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Wave of Mutilation Lyrics

Cease to resist, giving my goodbye
Drive my car into the ocean
You'll think I'm dead, but I sail away

On a wave of mutilation
A wave of mutilation
Wave of mutilation
Wave
Wave

I've kissed mermaids, rode the El Niño
Walked the sand with the crustaceans
Could find my way to Mariana

On a wave of mutilation
Wave of mutilation
Wave of mutilation
Wave
Wave

Wave of mutilation
Wave of mutilation
Wave of mutilation
Wave
Wave
Song Info
Copyright
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Writer
Charles Thompson
Duration
2:05
Submitted by
numb On Jun 19, 2001
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Cover art for Wave of Mutilation lyrics by Pixies

i heard them say in an interview that the first verse is about this phenomenon in japan where business men would drive their cars, families in tow, into the ocean.

Cover art for Wave of Mutilation lyrics by Pixies

I agree with this being about self-destruction, but not suicide. "You think I'm dead, but I sail away". It's like, if life has you down and everything sucks, then instead of suicide which is permanent you can just throw away everything that's holding you down and create a new life.

@DanVitaleRocks Watch Your Game, Girl

@DanVitaleRocks I always thought the "sail away" was more metaphysical than existential. Having said that, what you describe is known as "passive death wish" and is common among folk suffering with depression as I can attest.

@DanVitaleRocks this song is specifically about a rash of murder suicides in Japan in the 80s where business men were driving there whole families into the ocean

Cover art for Wave of Mutilation lyrics by Pixies

"The first verse is about the phenomenon, where japanese businessmen were putting their whole family in the car and driving off the dock. The second verse features the Marianas Trench." - Frank Black in SELECT, october 1997.

@Stamehad that's what she said

Cover art for Wave of Mutilation lyrics by Pixies

oh yeah, what a way to put suicide...

this song is just such a fucking hymn... frank black is one of the greatest sonmgwriters of all time

Cover art for Wave of Mutilation lyrics by Pixies

a friend once asked me which song I'd play at my funeral. I immediately said 'Wave of mutilation' (UK surf version ofc). Something about the lyrics, 'You'll think I'm dead, but I sail away' sounds so cathartic, and paired with the chill, slowed chiming of the drums, has me imagine my own death in a softer, more friendly light, with the ocean in the background. The vagueness behind the confession 'I sail away' points at the uncertainty of what comes after, but the refrained 'wave of mutilation' is the driving force, overcoming any hesitations and fears of the unknown.

Cover art for Wave of Mutilation lyrics by Pixies

Seems to be saying that self-destruction is a release. By destroying yourself you are freed - people will think you are dead, but in fact you are opening yourself to a new experience, freeing yourself from your torment. So maybe suicide isn't such a bad thing?

Of course, its probably metaphorical.

that is basically it... XD tho he said the song was completly about the el nino

Not Valid

@caitsith01: I mostly agree. I think you have the metaphor correct. However, I don't believe that the song is "saying" that; I prefer to think that Frank/the band are suggesting that these could be thoughts in the minds of the businessmen as they commit these acts. I believe they're trying to imagine how a person could internally rationalize such a murder-suicide. They find the answer to be: the freedom.

I imagine that, for the great songwriters, writing a song is analogous to an actor becoming the character.

@caitsith01 Well, let's put it this way. 7 * 10^9 of one species think it's the way to go. So how could any majority be be that wrong? [-)

Cover art for Wave of Mutilation lyrics by Pixies

caitsith01 nailed it right on the head. i was thinking that exactly but wasnt sure how to put it into words. and the thing about the japanese business men makes a lot of sense the more i think about it. this very well could be my fav pixies song and has the best lyrics aside from monkey gone to heaven hands down

Cover art for Wave of Mutilation lyrics by Pixies

This I think is talking about how suicide, and well more specifically death, is a release, and that even though you're dying you're actually freeing yourself. I think thats what this song is trying to say, its not condoning suicide, but its simply just saying about how death is freedom, its a release.

Cover art for Wave of Mutilation lyrics by Pixies

It turns out that the song title "Wave of Mutilation" is taken from a Japanese newspaper headline on suicide

Cover art for Wave of Mutilation lyrics by Pixies

Hurricane katrina? As good as Black Francis is, he's no prophet.

I think sometimes he sings "wave of new relation". The song is about a new relationship. He's recently left his ex. She thinks he won't cope without her but he finds this new relationship. Mutilation as in the way one changes slightly to accommodate a new partner. In the second verse he's singing about how it's all worked out for him and he's pretty pleased with it all.

@leonr23 I think this line of thinking...