She says
It helps with the lights out
Her rabid glow
Is like braille to the night
She swears
I'm a slave to the details
But if your life is such a big joke
Why should I care?

The clock is set for nine
But you know you're gonna make it eight
So that you two can take some time
Teach each other to reciprocate

She feels that my sentimental side
Should be held with kids gloves
But she doesn't know
That I left my urge in the icebox

She swears
I'm just prey for the female
Well then hook me up and throw me baby cakes
'Cause I like to get hooked

The clock is set for nine
But you know you're gonna make it eight
All the people that you've loved
They're all bound to leave some keepsakes

I've been swinging all the time
Think it's time I learned your way
I picture you and me together
In the jungle it will be okay

I'll bring you when my lifeboat
Sails through the night
That is supposing that
You don't sleep tonight

It's like learning a new language
Helps me catch up on my mind
If you don't bring up those lonely parts
This could be a good time

It's like learning a new language
You come here to me
We'll collect those lonely parts
And set them down
You come here to me

She says brief things
Her love's a pony
My love's subliminal

She says brief things
Her love's a pony
My love's subliminal


Lyrics submitted by saturnine, edited by shark119

Leif Erikson Lyrics as written by Daniel Alexander Kessler Carlos Andres Dengler

Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.

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Leif Erikson song meanings
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127 Comments

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  • +13
    General Comment

    Here is what Paul had to say about why they named the song after Leif Erikson:

    Paul: That was one of those things where, if you were to be able to isolate the keyboard part to that song-- which you probably can't-- but if you were in the studio, or if you just heard us doing a soundcheck, there's a quality to it which someone commented was kind of Viking-esque. Like if you were watching a film, you could see the galleon approaching the coast, the fucking Vikings peering over the edge or whatever, and then I just said, you know, "Oh, Leif Erikson," and I was really happy that everyone could live with it, because for me, it's like absurdist. Absurdism is great, 'cause why not? It seems more arbitrary to take a lyric and make it your title than to take something completely out of left field."

    JeffKaos71on December 03, 2004   Link
  • +10
    General Comment

    I've been thinking about this song a lot lately. i think it's about 2 individuals who are attracted to the subtleties(sp?) of the other's personality.

    "she says brief things her loves a pony"
    she has a cutesy, sort of naive attitude about life and shows her love in that obvious lovey dovey kind of way

    "my love's subliminal" his love is harder to detect, but its there, sort of "between the lines"

    the two of them connect in such a way that they don't need to say much to know how the other feels, hence: "it's like learning a new language, helps me catch up on my mind"

    i'd love to know what anyone else thinks.

    paranoidandroid83on April 13, 2004   Link
  • +3
    General Comment

    this song is beautiful.

    "her rabid glow is like braille to the night"-gorgeous line

    no idea what he's talking about though

    paranoidandroid83on April 09, 2004   Link
  • +3
    General Comment

    leif erikson because he is discovering new territory. this is such a song about 2 people dealing with a difficult, real and deep situation of loving and growing together. i don't see it as depressing. they will keep growing together. this is a mature relationship. things are not seen pink and optimistic. love, yes. but realistic. there has been fear, taking things from sexual to emotional and understanding how far the other has gone in the process has been almost harrowing. for the man here this is completely new territory. we don't know about her, but we can imagine for her too...

    blackalisson March 03, 2005   Link
  • +2
    General Comment

    i think a pony is slang for 25 british pounds, "her love's a pony", maybe this song is about a hooker

    interpaulon December 14, 2004   Link
  • +2
    General Comment

    Other way around. She's the one who doesn't want to get too involved.

    carnifexon July 27, 2005   Link
  • +2
    General Comment

    wow blackaliss, nice job with:

    leif erikson because he is discovering new territory. this is such a song about 2 people dealing with a difficult, real and deep situation of loving and growing together. i don't see it as depressing. they will keep growing together. this is a mature relationship. things are not seen pink and optimistic. love, yes. but realistic. there has been fear, taking things from sexual to emotional and understanding how far the other has gone in the process has been almost harrowing. for the man here this is completely new territory. we don't know about her, but we can imagine for her too...

    ^totally reflects my sad life sighhhh

    eliaszovon April 21, 2008   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    She says brief things, her love’s a pony My love’s subliminal

    i think that just sums up my entire life.

    plastic jesuson May 06, 2004   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    i see it more as a couple who's realtionship is all about sex. however, the guy has become attached to the girl emotionally, and wants their relationship to mean something more. but "She feels that my sentimental side should be held with kid gloves" and doesn't want any of that. on the rest of it i'm kind of unsure, i think that he reconciled and decided to just let their relationships stay the way it is, even if he wants more, "cuz I like to get hooked." the last lines i interpret as just being a summary, and her love being "a pony" means that she just wants to have sex, her love is totally animal, and she doesn't talk much(she says brief things). but of course, like so many men, he is attached anyway, "my love's subliminal."

    this is just my interpretation of what is in my opinion the best song on Turn On the Bright Lights and one of the best songs ever

    bamargeroon May 15, 2004   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    i think a pony is slang for 25 british pounds, "her love's a pony", maybe this song is about a hooker

    interpaulon December 14, 2004   Link

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