Cactus

Pixies

Sitting here wishing on a cement floor
Just wishing that I had just something you wore
I put it on when I go lonely
Will you take off your dress and send it to me?

I miss your kissin' and I miss your head
And a letter in your writing doesn't mean you're not dead
Run outside in the desert heat
Make your dress all wet and send it to me

I miss your soup and I miss your bread
And a letter in your writing doesn't mean you're not dead
So spill your breakfast and drip your wine
Just wear that dress when you're dying

P-I-X-I-E-S

Sitting here wishing on a cement floor
Just wishing that I had just something you wore
Bloody your hands on a cactus tree
Wipe it on your dress and send it to me

Sitting here wishing on a cement floor
Just wishing that I had just something you wore


Lyrics submitted by riffic, edited by eloso, hornytheclown, Hartyhar, lauracee77

Cactus Lyrics as written by Charles Thompson

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.

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Cactus song meanings
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45 Comments

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  • +4
    General CommentI read what Black Francis said about this song - it is about a guy in prison. The references to the blood aren't about murder, though. The guy in prison misses his girlfriend and all he has is letters, when what he wants is something with her smell, something from her body, because "a letter in your writing doesn't mean you're not dead."

    So he says she should cut her hands on a cactus, wipe it on her dress and send him that instead of a letter; alternatively she should get hot in the desert and sweat in her dress, or spill food on it - anything to get a smell that reminds him of her.

    The Bowie cover is pretty cool, that whole album is good actually. I like to imaging Bowie sitting at home listening to the Pixies - kind of cements to me the importance of the Pixies in modern music.
    caitsith01on July 07, 2003   Link
  • +3
    General CommentIt's about missing someone so much you just wish you had something with their smell or scent on it in your possession
    Fred39on July 25, 2002   Link
  • +3
    General CommentPixies were touring at the beginnig with Bowie, so there´s connection. He liked them a lot, called them " psychotic Beatles ".
    Mirzaon March 21, 2005   Link
  • +3
    General CommentHas any one noticed that as the song goes on and Black Francis's desire for the person he's missing grows, his instincts grow more and more primal. First he just wants her smell, then he wants the dress to be covered in wine and food then finally he wants blood.
    Red_Left_Handon October 10, 2005   Link
  • +2
    General CommentI know I'm probably wrong, but it could be a guy in jail who left his girlfriend (like you would have to) while he was in jail, she then runs off and he's not sure if SHE'S writing to him, if she went off with someone else or she could even be dead.
    Thesmellyoneon June 05, 2004   Link
  • +2
    General CommentI always thought it was dine, not dying. He's talking about spilling food and wine on the dress, so "dine" isn't much of a stretch.
    yowza_beanon December 04, 2004   Link
  • +2
    General CommentIs it fucked up for a girl to put on the sweatshirt of someone she misses? No? Then why is it "pervy" or "fucked up" for a dude to put on a dress of someone he loves when he misses her? It's about that primal comfort that words and ideas just can't provide.
    goodmorningmisterbenon June 03, 2006   Link
  • +1
    General Commentit's about being separated from the one you love and, lets be frank, wanting to fuck them... but not being able to, and so instead wishing you had something to remind you of them
    zoton July 19, 2002   Link
  • +1
    General CommentDavid Bowie covered this song on his new album. I think that proves just how rad the Pixies are.
    FourEyedLame-Oon August 17, 2002   Link
  • +1
    General CommentI've also always thought it was "dine."
    morning_star68on December 18, 2004   Link

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