I believe there are two independent parts to this song. The name and the radio-talk then the the normal lyrics. I see no correlation of the two. In this post I offer my interpretation for the name and radio-talk which I fell is only background scenery for the main lyrics.
Pinback has a penchant for classic SciFi, E.G. they're named for a character in Dark Star, and they have referred to George Orwell's original broadcast of War of the Worlds in other songs. The interleaved verses sounding like an old radio broadcast I believe is a paraphrase of the radio broadcaster in Grover's Mill. It's very similar to the "man on the scene" reports. Also, in the broadcast he refers to Grover's Mill as a village.
By itself, that's weak, but consider that description of the alien craft in WotW.
[speaking of the diameter] "About thirty yards. The metal on the sheath is... well, I've never seen anything like it. The color is sort of yellowish-white."
I like to believe this is what they're referring to as "The Yellow Ones".
I believe there are two independent parts to this song. The name and the radio-talk then the the normal lyrics. I see no correlation of the two. In this post I offer my interpretation for the name and radio-talk which I fell is only background scenery for the main lyrics. Pinback has a penchant for classic SciFi, E.G. they're named for a character in Dark Star, and they have referred to George Orwell's original broadcast of War of the Worlds in other songs. The interleaved verses sounding like an old radio broadcast I believe is a paraphrase of the radio broadcaster in Grover's Mill. It's very similar to the "man on the scene" reports. Also, in the broadcast he refers to Grover's Mill as a village. By itself, that's weak, but consider that description of the alien craft in WotW. [speaking of the diameter] "About thirty yards. The metal on the sheath is... well, I've never seen anything like it. The color is sort of yellowish-white." I like to believe this is what they're referring to as "The Yellow Ones".