Talk of circles and punching out
Looking in drawing circles down
Falling up the south marking ground
Talking out of turn drawing circles down

Like Pilate I have a dog
{Obeys listens kisses loves}

Walks me out of town
Still one's a crowd
Making angels in the dirt
Looking up looking all around

Like Pilate I have a dog
{Obeys listens kisses loves}

Stunned by my own reflection
It's looking back, sees me too clearly
And I swore I'd never go there again
Not unlike a friend that politely drags you down, you down, you down

Like Pilate, I have a dog
{Obeys, listens, kisses, loves}


Lyrics submitted by Trent, edited by jamalan

Pilate Lyrics as written by Jeff Ament

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group

Lyrics powered by LyricFind

Pilate song meanings
Add Your Thoughts

19 Comments

sort form View by:
  • +1
    General Comment

    Pilate wasn't a jail guard, he was the roman ruler of the area of jerusalem during the time of christ. His name was Pontius Pilate, and he was not jewish. When the chief priests and elders of the law brough Jesus to Pilate, he found no reason to crucify him, so he sent him to Herod, the Jewish king of the day. Herod just wanted Jesus to perform some miracle, but Jesus did nothing, so Herod sent Jesus back to Pilate. Pilate then appealed to the crowd, offering to either free barabbas (a serial killer, and all-around crazy guy) or Jesus, but the crowd wanted barabbas. So Pilate washed his hands of Jesus' death, and handed him over to be crucified.

    I don't know if that has anything to do with this song, but at least you now have your story straight.

    adam1986on May 13, 2005   Link

Add your thoughts

Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.

Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!

More Featured Meanings

Album art
Mental Istid
Ebba Grön
This is one of my favorite songs. https://fnfgo.io
Album art
Cajun Girl
Little Feat
Overall about difficult moments of disappointment and vulnerability. Having hope and longing, while remaining optimistic for the future. Encourages the belief that with each new morning there is a chance for things to improve. The chorus offers a glimmer of optimism and a chance at a resolution and redemption in the future. Captures the rollercoaster of emotions of feeling lost while loving someone who is not there for you, feeling let down and abandoned while waiting for a lover. Lost with no direction, "Now I'm up in the air with the rain in my hair, Nowhere to go, I can go anywhere" The bridge shows signs of longing and a plea for companionship. The Lyrics express a desire for authentic connection and the importance of Loving someone just as they are. "Just in passing, I'm not asking. That you be anyone but you”
Album art
Dreamwalker
Silent Planet
I think much like another song “Anti-Matter” (that's also on the same album as this song), this one is also is inspired by a horrifying van crash the band experienced on Nov 3, 2022. This, much like the other track, sounds like it's an extension what they shared while huddled in the wreckage, as they helped frontman Garrett Russell stem the bleeding from his head wound while he was under the temporary effects of a concussion. The track speaks of where the mind goes at the most desperate & desolate of times, when it just about slips away to all but disconnect itself, and the aftermath.
Album art
Gentle Hour
Yo La Tengo
This song was originally written by a guy called Peter Gutteridge. He was one of the founders of the "Dunedin Sound" a musical scene in the south of New Zealand in the early 80s. From there it was covered by "The Clean" one of the early bands of that scene (he had originally been a member of in it's early days, writing a couple of their best early songs). The Dunedin sound, and the Clean became popular on american college radio in the mid to late 80s. I guess Yo La Tengo heard that version. Great version of a great song,
Album art
Head > Heels
Ed Sheeran
“Head > Heels” is a track that aims to capture what it feels like to experience romance that exceeds expectations. Ed Sheeran dedicates his album outro to a lover who has blessed him with a unique experience that he seeks to describe through the song’s nuanced lyrics.