River Euphrates

Lyric CorrectionSeeing as the overall theme from Surfer Rosa seems to be a very sexual one, its hard to believe that "River Euphrates" is not also eluding to a sexual reference.

First and foremost, the actual lyric to this song is "ride the tiger" not "tire" or "tyre".
(This lyric correction comes directly from the Pixies' official site, pixiesmusic.com. See for yourself)

Although there are many geographical references, they aren't meant to be taken in a literal sense. They are rather metaphors and play-on-words. The term "ride the tiger" is slang for having intercourse with an Asian person.

"Stuck here out of gas" refers to ejaculating too quickly, ending his sexual experience before it hardly even begins.

"The gaza strip" is then most likely a refernce to his Asian lover's pubic hair.

From this point on, it is pretty apparent that the "dead sea" and choking on "the salty wine" lyric is a reference to his semen.

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General CommentI could never figure out if it was "tire" or "tiger" either, and actually thought it sounded a little more like "tiger", but in the live version on the b-sides album, its quite obviously "tire".

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General CommentI'm with you bro, tyre all the way. By the way, anyone noticed there are loads of tyre ads on this page now? Thats fuuunny.

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General CommentLike all good art, this song has multiple meanings. Darkthundah's interpretation is dead on, for one of the meanings. At face value the song is exactly what it says, being out of gas in the middle east and riding a tire from the car down the river to get where you need to go. Of course the song is also about premature ejaculation. For those wondering what riding a tire down the River Euphrates could possibly have to do with sex, the river is the fertile crescent, "riding" shouldnt have to be explained, and as for the tire.....what are tires made out of hmmmm? And that substance is also slang for a condom. Other possible metaphors - "Gaza strip" = somewhere outside the vagina, perhaps the gooch? Dead sea = his penis. Salty Wine = semen. Dead Sea, via the salty wine, makes the "tire" (condom) float. Ride it!

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General CommentThe re-recorded version used as a B-side for the "Gigantic" single is even better than the album version. There's a lot more guitar, which is totally insane, and Black Francis' (I refuse to call him Frank Black) screams are even more harrowing. You can get it nowadays on the "Complete B-sides" CD, which is a must-have.

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General CommentIt's ride a Tiger, probably a play on the words Tigris & Euphrates. I don't think it seems to be about anything except the Middle East.

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General CommentI don't know if Frank Black had sex on his brain or if I do, but that's what this song is about. A guy finished too fast and is out of gas. The Area between the Tigris and Euphrates is where human civilization was supposed to have begun. The stuff about the Dead Sea is then really funny.

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General CommentDang it, I think darkthundah's right. Especially since the region between the Tigris and Euphrates is known as the Fertile Crescent.

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General CommentI can't believe people think he says "Ride the tiger." Just pay attention to the context for even half a second.

They're stuck with a gasless car in the middle east, and decide they might as well "ride the tire down River Euphrates". Also note "Dead Sea make you float" also supports the inner-tube riding thing. I don't know if it is cultural to any degree, but in California, and warmer waterful climates, folks go "tubing" where they literally take a truck's tire tube and ride it down rivers, or on lakes, behind boats.

Basically, if it were "tiger," it would be the only thing in the song that made no sense whatsoever. Like if they were on the Ganges or something, then maybe they'd ride a tiger, but still--down a river? I know it sounds overly analytical, but I am of the opinion that most of Charles' lyrics aren't random syllables, or otherwise meaningless.

I like darkthundah's idea though, and I think it matches Charles' style very well. I kinda secretly hope his interpretation is accurate. The only kind of unexplained thing is the "tire".

Listen to the version on the Gigantic EP for confirmation of "tire" over "tiger." And being "tire," it is not "tyre" strictly speaking, as we spell it with the "i" in the states.

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General Commentedbanky, maybe this makes no sense, but perhaps in a sexual interpretation of the song the tire could mean a condom. Both are rubber, both are circular, and it would fit with all the references to "dryness" "dead sea", etc. The salty wine part could just be about semen. Saying it'll "make you choke" so use a condom? Maybe I'm searching too far for meaning.

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