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.

The Safe Way
The Legendary Pink Dots Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

The right hand grips, the left hand slides. The pennies drop,
the boxes glide. It never stops. She worked the line
blind. Folded, pushed, . . . A pirhouette. No thought, no joy,
no regrets. A cigarette was hanging from a cord and
every thousand boxes she'd suck her reward and find
her island. But the siren howled. The whip cracked
anda pre-packed mountain pressed her neck. She'd
switch to frantic, automatic. Clear the decks. Turn on,

tune in--machine was humming omm. Neon. Flashing
laser blade was scratching OBEY! No rest, no play.
No time. She worked the line. The pay was fine.
She'd find her island in July and find a rock to
sit on quietly humming ommmm. The pay was fine. She

worked the line. She'd find her island in July and
find a rock to sit on quietly humming OBEY . . .

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of "The Safe Way" by The Legendary Pink Dots are about the monotonous and repetitive nature of a factory worker's life, where they work tirelessly on an assembly line. The song highlights the machine-like and robotic behavior of the worker as they automatically perform their duties without any thought or joy. The lyrics use industrial imagery of machines humming and flashing neon lights to emphasize the harsh reality of the worker's surroundings. The line "The pennies drop, the boxes glide" illustrates the automation process that does not require the worker to think or use any creativity.

The song alludes to the worker's desire to escape the drudgery of their life by finding an "island" where they can sit quietly and hum. However, the siren of the factory howls, and the whip cracks, reminding the worker that there is no escaping the hard labor that they are bound to. The worker continues to work tirelessly, finding solace in a cigarette that they suck on every thousand boxes. The lyric "Neon. Flashing laser blade was scratching OBEY! No rest, no play. No time" reflects the pressure and expectation of following orders without question.

Overall, "The Safe Way" highlights the struggles of factory workers as they try to make ends meet and escape their bleak surroundings. It's a commentary on the cost of such jobs, where the workers have to give up their individuality, creativity, and happiness in exchange for a paycheque.

Line by Line Meaning

The right hand grips, the left hand slides.
The person works on an assembly line, moving items with their hands.

The pennies drop, the boxes glide. It never stops.
The process of moving items down the assembly line is constant and repetitive.

She worked the line blind. Folded, pushed, . . .
The person works without thinking or paying attention, just following the repetitive motions of the assembly line.

A pirouette. No thought, no joy, no regrets.
The person's movements are like a dance, but they have no emotional investment in their work.

A cigarette was hanging from a cord and every thousand boxes she'd suck her reward and find her island.
The person takes cigarette breaks as a small source of pleasure and escape from the monotony of the assembly line.

But the siren howled. The whip cracked and a pre-packed mountain pressed her neck.
The person is under pressure to keep up with the pace of the assembly line.

She'd switch to frantic, automatic. Clear the decks. Turn on, tune in--machine was humming omm.
Under pressure, the person switches to automatic mode, trying to keep up with the machine and the pace of the assembly line.

Neon. Flashing laser blade was scratching OBEY! No rest, no play. No time.
The environment is harsh and unforgiving, with constant reminders to work faster and obey the rules.

She worked the line. The pay was fine. She'd find her island in July and find a rock to sit on quietly humming ommm.
Despite the harsh conditions, the person finds some solace in their work and is able to enjoy small moments of pleasure in their breaks.

The pay was fine. She worked the line. She'd find her island in July and find a rock to sit on quietly humming OBEY . . .
The person is resigned to their work and the harsh conditions, finding solace in small moments of pleasure and escape.

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

To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

TRACKS