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.

Obsession
The Legendary Pink Dots Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I had a picture of you.
I sliced it up in two
And half my love went in the bin,
With the letters. And the purple tie
You bought me for my birthday.
Tell me! What's his favorite colour?
Is it yellow? does he like it when you
Smoke in bed or burn the eggs

Or spend his money on those silly things
Which last for just a week
Then take their place among the garbage
Or with some stupid charity.
His charity. My charity's all gone,
Like those records that you stole
When you rolled up our relationship
And slipped out unannounced.
Christ! you even took the cat.
Now I talk to pictures, go to bed at 10
And pretend that I'm asleep,
But the bags around my eyes betray me.
You betrayed me... I betrayed myself.
I'll live with it, and I'll find someone else.
Don't you worry... don't you hurry to the phone.
I'm happy on my own,

Playing patience on the floorboard
(hell... I always lose but I don't care).

Overall Meaning

The Legendary Pink Dots’ song “Obsession” is a melancholic tale of a broken heart and a failed relationship. The song is narrated by someone who has been betrayed by their lover and is struggling to move on. The opening line “I had a picture of you. I sliced it up in two” is a graphic representation of how they are trying to erase their past and move on. The singer has destroyed the photo of their lover and thrown away half their love along with it. They are heartbroken and confused as to why their lover left them. They contemplate what their lover’s new partner might be like and what his favorite color might be. The singer remembers the purple tie which was gifted to them by their partner, which now seems like a distant memory. The singer feels abandoned and betrayed and can no longer trust anyone. They are unable to move on and cannot sleep at night, despite pretending to do so. They are left with only their thoughts and memories of their failed relationship.

Overall, “Obsession” is a poignant and emotionally charged song that captures the feeling of being heartbroken and trying to move on after a failed relationship. The lyrics are beautifully written and evoke a deep sense of sadness and loss. The song’s haunting melody and atmospheric soundscapes add to its emotional impact, making it a standout track in The Legendary Pink Dots’ discography.

Line by Line Meaning

I had a picture of you.
I used to have a physical representation of you, maybe a photograph.

I sliced it up in two
I divided the picture of you into two separate pieces or parts, maybe symbolizing the end of our relationship.

And half my love went in the bin,
When I destroyed the picture, it felt like I was throwing away part of my love for you, like throwing away garbage.

With the letters. And the purple tie
I also disposed of letters and a purple tie that you gave me in the same way.

You bought me for my birthday.
The purple tie was a gift from you that I received on my birthday.

Tell me! What's his favorite colour?
I want to know what your new partner's favorite color is, perhaps out of jealousy or curiosity.

Is it yellow? does he like it when you
I am questioning whether your new partner likes yellow or approves of your habits such as smoking or cooking.

Smoke in bed or burn the eggs
I reference these small details of your behavior that might irritate your partner, implying that I know you better than he does.

Or spend his money on those silly things
I suggest that you might waste his money on things that won't last, and that you might donate these things to charity soon after buying them.

Which last for just a week
I imply that the things you buy only last for a short time before being discarded.

Then take their place among the garbage
The items you buy only end up as refuse, perhaps adding to a hole in your life that you're trying to fill.

Or with some stupid charity.
Perhaps you don't even keep the items for a week but donate them to charity instead.

His charity. My charity's all gone,
You might give things away to others as a means of hiding from the emptiness you feel, while I am out of love to give.

Like those records that you stole
You took records that belonged to me, maybe a metaphor for how you took away parts of myself from me as well.

When you rolled up our relationship
You ended our relationship suddenly and without warning or explanation.

And slipped out unannounced.
You left without warning or expression of your intentions or feelings.

Christ! you even took the cat.
You took our cat, which was a shared responsibility between us, and which represented our joint commitment to something.

Now I talk to pictures, go to bed at 10
I might cope with our split by speaking to the remains I have of you, like photos. I also go to bed early, likely avoiding how lonely I feel.

And pretend that I'm asleep,
I act like I'm sleeping, pretending to relax while actually lying awake, losing myself in thought.

But the bags around my eyes betray me.
The physical toll of my distress reveals me even if I pretend to be asleep.

You betrayed me... I betrayed myself.
The feeling of being dumped by you affects me even now, and I may be destroying myself over it.

I'll live with it, and I'll find someone else.
Despite the betrayal of the past, I am capable of moving on and finding love again.

Don't you worry... don't you hurry to the phone.
I don't want you to worry or feel bad about me moving on with my life, being secure with myself without needing you. I don't want you to try to change my mind.

I'm happy on my own,
I might say this to be convincing myself rather than to placate you, showing that I am independent and self-sufficient.

Playing patience on the floorboard
I am playing a solitaire game on the floor, showing that I'm okay with staying in and being content with myself.

(hell... I always lose but I don't care).
Even if I lose the game repeatedly or live a life of apparent loss and solitude, I don't mind. I am committed to finding my own path.

Contributed by Natalie G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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