Check check check
One two

Spitting in a wishing well
Blown to hell crash
I'm the last splash

I know you little libertine
I know you're a real coocoo

Want you coocoo cannonball
Want you coocoo cannonball
In the shade, in the shade
In the shade, in the shade

I know you little libertine
I know you're a cannonball

I'll be your whatever you want
The bong in this reggae song

In the shade, in the shade
Want you coocoo cannonball
Want you coocoo cannonball

Spitting in a wishing well
Blown to hell
Crash
I'm the last splash

I'll be your whatever you want
The bong in this reggae song

Want you coocoo cannonball
Want you coocoo cannonball
In the shade, in the shade
In the shade, in the shade



Lyrics submitted by Nelly

Track duration: 03:33

"Cannonball" as written by Kim Deal

Lyrics © EMI Music Publishing, Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.

Lyrics powered by LyricFind


Cannonball song meanings
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31 Comments

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  • +3
    General Comment:I believe this song is about Frank Black aka Charles Thompson. This album was written right after the breakup of the Pixies. I never believed the Marquis de Sade explanation. I believe Kim was making an allusion to Marquis de Sade, but was really speaking about Frank Black. The lyrics are actually very clear when you put Frank Black into the picture.

    "Spitting in a wishing well
    Blown to hell crash
    I'm the last splash"

    She's talking about the Pixies here. They were on the brink of becoming very famous (sitting in a wishing well), but then everything imploded (blown to hell crash) within the band. But Kim will not give up her dreams of being a famous musician, so she'll continue on her own with the Breeders (I'm the last splash).

    "I know you little libertine
    I know you're a real coocoo"

    She's talking to Frank Black who probably fancied himself a bohemian, outside of the normal spectrum of morality, hence the "libertine" line. But in reality, he's just wanted total control of the band (this was true in real life). Kim's saying she's seen the real Frank, and the libertine he presented himself as was just a facade. He's really just a crazy control freak.

    "Want you coocoo cannonball
    Want you coocoo cannonball
    In the shade, in the shade
    In the shade, in the shade "

    I'm not entirely sure about the first line of the chorus. It always sounded like Kim was saying "Know you're coocoo, cannonball." I personally never heard the word "Want" in the chorus. Maybe it's just the way she's singing it... But the in the shade line is very telling for me. Kim is singing about herself. She's talking about her time in the Pixies, always being under the shadow of Frank. Never having the spotlight. Don't believe me? check out the next verse:

    "I know you little libertine
    I know you're a cannonball
    I'll be your whatever you want
    The bong in this reggae song"

    Now to talk about the cannonball reference. Kim is basically ridiculing Frank's body and attitude by calling him a cannonball. It's no secret that Frank is fat. Always has been. But the cannonball line is not just to make fun of his body. It's also making fun of his attitude towards the band. He basically ruined his own band. He "wrecked" the ship they were sailing on, and ended their shot at obtaining real recognition and fame.

    Now the second part of the verse is very telling "I'll be your whatever you want." She's basically describing what she went through in the Pixies. She did whatever Frank told her to do. "The bong in this reggae song" is an obvious dig at Frank's style of music. Some of his songs like Mr Grieves and Hey clearly have a reggae/Carribean influence in them, from the style of picking to the singing. Kim is basically saying that she had no say in the Pixies. She was just a tool to him.

    The rest of the song is repeating what's already been said, but overall, my interpretation of this song is that it's about Kim's liberation from the Pixies and Frank. There's a reason why the entire album is called Last Splash. She is basically saying that even after the Pixies are over, she will be the one who will be triumphant and come out on top. She'll have the last word and it's the sweetest revenge she could have after having to endure her volatile relationship with Frank.

    BTW, I am a huge Pixies fan, and I love the Breeders. I'm not trying to spit venom at Frank Black, as I find him to be a very talented singer/songwriter. This is just what I believe the song is really about.
    Flag PorkChopExpresson August 02, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Killer bass line!
    Flag NeverXMindon October 24, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:this song is in the background of a skit from the state with Michael Ian black and Kerri Kenney. the "start wearing pants one"
    Flagged aproposon March 11, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:this song is in the opening scene of 'a walk to remember' that's where i know it from

    awesome song, the bass has to be favorite part as it is in most of my favorite songs :]
    Flag CupCake0711on February 09, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:When I was a junior high brat, I don't ever remember hearing this song on the radio. I was fucking deprived since I discovered via that shitty channel called VH1. I always heard the bass line in those musical montages and I never knew what is was, then I found out eventually. Since then, I have loved every lick, every lyric, every drum beat. This song is one of the best of the 1990's. It's likely the best one I've never heard of until now.
    Flag OpinionHeadon January 19, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:no idea what the song is about maybe ill figre it outlater but i jus love the bass lics, and the weird guitar riffs in this song, onlysong i heard by this band tho...mayb ill check out sum more by this band
    Flag 333 im half evilon January 02, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:farouhk: Obviously Mirwais sampled this song
    Flag taylo2bson June 26, 2007   Link
  • -1
    General Comment:Love this song alot...no idea what it means.
    Flag courtzaaaon April 14, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Hmm, I seem to have misplaced a sentence somewhere. Right before "then and now" was supposed to say "the Breeders wrote some great songs" but for some reason...

    Nevermind, no one is even reading this.
    Flag artsluton April 04, 2007   Link
  • -1
    General Comment:Why is this (nearly) the only song that gets comments? Then and now.
    Flag artsluton April 04, 2007   Link

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