Lyrics for Zürich is Stained as interpreted by summerbabe

Zürich is Stained Lyrics
I can't sing it strong enough
Because that kind of strength I just don't have
With a watch, the light changed
To "hold" then "hanging"

You think it's easy, but you're wrong
I am not one half of the problem
Zürich is stained, and it's not my fault
Just hold me back or let me run

So what does it mean, a mistake or two
If it's the kind of mistakes no one can trace
To the fountain where we sold it
And held them hanging?

You think it's easy, but you're wrong
I am not one half of the problem
Zürich is stained, and it's not my fault
Just hold me back or let me run

You think it's easy, but you're wrong
I am not one half of the problem
Zürich is stained, and it's not my fault
Just hold me back or let me run

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  • 18 Comments
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awfully pretty
04-01-2003

Rated 0 
zurich! zurich is stained!

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kharmapaymentman
06-11-2003

Rated 0 
So im going out on a huge limb here, but what i think it means is.....
Alright Zurich is in Germany, Zurich is stained by the holocost. If u know about the holocost u know that at first the jews were held in camps and then later massacred "hanging". So i think the "with a watch, the light changed to hold, then hanging" is talking about how at first they were held and then killed after some time past and hitler got more intense against the jews. NEXT, in the second verse, i think a mistake or two is the fact that so many people stood by at first and allowed the holocost to happen while looking the other way. And that is a mistake that could not be traced to any person, but i think "sold it and held them hanging" is referring to people not caring as long as it didnt affect them. ALRIGHT now heres the big twist and really going out on a limb, i think that the chorus means: "You think its easy" to be able to stand up to a problem like this, but its not, and Malkmus is saying since Zurich's being stained isnt his fault, hes just gonna be held back away from it, or hell run away from it. OK OK OK so im really sure that this explanation is probably wrong but i just had to try to find meaning in it cuz its one of my favorite songs, if anyone else knows what its about pleasssse tell me, cuz i dont really beleive my own idea, anyway someone else comment on this song please.

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grahamboston
06-19-2003

Rated 0 
zurich is in switzerland...

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kharmapaymentman
07-07-2003

Rated 0 
alright im an idiot
damnit damnit damnit damnit damnit, i thought i might have had something going and im a fuckin idiot, cmon though, zurich sounds really german right? but uhh now my comment makes absolutely no sense at all. shit, damn swiss

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christjesus
04-11-2004

Rated 0 
as if stephen malkmus would write about the holocaust. i reckon its abou him having a wonderful experience with someone in zurich and then the person being a prick afterwards and ruining it or something like that

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huntmstr
04-19-2004

Rated +1 
Zurich.... Switzerland... watches. Waht's switzerland known for? Answer: Watchmakers, international banking and chocolate. Switzerland is the home of modern time pieces (hand held-"Hold" and grandfather and wall clocks "hanging" And hold me back or let me run... it's about time. You can't hold back time, it just runs on.

Next, the reference to mistakes not being traceable... swiss bank accounts are untraceable in the us and are where many known criminals hide their money.

Last, I think in general the reference to Zurich being stained is that it has this stigma bout being nuetral when it comes to alliances and extradition. And that all of Switzerland, but particularly Zurich, is tainted or "stained" as a den for theives and hustlers who hide out there with their money.

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pumkinhed
12-05-2004

Rated 0 
wait, kharmapaymentman may be right. Was Hitler born in Switzerland or Austria? 'cause if it's Switzerland, then Zurich could represent Switzerland as a whole, being stained by Hitler.

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king_midas
12-19-2004

Rated 0 
hitler is austrian/south german/bavarian/whatever. how he sounded to the rest of germany would be akin to having some texas yokel as president, if you can imagine that... oh wait.

he has nothing to do with zurich. switzerland also has cities with french and italian sounding names because it's made of german, french, italian and romansch (an italian dialect) speaking cantons...

anyway, i think huntmstr has it pinned...

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s7rugg1e
03-12-2005

Rated 0 
I always thought this song had to do with the time in a relationship when a couple is at the "maybe we should se other people" stage.

Zurich (Switzerland) is neutral, designating the neutral position of the relationship.

I am not one half of the problem...Just hold me back or let me run: This sounds very "end of the relationship."

The fountain where we sold it and held them hanging also sounds like "well, were breaking up, but it's just the type of thing that happens inlife."

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AtlasDrugged
02-02-2006

Rated 0 
SM has a fascination with Nazi war criminals on the lam. See Extradition. Maybe you're onto something.

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gnar
08-14-2006

Rated 0 
yeah i agree with huntmstr and king midas if your going to rag on Texas (the best state ever) check your fucking facts, bush isn't from Texas, he's from Massachussets......ATX for life.

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herr_k
12-07-2006

Rated 0 
This song is incredibly ambiguous and I'm not sure exactly of the relevance of Zurich to this song, but I do know that not only is Zurich in Switzerland (it is the economic & banking capital in the northeast), but it is in the heart of the "German part" of Switzerland. German is spoken there and the local culture is very German.

I think this song is about abdicating responsibility even when one is responsible and slowly coming to grip with personal responsibility. The chorus suggests "it's not my fault," however the last stanza refers to "mistakes" with reference to a "we" (this would incriminate the speaker of this song).

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ZEROpumpkins
04-10-2007

Rated 0 
Does anyone like this song as much as I do? Good stuff this. As for the meaning: Jesus chirst, it's Pavement!!

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scatter_brain
06-21-2007

Rated 0 
yeah, stop trying to figure out what pavement songs mean. its not gonna happen. you'll just end up sounding stupid. they're meant to be deliberately ambiguous so that everyone can enjoy them. from people with hitler on the brain, to people at the end of a realationship.

if you want a laugh, have a look at the idiotic depth of one knob's definitive interpretation of shady lane.

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1 Reply
What_I_See_Is_Me
11-02-2007

Rated 0 
Someone said something about switzerland being neutral, and i think that would play in here. With neutrality, which one could see as goodness being stained...IDK but I like it. Plus its a great phrase. Whenever something goes wrong I'll say "Zurich is stained." Or if money is involved "Zurich is $tained"

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myironlung
08-22-2008

Rated 0 
I'm from Switzerland and Pavement is the best band ever.

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lonesomecrowded
02-25-2009

Rated 0 
http://pavemoresongs.blogspot.com/2007/07/zurich-is-stained.html

should shed a lil' light on it. maybe.

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vtngyesh
04-22-2009

Rated 0 
slanted and enchanted
slanted and enchanted
is everything

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