Pleiades

Album: Gretchen Goes To Nebraska (1989)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This song was originally called "Milky Way," but a friend of King's X guitarist Ty Tabor advised him to change a few lyrics and the song title. >>>
    Suggestion credit:
    Matt - Boston, MA
  • Pleiades is a star cluster. In mythology, the Pleiades are seven sisters who had affairs with some of the gods.
  • The album title is something the band came up with as a goof when they were tossing around ideas. "'Gretchen Goes to Nebraska,' that was hilarious," lead singer Doug Pinnick told Songfacts. "We fell on the floor when we came up with that one."

    They had that title for about five years before the album was finally released. When their manager, Sam Taylor, asked them what they were going to name it, they sprung it on him.

Comments: 6

  • Sam Powell from Kaneohe, HawaiiI don't know what the source of this interpretation is, but "Who can restrain Pleiades or know the laws of heaven lies?" is clearly a reference to the book of Job. Job 38:31 says "Can you bind the clusters of Pleaides?"
    and two verses later is Job 38:33, which asks "Do you know the ordinances (laws) of the heavens?" The song is about how little we understand the mysteries of God and his infinite universe. It's an expression of awe and wonder about how far beyond our understanding the ways of God are.
  • Anton from Lincoln, NeAlong with Tacklebox, I have a more developed demo of this, but can't seem to find any info on it
  • Paul from St. Petersburg, FlPleiades was the first song that began to form the band's sound and direction in their early years, as Ty Tabor will attest to in various sources, including the CD "Tacklebox" (the Ty Tabor demos vol 1&2 - Molken)
  • Darrell from Eugene, United StatesThe Pleiades constellation (placed inside of an oval) is also the logo of Subaru. "Subaru" is the Japanese name for Pleiades, and not that this has anything to do with the King's X song, but Serena (my girlfriend) always gets Saab and Subaru confused, which is easy when it comes to the redesigned Subaru WRX wagon that was brirfly sold as a Saab.
  • Aaron from Palm Bay, FlI love King's X. They blow me away.
  • Bryanthemadposter from Washington, MiThe title likely comes from the Bible. Given the heavy spiritual influence in King's X's early work, this seems likely.

    "Can you hold back the movements of the stars? Are you able to restrain the Pleiades or Orion?" - Job 38:31
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Adele

AdeleFact or Fiction

Despite her reticent personality, Adele's life and music are filled with intrigue. See if you can spot the true tales.

Susanna Hoffs - "Eternal Flame"

Susanna Hoffs - "Eternal Flame"They're Playing My Song

The Prince-penned "Manic Monday" was the first song The Bangles heard coming from a car radio, but "Eternal Flame" is closest to Susanna's heart, perhaps because she sang it in "various states of undress."

Phil Hurtt ("I'll Be Around")

Phil Hurtt ("I'll Be Around")Songwriter Interviews

Phil was a songwriter, producer and voice behind many Philadelphia soul classics. When disco hit, he got an interesting project: The Village People.

Rufus Wainwright

Rufus WainwrightSongwriter Interviews

Rufus Wainwright on "Hallelujah," his album Unfollow The Rules, and getting into his "lyric trance" on 12-hour walks.

Graham Bonnet (Alcatrazz, Rainbow)

Graham Bonnet (Alcatrazz, Rainbow)Songwriter Interviews

Yngwie Malmsteen and Steve Vai were two of Graham's co-writers for some '80s rock classics.

The 10 Bands Most Like Spinal Tap

The 10 Bands Most Like Spinal TapSong Writing

Based on criteria like girlfriend tension, stage mishaps and drummer turnover, these are the 10 bands most like Spinal Tap.