Cannonball

I believe this song is about Frank Black aka Charles Thompson. This album was written right after the breakup of the Pixies. I never believed the Marquis de Sade explanation. I believe Kim was making an allusion to Marquis de Sade, but was really speaking about Frank Black. The lyrics are actually very clear when you put Frank Black into the picture.

"Spitting in a wishing well Blown to hell crash I'm the last splash"

She's talking about the Pixies here. They were on the brink of becoming very famous (sitting in a wishing well), but then everything imploded (blown to hell crash) within the band. But Kim will not give up her dreams of being a famous musician, so she'll continue on her own with the Breeders (I'm the last splash).

"I know you little libertine I know you're a real coocoo"

She's talking to Frank Black who probably fancied himself a bohemian, outside of the normal spectrum of morality, hence the "libertine" line. But in reality, he's just wanted total control of the band (this was true in real life). Kim's saying she's seen the real Frank, and the libertine he presented himself as was just a facade. He's really just a crazy control freak.

"Want you coocoo cannonball Want you coocoo cannonball In the shade, in the shade In the shade, in the shade "

I'm not entirely sure about the first line of the chorus. It always sounded like Kim was saying "Know you're coocoo, cannonball." I personally never heard the word "Want" in the chorus. Maybe it's just the way she's singing it... But the in the shade line is very telling for me. Kim is singing about herself. She's talking about her time in the Pixies, always being under the shadow of Frank. Never having the spotlight. Don't believe me? check out the next verse:

"I know you little libertine I know you're a cannonball I'll be your whatever you want The bong in this reggae song"

Now to talk about the cannonball reference. Kim is basically ridiculing Frank's body and attitude by calling him a cannonball. It's no secret that Frank is fat. Always has been. But the cannonball line is not just to make fun of his body. It's also making fun of his attitude towards the band. He basically ruined his own band. He "wrecked" the ship they were sailing on, and ended their shot at obtaining real recognition and fame.

Now the second part of the verse is very telling "I'll be your whatever you want." She's basically describing what she went through in the Pixies. She did whatever Frank told her to do. "The bong in this reggae song" is an obvious dig at Frank's style of music. Some of his songs like Mr Grieves and Hey clearly have a reggae/Carribean influence in them, from the style of picking to the singing. Kim is basically saying that she had no say in the Pixies. She was just a tool to him.

The rest of the song is repeating what's already been said, but overall, my interpretation of this song is that it's about Kim's liberation from the Pixies and Frank. There's a reason why the entire album is called Last Splash. She is basically saying that even after the Pixies are over, she will be the one who will be triumphant and come out on top. She'll have the last word and it's the sweetest revenge she could have after having to endure her volatile relationship with Frank.

BTW, I am a huge Pixies fan, and I love the Breeders. I'm not trying to spit venom at Frank Black, as I find him to be a very talented singer/songwriter. This is just what I believe the song is really about.