Dead
The Pixies Lyrics

The Pixies' song "Dead" is cryptic and full of metaphorical lyrics that vary in meaning depending on one's understanding of the track's context. The first verse is directed towards a person named Bathsheba, the name is derived from the Old Testament and was the wife of King David, who had an affair with her. However, in the context of the song, it could be interpreted that Bathsheba represents the archetype of the femme fatale, a seductress that leads men towards their demise. The singer could be telling Bathsheba that she's suffocating him, and that he wants to be set free by death. This could imply that Bathsheba represents toxic relationships, addiction, or something else that's causing the singer to feel trapped.

The second verse is more abstract, it could be seen as a metaphorical description of the creative process, or the act of releasing repressed emotions. The lyrics "We're apin' rapin' tapin' catharsis" are somewhat ambiguous, it could be interpreted as describing the act of imitation, rape, recording, or artistic expression. The following lyrics "You get torn down and get erected" could be seen as a metaphor for the cycle of destruction and creation, where one's identity gets deconstructed only to reconstruct a new self out of the wreckage. The final line "My blood is working but my, my heart is dead" could be seen as a commentary on the desensitization of emotions in modern society or a reflection on depression.

The third verse is even more obscure and contains a reference to the Bible's Uriah, who was a husband to Bathsheba in the Old Testament. The lyrics "Uriah hit the crapper" are meant to be taken as vulgar humor, rather than a biblical reference. The last refrain of "Dead" is repeated, but this time it's multiplied by five, which gives the impression of death occurring in a grandiose and exaggerated manner. The song ends with a maniacal laugh, which could be interpreted as a form of madness or liberation from the mortal coil.