You’ll never wait so long/
Here comes your man.

There is a classic antidote that the only people who bought a Velvet Underground record ended up becoming a musician. Meaning–their albums never sold well, but years later, every band listed them as an influence.

A similar thing happened with The Pixies. They exploded because Kurt Cobain said it was his favorite band. Others in the 90s Seattle grunge scene said they, too, were influenced by The Pixies. Their legend has grown from there.

“Here Comes Your Man” is The Pixies most popular song. It is probably not indicative of the sound of the rest of their catalog, but it is their most catchy. The lead electric guitar part leaves the most immediate impression. The riff repeats throughout the song with only a slight variation. And that’s okay. It really is that good that we want to hear it over and over again.

The guitar has a sound that is similar to the sound of the early Beach Boys. It’s ‘surfy’– it is hard to articulate what makes that sound. It has the heavy reverb on the guitar, an upbeat tempo and relatively light mood.

The most unique characteristic of The Pixies sound is the experimentation with different volume levels throughout the song. That was used quite a bit in classical music, but not as much in rock before The Pixies.

Black Francis’ vocals are outstanding. We can hear his versatility. The vocals start relatively clean but at times during the chorus they can sound raw and filled with angst and emotion.

To say the lyrics are cryptic is an understatement. There are a bunch of hobos around a train (or boxcar). It is cold, they are lined up for food and waiting for their drug dealer. Then there is an earthquake. Francis wrote the song when he was only 14 so perhaps a little grace is required in the lyrics department.

Here Comes Your Man Lyrics

Outside there’s a box car waiting
Outside the family stew
Out by the fire breathing
Outside we wait till face turns blue

I know the nervous walking
I know the dirty beard hangs
Out by the box car waiting
Take me away to nowhere plains

There is a wait so long
(So long, so long)
You’ll never wait so long

Here comes your man
Here comes your man
Here comes your man

Big shake on the box car moving
Big shake to the land that’s falling down
Is a wind makes a palm stop blowing
A big, big stone fall and break my crown

There is a wait so long
(So long, so long)
You’ll never wait so long

Here comes your man
Here comes your man
Here comes your man
Here comes your man

There is a wait so long
(So long, so long)
You’ll never wait so long
Here comes your man

written by Charles Thompson / Black Francis