Letter To Memphis

Pixies

The day since I met her
I can't believe it's true
She came here from Memphis
Across the ocean sailing

And I saw her and I pleaded
Why do you come so far?
And she said," Trying to get to you
How I tried to get to you
Trying to get to you"

I'm sending a letter
I'll send it right to you
I'll send it to Memphis
I know that someday

Everything I needed and I wanted
Used to be that my head was haunted
And all these sirens they make me mad
And all this violence it brings me down

I feel strong, I feel lucky
Trying to get to you
Said I'm going to get to you
Trying to get to you



Lyrics submitted by riffic

Letter to Memphis Lyrics as written by Charles Thompson

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group

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Letter To Memphis song meanings
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11 Comments

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  • +2
    General CommentYeah, he explains it in the liner nots for the Complete B-sides; he says its a love letter to the love of his life, from a PAST life, who lived in Memphis, Egypt.

    And SAWraith, i totally agree with you--the intro to this song give me goosebumps EVERY time i hear it.

    It is the most perfect aural representation of wistful longing in the entire universe. Every time i hear it, i feel like im soaring through time and space, searching for a part of me i lost eons ago.
    Superaboundon June 26, 2004   Link
  • +2
    General CommentBack on 1994, on college, I was madly in love with this sweet girl (by the time, I was convinced she was an angel), but she didn't know I existed. I used to stare at her on class and sang in my head

    "Trying to get to you
    Said I'm going to get to you
    Trying to get to you"

    with all the engine-driven strenght of those roaring guitars.

    Eventually I spoke to her, and we became friends. Things didn't go as I wanted them to be, but time made me realise that I didn't lose love. Instead, I gained a very good friend, but many years later I listened again to this song and I thought to myself "I fulfilled what I stated: I got to her".

    Never before were the Pixies so right about my life.
    Alienoon December 01, 2004   Link
  • 0
    General Commentit is my opinion that Francis Black wrote this song about a couple who meet in Memphis of course, and the two make each other's lives perfect, but then the day comes when she has to leave, and the guy has become like an addiction to her, making her life feel so good, and now she is telling him how she will do anything within her power to get back to him.
    onafridayon May 01, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General CommentI believe Frank Black himself said this song was about past-life regression. go figure.
    Halo Apeon June 03, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General CommentI don't really look too deeply into this song, but it has one of the best Opening Riffs ever. Especially the BBC version.
    SAWraithon August 14, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General CommentJust to clear it up, when he says "she came here from memphis across the ocean sailing", he's talking about Memphis, Egypt. Not the Memphis in America.
    plosionon April 09, 2003   Link
  • 0
    General CommentI love how this song and "Palace of the Brine" fit together on Trompe le Monde - a great centrepiece to a great album. The way the guitars are tuned/distorted exactly the same and the timing over the break between the songs is so perfect.
    caitsith01on July 07, 2003   Link
  • 0
    General Commentits about a person in their past life sending a letter to a person in the future or something. yeah, it is egypt
    oidimedon April 27, 2004   Link
  • 0
    General CommentHere are some thoughts;
    You feel lucky when you try to reach something, because your are convinced that you`re gonna get it, but when you get there it`s not what you`ve thought, at least it`s not so good you thought it was gonna be. i saw the pixies live! yes yes yes yes
    djcvarmeon February 10, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Commentpersonally i just love the song and i really love the song on their live album
    Drugsarebadon December 09, 2005   Link

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