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 Shock of Contact
The Legendary Pink Dots Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Astrid, do you recall the Sundays at the Spa with double straws from a
carton with a heart on. Who could ask for more? You'd assure me you'd
support me as I tried to write that novel in the hovel we called home (OUR
home). You'd mow the lawn you'd pay the bills. You touched me there. The
Shock of Contact kept us warm.
And Astrid, you kept your word, you never said a word, as I ripped up the
pages, spent your wages, entertaining friends you hated, making bombs and
planting them in galleries. Your salary was wasted (oh how criminal)...

They cut the power, they pulled the plugs - they took away the phone.
We're quite alone. We share a candle in the cellar - oooh you touched me
there. The shock of contact kept us warm.
And Astrid, as sure as blue skies always turn to grey - they came with
guns. I tried to run and you took all the blame. They took you and I never
said a word - and now you never say a word as I lean through the bars. I

whisper my apologies, oh Jezus you stare clean through me. You cut me
down, I touch you there.. The shock of contact keeps me warm.

Overall Meaning

The song "The Shock of Contact" by The Legendary Pink Dots is a nostalgic and haunting song about a relationship between two people, Astrid and the singer. The song starts with the singer reminiscing about the good times they had with Astrid, such as the Sundays at the spa with double straws from a carton with a heart on, and assures Astrid that they recall her being their support as they tried to write a novel in their shared home. The lyrics reveal that Astrid was a dedicated partner who would even mow the lawn and pay the bills for her loved one. The singer expresses their affection for Astrid, stating that the shock of contact between them kept them warm.

As the song progresses, the lyrics shift, and the singer reveals that they ripped up the pages of their novel, spent Astrid's wages, and entertained friends she hated, indicating that the relationship was not as perfect as it seemed. The singer also hints that they were involved in making bombs and planting them in galleries, and Astrid's salary was wasted. The line "oh how criminal" hints at their wrongdoing, and the song takes a melancholic turn as the authorities take away the power, the phone, and the couple's freedom.

The song ends with the authorities coming with guns, and the singer running as Astrid takes the blame. The phrase "as sure as blue skies always turn to grey" implies that the relationship is doomed, and the singer is behind bars, whispering apologies as Astrid stares clean through them. Even in this dire situation, the shock of contact between them keeps the singer warm. The song is a somber and reflective exploration of the complicated nature of relationships, the closeness between people, and the pain that sometimes comes with it.

Line by Line Meaning

Astrid, do you recall the Sundays at the Spa with double straws from a carton with a heart on.
Do you remember the lazy weekends we spent together at the spa, sipping our drinks with double straws from the carton that had a heart on it.

Who could ask for more?
I always appreciated the simple pleasures in life, and those times with you were more than enough for me.

You'd assure me you'd support me as I tried to write that novel in the hovel we called home (OUR home).
You promised me that you would stand by me as I pursued my dreams of writing a novel, even though we lived in a small, humble hovel that we shared as our home.

You'd mow the lawn you'd pay the bills.
You took care of the practical things in our lives, like mowing the lawn and paying the bills, so that I could focus on my writing.

You touched me there.
You offered me physical and emotional support that meant so much to me, and your touch was comforting and intimate.

The Shock of Contact kept us warm.
Our physical connection gave us both comfort and warmth, even in times when the world around us was dark and cold.

And Astrid, you kept your word, you never said a word, as I ripped up the pages, spent your wages, entertaining friends you hated, making bombs and planting them in galleries.
You remained true to your promise to support me, even when I made choices that were destructive to myself and our relationship, like tearing up my writing, spending all of our money, hosting people who offended you, and making and detonating bombs in public spaces.

Your salary was wasted (oh how criminal)...
I recognize now how irresponsible it was of me to use up all of your earnings so recklessly, and I feel guilty for having done so.

They cut the power, they pulled the plugs - they took away the phone.
Our misdeeds finally caught up with us, and authorities came to detain us by cutting off our access to power and communication.

We're quite alone.
In the isolation of our confinement, with no distractions or distractions from the world outside, we were left with only each other for company.

We share a candle in the cellar - oooh you touched me there.
Even in the darkest of times, our physical touch and connection gave us a sense of warmth and hope, which we clung to as we shared a candle in our cellar prison.

And Astrid, as sure as blue skies always turn to grey - they came with guns.
As I had anticipated, our situation became even more dire, and the authorities brought weapons and force to bear against us.

I tried to run and you took all the blame.
I was tempted to flee, but you selflessly took the blame for our collective actions, even though you had done nothing wrong.

They took you and I never said a word - and now you never say a word as I lean through the bars.
You were taken away, and I believe that your sacrifice was in vain, as I remained silent and powerless to stop your punishment. Now, even as I try to communicate with you from behind bars, you are silent and unresponsive to me.

I whisper my apologies, oh Jezus you stare clean through me.
I am now filled with remorse and regret, and I plead with you for forgiveness, but you remain cold and distant towards me, despite my contrition.

You cut me down, I touch you there.. The shock of contact keeps me warm.
Your hostility towards me hurts me deeply, but I still find comfort in our past physical connection, and I am reminded of it even in these moments of confrontation.

Contributed by Ian N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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