The Happening
Pixies · Minotaur [2009]
number fifty-one
they got a ranch they call
number fifty-one
can't see it all
'less your flying by
just sitting there square
baking in the sun
beneath the sky
they're gonna put it down
right on the strip
they're gonna put it down
on the Vegas strip
they're gonna put it down
and step outside
into the lights
right outta that ship
saying Hi!
i was driving doing nothing on the shores of Great Salt Lake
when they put it on the air i put it in the hammer lane
i soon forgot myeslf and i forgot about the brake
i forgot all laws and i forgot about the rain
they were talking on the 9 and all across the amy band
across the road they were turning around and headed south with me
it got so crowded on the road i started driving in the sand
my head was feeling scared but my heart was feeling free
the desert turned to mud it seems that everybody heard
everybody was remembering to forget they had the chills
then i heard the voices on a broadcast from up on the bird
they were getting interviewed by some Goodman whose name was Bill
i'm almost there to Vegas where they're puttin' on a show
they've come so far i've lived this long at least i must just go and say
hello
The Happening - Pixies
Released on the 2009 compilation album Minotaur, 'The Happening' stands as a definitive track in the discography of the American rock band Pixies. The song exemplifies their signature blend of jangly guitar riffs, driving rhythms, and dynamic vocal delivery that characterized their work during the 1980s and beyond. Often associated with the post-punk and alternative rock genres, the recording captures the band's ability to shift between quiet introspection and explosive energy. As a staple of their catalog, the track has been widely recognized for its enduring influence on subsequent generations of indie and alternative musicians, cementing its place as an essential listen for fans of the era's most impactful rock recordings.