Debaser

The band's 1991 "Head On" single includes a live version of "Debaser" recorded in Chicago on August 9, 1989. The album version of the song was later released as a single in 1997 to promote the Death to the Pixies compilation.^[1] A live recording from December 16, 2004, in New York City appears on "Hey" – Live Pixies 2004–2005.

A version of this song was also used in the game DJ Hero 2, remixed with The Prodigy's song "Invaders Must Die"; this mix is available as downloadable content for the game.

The lyrics of "Debaser" are based on Un Chien Andalou, a 1929 short film by Luis Buñuel and Salvador Dalí. The film includes a scene in which a woman's eye is apparently cut open by a razor, which is referenced in the lyric "slicin' up eyeballs." According to frontman and songwriter Black Francis:^[2]

I wish Buñuel were still alive. He made this film about nothing in particular. The title itself is a nonsense. With my stupid, pseudo-scholar, naive, enthusiast, avant-garde-ish, amateurish way to watch Un chien andalou (twice), I thought: "Yeah, I will make a song about it." [He sings:] "Un chien andalou"... It sounds too French, so I will sing "un chien andalusia", it sounds good, no?

The title "Debaser" references the fact that Un Chien Andalou "debases" contemporary morality and standards of art: "I guess it means: one who debases. A debaser. It was an attempt to introduce a new word into the lexicon, but I don’t think it’s been successful, else I would have heard about it."^[3]

In the earliest version of the song, the line "un chien andalusia" was originally "Shed, Apollonia!", a reference to a scene from Purple Rain.^[4]

Debaser – Demo

1. "Debaser" (Demo) – 2:59
2. "No. 13 Baby" (Demo) – 3:10

Debaser – Live

1. "Debaser" (Live in Chicago, August 10, 1989) – 2:44
2. "Holiday Song" (Live in Chicago, August 10, 1989) – 2:10
3. "Cactus" (Live in Chicago, August 10, 1989) – 2:27
4. "Nimrod's Son" (Live in Chicago, August 10, 1989) – 3:08

Debaser – Studio

1. "Debaser" – 2:52
2. "Bone Machine" (Live in Netherlands, 1990) – 3:03
3. "Gigantic" (Live in Netherlands, 1990) – 3:24
4. "Isla de Encanta" (Live in Netherlands, 1990) – 1:44

Credits adapted from the liner notes of Doolittle.^[5]

• Black Francis – vocals, rhythm guitar
• Kim Deal – bass guitar, backing vocals
• Joey Santiago – lead guitar, backing vocals
• David Lovering – drums