. The highway howling high
Then, as the tide rushed towards us, we heard the deafening din of the nearby highway


above, the smoke rolled in and covered us.
Smoke drifted towards us and we were enveloped within it


It smothered us but still we wished the seconds could be years.
Although we were both suffocating, we hoped that time would slow down


Laguna Beach was soaked in tears, the sea retreated, the world retreated.
Laguna Beach was filled with the tears that we shed as the sea and the world both gradually receded


Nothing left but sand ...
The only thing that remained was a vast expanse of sand


Laguna Beach ran through our hands.
Laguna Beach slipped away from our grasp, as nothingness took hold


A castle rose, a story closed too soon . . .
As a castle emerged in the distance, we realized that our story had prematurely come to an end




Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS

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Comments from YouTube:

OgreTheGreenGuy

Les plus beaux titres des Dots sont sur cet album.....magnifique...planant...envoûtant..The most beautiful titles Dots are on this album ..... beautiful ... haunting ... .. hovering

didier G

Mon premier album des dots avec en point d'orgue "Laguna Beach". Le son de cet album est particulier.

OgreTheGreenGuy

Laguna Beach est un des meilleurs titres de l'album... complètement d'accord..

Kevin McCarthy

Splendid! Simply splendid!

sujoywtclevel6

I forgot how much this song used to move me. Wait, 'used to'? Then why is my heart swelling now?