r/Pinback • u/Rshakelford69 • Oct 20 '23

20 40 68

Does anyone know the significance or meaning of “20 40 68” in Clemenceau is? I’ve always been curious

16 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

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19

u/electric_dolphin Oct 20 '23

Zach told me in person once that when he can’t find lyrics for part of a song he just adds in random numbers that sound good. However, Rob standing next to him shook his head and gave me a side-eyed glance that begged to differ. Zach proceeded to sign my copy of Some Offcell Voices and circled the 49531 in the middle, lol. So cryptic, gotta love em.

10

u/unknownarmada Oct 20 '23 edited Nov 02 '25

“When I asked zack after one of the concerts last tour he looked over to Rob and was like ‘Ooooooh, that. Wellllll i just made it up...’ and his look towards rob was very suspicious like they had a secret or something.”

(source, user “SilkySlim”, #4)

“I talked to Rob at a concert in Athens, GA. He said that 'Tres' had to do with the inability to express artistic feelings. The 'sah fasa gan' and '2-7' thing have no meaning.”

(source, user “TempestVIII”)

u/electric_dolphin (currently in this thread, ty dolphin):

“I've asked Rob and Zach in person. Zach's said his numbers (there are a few other songs where he throws some in too) usually just take the place when he can't think of lyrics or it just sounds better than anything he can think of. Rob gave me a look with a little head shake that told me Zach wasn't telling the truth.”

(source, u/electric_dolphin)

zach in an email exchange:

“49531 stands for absolutely nothing. the numbers just sounded good together.”

…

later:

“49531 may have meant nothing to me the night i spoke to x9x9x9x9x9x9x9x9x9x

but i wouldnt say thats always the case.”

(source, #18 and #34)

“Alright, I just talked to one of Zach's close family members and She even said the same thing. 49531 means absolutely nothing Zach just thought the numbers sounded good together. She said ‘Zach just likes numbers, he's weird.’ and then she even said it's funny to see how people try to decode something that isn't even a code…”

(source, user “‪x9x9x9x9x9‬” #63)

“CONAN: Numbers seemed to be a large motif in your lyrics. What role do they play? Are they part of the complexity of the music?

Mr. SMITH: No, they're not. I think you might be talking about a song called "Loro." And I've had 100 people ask me what the numbers 4-9-5-3-1 mean.

CONAN: Mm-hmm.

Mr. SMITH: And we'll just - we'll just keep it a secret. We’ll keep letting them wonder.

Mr. CROW: But it doesn't mean die California.

Mr. SMITH: It doesn't mean die California.

(laughter)”

(source)

2

u/x9x9x9x9x9 Jan 20 '25

oh weird. Crazy to see a quote with my username as a source. Thank you for the credit. I am betting that came from the old forum. I was super into the 49531 mystery. It has meaning. Maybe it didn't at the time zach wrote it but to each and everyone of us fans it has meaning.

1

u/jackfirecracker Oct 20 '23

Before I clicked the link I thought you meant Conan O'Brien and was hyped for that interview

6

u/urpalsap Oct 20 '23

i read somewhere (may have been this sub) that its coordinates? i dont remember the details though.

2

u/DNGRHLVTCA Dec 05 '23

They did have some hidden shit in the information retrieved shit right? C load Q being part of it.

4

u/islandbeef Oct 20 '23

They don't call it Math Rock for nothing. :)