Wave of Mutilation

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.

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.

"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.

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

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.

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.

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

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.

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

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.