Pixies - Where Is My Mind?

I enjoy this song so much every time I hear it. Ever since it first mystified me in my youth, I have caught a chill; like I'm on to something when it is heard. I thought, it's been long enough that I could get my thoughts out about it.

Pixies was a rock band based in Boston from the late eighty's 'til the early '90's, I would classify their sound as being quite unique no matter what era you grew up in.
The band consists of four members; a rhythm guitarist/lead vocalist(Black Francis), a lead guitarist(Joey Santiago), a bassist/backup vocalist(Kim Deal), and a drummer(David Lovering).
The song 'Where is my mind' was released as track 7 From the Pixies first album Surfer Rosa (1988). It is a well known classic amongst fans of the band, although some may argue there are better representations of the bands signature sound. The song was featured on the epic Fight Club (1998), and seriously complimented the films ending; which in turn catapulted this song into some; late, but deserving widespread admiration.

There is a basic Verse Chorus Verse structure to the song BUT, added elements very-much illuminate this structure. There is this sort of conclusion at the end of each chorus that allows for the next verse to really spill in.

There are three different chord patters during the song

Verse/Intro/OutroEmajor: C#minor G#major Amajor

Chorus: Emajor G#major Amajor Aminor

This is the 'outro' to each chorus I spoke of; I apologize for not being able to define it in the correct terminology.
C#minor for two bars of two Bmajor for two bars of two

The solo is on a Bmajor chord that is played for 3 bars of 4.

The lyrical content leaves alot of room for interpretation; but, i have thought of it in mainly two different ways. When I first heard the song; given some of the tensions built on other work from this band; I put confidence in the assumption that he was speaking of 'going a little mad' while he is trying to find his mind. But, I soon realized he may likely be speaking of the physical location of his mind.
In the first verse Frank speaks about breaking your head open by putting your feet in the air, your head on the ground and then spinning 'it'. He explains that your head will collapse, you'll look, and there will be nothing in it pertaining to the 'mind'.
The chorus repeats 'where is my mind' three times and then finishes off with "way out in the water, see it swimming".
I really can't find a meaning for that, I'm not sure if something is out in the water? or, if this line was just inspired by a random thought, or he is just saying like "way out in the waaater" it gives me a vibe like it was inspired from a beach tune of some sort. ie. wave of mutilation... whatever.
The second verse goes:

I was swimmin' in the Caribbean
Animals were hiding behind the rocks
Except the little fish
But they told me, he swears
Tryin' to talk to me, coy koi.

This verse I believe to be un-related to the original content besides the thought process involved to achieve the lyric; but, it works. I think he was inspired by the end of the chorus to keep it flowing; on the grounds that songs about the location of the mind would turn into misunderstood seminars in them there headphones. The first half seems too much of a profound question to resolve to a memory of the Caribbean, that's all... But, how much further are you going to elaborate on the location of the mind without sounding a bit bonkers. It does provide a great question tho, where is it? an excellent use of songwriters craftsmanship as far as my assumptions about the content go.

Bingo.
"That came from me snorkeling in the Caribbean and having this very small fish trying to chase me. I don't know why - I don't know too much about fish behavior."
Frank Black / Select October 1997
But, do you really think he started with that thought in his head?
who knows.

Finally the last verse is the first verse repeated once again which is really cool.

I did a cover of the song to go along with the article, i apologize there are no drums to be heard; and, I hope you enjoy my bedroom engineered take on it.




There are some differences in the song structure I just explained and what I had in memory when I recorded.

None the less I salute Pixies for the work they served the industry with.
A re-definition of sorts.