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 Song of the Day: Down To The Well

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T O P I C    R E V I E W
song oracle Posted - 05/10/2004 : 06:35:11
Today's random song of the day is Down To The Well.

What do you think of it?

lyrics
Betty always knows
Betty always tells
She laughing desperately
She said it felt like a river inside her bones
When she went down to the well

I'm gonna be with her
She's gonna take me there
Lead me by my hand
Her body a rocking chair for my soul

I can hardly wait, baby
I can hardly wait
'til we gown to the well
Down to the well

Been thinking to myself
And if a life ain't long
What matter does it make
If there'll be favorite songs
Playing in my head
When we go down to the well

I can hardly wait, Betty
I can hardly wait
'til we go down to the well
Down to the well
Down to the well


Black Francis
(p) 1990 4-A-D
20   L A T E S T    R E P L I E S    (Newest First)
VoVat Posted - 05/14/2004 : 19:49:46
Everyone else seems to have said it already, but the purple tape and BBC versions are much better than the Bossanova one, if only because of Kim's backing vocals. I know Frank said he was dissatisfied with the original version, which was why it took so long to make it to an album, but I guess I'll have to disagree with him.

As for what it's about, I don't really know. The fallout shelter and sex interpretations are both pretty clever, but I don't know whether all of the lyrics fit for these two. The title makes me think of the story of Isaac and Rebekah from the Bible, and it wouldn't be out of character for Frank to write another Bible-based song, but the lyrics just don't support it. Maybe if it were "Becky" instead of "Betty"...



I've reached 1000 posts / So I'm too cool to be in a cult.
two reelers Posted - 05/11/2004 : 07:26:30
quote:
Originally posted by This_Guy

been thinkin to myself, if a life aint long, what matter does it make if there's a favorite song playing in my head when we go down to the well.

bestline eh-ver.



i was going to say this.

I joined the cult of this mouse / and now I occidentally tic-tac
Jettison Posted - 05/11/2004 : 07:13:12
interesting quote:

"The first song we played together, the 4 of us"
-Black Francis

www.thecroakers.com
This_Guy Posted - 05/11/2004 : 01:41:36
been thinkin to myself, if a life aint long, what matter does it make if there's a favorite song playing in my head when we go down to the well.

best
line
eh-ver.
rockmusic84 Posted - 05/10/2004 : 18:33:24
Every version other than the "Bossanova" version is great. I like the B.B.C. one, but my fave is either the "Sounds E.P." or "Purple Tape" ones. Parker Airspace does a really cool version of it. It can be found in the "Hey - B-sides" folder on the ftp. I also dig that version.

I really feel the earlier versions of their songs are much better than the ones they did later. They're more raw, they have more feeling. They (or more aptly, Gil Norton's production) ruined it on "Bossanova". Kim's sexy vocal, which is prominent on the original versions, is barely a whisper on this one (I had to listen to it with the headphones to hear her!!!). Joey's guitar sound comes off a bit whimpy. The song is also slower, sludgier, and tired sounding. And whoever had a handle on the theremin should've laid off. It works for "Velouria", but not this!!

With that being said, it's a good tune. :)

Join The Cult of U-MASS - IT'S EDUCATIONAL!!!
listypoos Posted - 05/10/2004 : 15:48:05
i havent really listened to the bbc version in a while, but personally (and i'm surprised no-ones mentioned it) i think the purple tape version is waaay better. i think the same can be said with subbacultcha, build high etc.

you are the son of a motherfucker
TameReg Posted - 05/10/2004 : 15:17:21
I agree with the previous comments that this song is much better on the "BBC" CD than on Bossanova. I think his high pitched screams make it much more interesting. If it wasn't for that version, I'd probably say this is one of the few Pixies songs that is a bit of a dud.
Ziggy Posted - 05/10/2004 : 14:36:00
Bad mental image. Anyway, it's the track on Bossanova I listen to least. Although I like Frank's growl of "Betttttttay".

"Me and the chickens running in the street"
Cult_Of_Frank Posted - 05/10/2004 : 14:30:43
Well, I always assumed the song was about getting it on again with the girlfriend. The well being a euphemism for, well... you know. The river inside her bones being the culmination of their combined efforts. :) I can't be any less general than that without setting off my work's filter. :)

I assume that if well is a euphemism then the river could be where all the liquid excitement is being drawn from. So they can both go down to the well for a drink.


"Join the Cult of Frank / And you'll be enlightened"
benji Posted - 05/10/2004 : 14:10:03
quote:
Originally posted by Jettison

not sure how to interpret it?



i always thought this song was a kind of long song almost, that the river inside her bones line was referring to a shiver down her spine kinda.


"I joined the Cult of Frank / I think that man deserves a DB!"
Douglas Posted - 05/10/2004 : 12:17:21
underestimated song, I think. top 3 off Bossanova
Jettison Posted - 05/10/2004 : 11:19:14
i find the line,
she said it felt like a river inside her bones
very interesting...

not sure how to interpret it?



www.thecroakers.com
benji Posted - 05/10/2004 : 11:08:36
i really prefer the earlier versions of this song.
i too dislike how you can't hear kims 'book chicka boom's on bossanova.


oh well.


"I joined the Cult of Frank / I think that man deserves a DB!"
apl4eris Posted - 05/10/2004 : 10:04:04
Gosh, I thought it was about la petite mort.

Gotta get my head out of the gutter.


I like people who glue macaroni on to a piece of cardboard and paint it gold. That's what I aspire to basically. - Tom Waits
Adam Posted - 05/10/2004 : 10:02:43
I love it. It's got my favorite Pixies line "Her body's a rocking chair for my soul", in it.
whoreatthedoor Posted - 05/10/2004 : 10:01:56
I'm not sure about this, but I believe Francis vocals on this record are Norton's idea, more than a Francis' one.


"Join the Cult of the whore at the door / And You'll find no answers, but real fun"
whoreatthedoor Posted - 05/10/2004 : 09:44:25
quote:
Originally posted by Malax

This song just like is she weird is decent on bossanova but on the bbc its fucking amazing! His screaming at the end is just fuckin great. Makes me wonder how he can scream so crazily then sing so nicely again within seconds.



I May've Joined The Cult Of Frank If I Knew What The Balls Was Going On.

*Adapted By Carolynanna*



I think this is probably the thing failing in Bossanova. There are great songs, but Frank vocals are too quiet (BBC's Is she weird is amazing) and you can't listen to Kim. Where's the Boom-Chicka-Boom??? If you haven't heard this song before, you can't hear it!!! Promise. I have tried it with my friends.


"Join the Cult of the whore at the door / And You'll find no answers, but real fun"
Malax Posted - 05/10/2004 : 08:00:14
This song just like is she weird is decent on bossanova but on the bbc its fucking amazing! His screaming at the end is just fuckin great. Makes me wonder how he can scream so crazily then sing so nicely again within seconds.



I May've Joined The Cult Of Frank If I Knew What The Balls Was Going On.

*Adapted By Carolynanna*
chickenwithtwoheads Posted - 05/10/2004 : 07:44:55
It's about time they'll play this one during the tour!

I can hardly wait, baby!!!


I'm bored with the valleys and bored by the peaks. So I bought a ticket to the freaks
Jason Posted - 05/10/2004 : 06:51:05
so many people point this as the worst song on the album, but I think it's my favorite.

i once read a writer say this song is about going down into a fallout shelter and, though I can just barely discern that from the actual lyrics, I like it so I'm going with that interpretation. the guy in the song looks forward to a nuclear war so he can be all alone with Betty in the fallout shelter. that's pretty rock n roll.

And I like the "rocking chair" line.

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