Pixies – Distance Equals Rate Times Time

"Distance Equals Rate Times Time" as written by and Charles Thompson....
I had a vision
There wasn't any television
From looking into the sun
Looking into the sun
We got to think quick
Says blind St. Nick hey
From looking into the sun
Looking into the sun
We got to get some beer
We got no atmosphere
From looking into the sun
Looking into the sun
I had a vision
There wasn't any television
From looking into the sun.


Lyrics submitted by riffic

"Distance Equals Rate Times Time" as written by Charles Thompson

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group

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Distance Equals Rate Times Time song meanings
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15 Comments

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  • 0
    General CommentI just want to say that this is one of my favorite Pixies song and it seems amazingly underrated. No one even knows what I'm talking about when I mention it.

    I have no idea what it means, but musically, it's some of Black's best.
    plosionon April 01, 2003   Link
  • 0
    General CommentI think he's saying that people should turn off their TV's and look at science and nature and space, which is more fascinating than any TV show. That's just what I've inferred from his interviews and things.
    DanVitaleRockson June 18, 2003   Link
  • 0
    General Commentthis song used to be the tail end of subbacultcha. its on the purple tapes
    oidimedon April 26, 2004   Link
  • 0
    General Commentplosion, will you marry me? I agree, this song is AWESOME.
    skltron January 27, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Commenti like danvitalerocks interpretation.

    THis song is one of the pixies best. Short and sweet. i like it better as its own song, rather than mixed in with the verses of subbacultcha.
    placeboheadwoundon May 08, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General CommentI say we all get married, and this song can be our 'Wedding March'. Then, we can demand that the ONLY music allowed at our reception is Pixies' music. No more "Electric Slide", f*ckers!!
    GinaMarzon July 31, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General CommentI think the song has to do something with math. Just watch these vids:
    youtube.com/…
    youtube.com/…
    heartbeats_xxxon December 29, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General CommentI think this song is about ozone depletion. It was most likely written when this was more of a hot issue. He had this vision when looking into the sun which is how we discovered this problem. The fact that he says we got no atmosphere seams like the best indicator of this meaning. We got to think quick because this could become a serious problem. As for blind st. nick this could mean many things. St. Nick is known most famously for giving gifts, but also for saving people. The blind part could be interpreted many ways as well.
    WizardlyFriendon January 03, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General CommentSt. Nick also lives in the north pole which is currently melting away due do ozone depletion and global warming. Very interesting interpretation Wiz...
    hobophobeon January 18, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General CommentDidn't Newton have something to do with Distance equals rate times time? I remember hearing that Newton once looked into the sun for hours simply to see what would happen - fortunately he wasn't blinded.
    Goodjohnon April 25, 2007   Link

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