Tame

Album: Doolittle (1989)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • With lots of heavy breathing and a reference to a girl with "hips like Cinderella," this song is often interpreted as something erotic. Pixies frontman Frank Black had something else in mind when he wrote it. He explained: "That song is just about all these f--kin' stupid ass students that live around this neighborhood. Man, oh man, they are the rudest motherf--kers in the world. They're all f--kin' rich, which is fine, I don't care, I wish I was totally rich, but they supposedly come from an upper middle-class background, they're educated, and they're going to private universities, and they are the rudest, most uncouth, most disrespectful people I've ever met on the face of the Earth! Law students are the worst f--kin' vermin in the world! These girls around here, what's wrong with them? They keep perming their hair! And they wear awful clothing and act awful. I hate to put them down because I don't like putting people down, but they're awful! They could be sexy but they're not. They could be interesting people but they keep stuffing their faces with mozzarella sticks and buffalo wings and getting totally drunk every night and shaking their asses all over Commonwealth Avenue!"

    Black's rant is directed to the students in Boston, where he grew up. Black attended a public school outside of Boston for two years: the University of Massachusetts Amherst.
  • Pixes drummer David Lovering says that this is his favorite song on the Doolittle album to play. "It's full of angst, kind of punky," he told MusicRadar. "Even though it's in a slightly odd time, it's quick and moving, so I get to go all out on it."

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Victoria Williams

Victoria WilliamsSongwriter Interviews

Despite appearances on Carson, Leno and a Pennebaker film, Williams remains a hidden treasure.

Chris Frantz - "Genius of Love"

Chris Frantz - "Genius of Love"They're Playing My Song

Chris and his wife Tina were the rhythm section for Talking Heads when they formed The Tom Tom Club. "Genius of Love" was their blockbuster, but David Byrne only mentioned it once.

00s Music Quiz 1

00s Music Quiz 1Music Quiz

Do you know the girl singer on Eminem's "Stan"? If so, this quiz is for you.

Joe Jackson

Joe JacksonSongwriter Interviews

Joe talks about the challenges of of making a Duke Ellington tribute album, and tells the stories behind some of his hits.

Wolfgang Van Halen

Wolfgang Van HalenSongwriter Interviews

Wolfgang Van Halen breaks down the songs on his debut album, Mammoth WVH, and names the definitive Van Halen songs from the Sammy and Dave eras.

Sub Pop Founder Bruce Pavitt On How To Create A Music Scene

Sub Pop Founder Bruce Pavitt On How To Create A Music SceneSong Writing

With $50 and a glue stick, Bruce Pavitt created Sub Pop, a fanzine-turned-label that gave the world Nirvana and grunge. He explains how motivated individuals can shift culture.