Hailing from the Pacific Northwest, The Pale (Pacific) has been a constant … Read Full Bio ↴Hailing from the Pacific Northwest, The Pale (Pacific) has been a constant fixture on the Seattle musical landscape for well over a decade, although just recently coming to the attention of the masses outside of the greater Seattle area thanks to the national distribution of their last two full-length records. A prime example of the 'Seattle bubble' that sees local acts reach critical acclaim within the Pacific Northwest, including sold out shows at Graceland, cover stories in The Stranger and even heavy rotation on the major radio station (107.7 The End), the whole while never causing a blip on the radar of any other major city. This was the case with now international indie-pop/rock darlings Death Cab for Cutie and such acts as Damien Jurado and Rosie Thomas.

Building their sound around the soft-pull of frontman Gabe Archer's soothing vocal delivery, they play to their strengths by keeping their sound simple, straightforward and melodic thus allowing the lyrical weight of Archer's musings to sit comfortably out front.

The band was formerly known as The Pale, but due to legal issues, has changed its name to The Pale Pacific. Their last two records have been released by California-based SideCho records.

Back to You
The Pale Pacific Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

tuesday
you had just stopped by to see my folks
then the baseball that i thought you had
seen me throw
and i could distinctly hear your front tooth crack
with a blow and i ran as fast as i could go
and hide under my bead

my heart couldn't race any faster
and the chill, it ran down my spine
(i guess you knew)
i was like a magic trick where something disappears
and then comes back to you so different

now whenever i slip and recall that day
for a split second, my body freezes up to relate where..

my heart couldn't race any faster
and the chill, it ran down my spine
(i guess you knew)

i was like a magic trick where something disappears
and then comes back to you so different

Overall Meaning

The song "Back to You" by The Pale Pacific talks about a traumatic event of the singer's past. The lyrics talk about a Tuesday when someone stopped by to see the singer's folks. The person watched as the singer threw a baseball, but instead of catching it, the ball hit the person's front tooth with such force that it cracked. The singer ran and hid under their bed, scared of what had just happened.

The incident left a lasting impact on the singer, and whenever they try to remember that day, their body freezes up for a split second. The song talks about the way trauma can affect someone so deeply that it becomes a part of them, and they can't even remember the event without feeling the same fear they felt at the time.

The chorus of the song repeats the lines "my heart couldn't race any faster, and the chill, it ran down my spine," signifying the fear and anxiety the singer feels. The lyric "I was like a magic trick where something disappears and then comes back to you so different" suggests that the event changed the singer in some way, making them feel like a different person.

Line by Line Meaning

tuesday
The day of the week when the described event occurred.

you had just stopped by to see my folks
You made a brief visit to my parents' house.

then the baseball that i thought you had seen me throw
I threw a baseball that I assumed you had observed.

and i could distinctly hear your front tooth crack with a blow and i ran as fast as i could go and hide under my bead
I heard the sound of your tooth breaking after the ball hit you and then I panicked and hid under my bed.

my heart couldn't race any faster and the chill, it ran down my spine (i guess you knew)
I experienced intense fear and anxiety, and you probably sensed it.

i was like a magic trick where something disappears and then comes back to you so different
The traumatic event altered my personality in a drastic way.

now whenever i slip and recall that day for a split second, my body freezes up to relate where..
Whenever I remember that moment, I experience a momentary physical reaction.

my heart couldn't race any faster and the chill, it ran down my spine (i guess you knew)
The memory still evokes intense emotions and feelings.

i was like a magic trick where something disappears and then comes back to you so different
The traumatic event continued to shape and change me.

Contributed by Layla T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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