Melissa Auf der Maur (born March 17, 1972) is a Canadian rock musician from… Read Full Bio ↴Melissa Auf der Maur (born March 17, 1972) is a Canadian rock musician from Montréal, Canada, best known as the former bassist of alternative rock bands Hole and The Smashing Pumpkins.

Auf der Maur became friends with Billy Corgan after apologizing for a friend who threw a beer bottle at him during one of The Smashing Pumpkins' Canadian shows. Her band, Tinker, opened for The Smashing Pumpkins in Montréal in 1993. In 1994, when Hole was in need of a new bassist following the death of Kristen Pfaff, Corgan recommended Auf der Maur to Courtney Love. Auf der Maur originally turned down the job but reconsidered on advice from her father. She joined Hole two weeks before the band's appearance at the Reading Festival, and recorded the band's third album Celebrity Skin. She left on October 20, 1999 after the band's tours in promotion of the album.

In 1999, she joined The Smashing Pumpkins after the departure of D'arcy Wretzky, and remained with the band until they disbanded in 2000. After this, she collaborated with a number of artists. In 2001, she sang on Rufus Wainwright's album, Poses. In 2002, she sang with Nicola Sirkis on the French band Indochine's song "Le Grand Secret."

In 2004, she released her debut album, Auf der Maur. The singles "Followed the Waves", "Real A Lie" and "Taste You" garnered significant airplay on modern rock radio. Six years later, she released her long-awaited follow-up, Out of Our Minds, in 2010, which featured a more obscure approach to songwriting and featured an appearance from Glenn Danzig.

Beast Of Honor
Auf Der Maur Lyrics

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I'm a taste test
At the beast fest
Got your crest on my breast
Take one look, at your cook
Feed yourself, I'm on a hook

At this feast of ours
I'm borne on your back

The feast tastes
You could say
Paints my taste on his face

I've no disguise at this feast of ours
Ours, devour

Fall into the arms of a souvenir of healing
What do we feel, oh oh oh
Fall into the arms of a souvenir of healing
What do we feel, oh oh oh

I am a harm healer
Such a weak feeder
What a gut teaser on a hook
I'm on a hook yeah, I'm on a hook
Smell that cook, uhuh

No more, ditch dealer
I'm your
Dream digger

At this feast of ours
I'm the beast of honor
Honor

Fall into the arms of a souvenir of healing
What do we feel, oh oh oh
Fall into the arms of a souvenir of healing
What do we feel, oh oh oh

Fall into the arms of a souvenir of healing
What do we feel, oh oh oh
Fall into the arms of a souvenir of healing
What do we feel, oh oh oh

Oh, oh, oh

At this feast of ours, ours

Overall Meaning

The song "Beast of Honor" by Auf Der Maur is a unique take on the idea of a feast. The lyrics give a sinister edge to the festivities, with the singer being a "taste test" at the "beast fest." The idea of a human being the main course at this feast is unnerving, and the use of the phrase "Got your crest on my breast" implies that the person being consumed was once loyal to the people now eating him/her. The singer seems resigned to their fate, with the line "Feed yourself, I'm on a hook" showing that they have no control over their situation. The idea of eating and being eaten is a recurring theme throughout the song, with the singer painting their "taste" on the face of the person consuming them. Interestingly, there seems to be a sense of camaraderie between the two parties, with the singer referring to it as "our feast" and being "borne on your back."

The chorus of the song takes a turn towards the abstract, with the lines "Fall into the arms of a souvenir of healing" repeated multiple times. It's unclear what exactly this means, but the use of the word "souvenir" suggests that this is something that will be taken away from the feast as a memento. The idea of "healing" also implies that there is some sort of emotional or physical pain that needs addressing. The final line of the chorus is repeated twice, with the singer trying to figure out what they feel as they are consumed.

Overall, "Beast of Honor" is a haunting and unique take on the idea of a feast. The lyrics suggest a sense of camaraderie and resignation between the two parties, which only adds to the unsettling nature of the song.

Line by Line Meaning

I'm a taste test
I am being tasted at the feast

At the beast fest
At the feast of beasts

Got your crest on my breast
I display your emblem on my chest

Take one look, at your cook
Look at the person who prepared this feast

Feed yourself, I'm on a hook
Eat me, I am ready to be consumed

At this feast of ours
At this shared feast

I'm borne on your back
I am attached to you

The feast tastes
The feast is appetizing

You could say
One could argue

Paints my taste on his face
My flavor is reflected on his face

I've no disguise at this feast of ours
I am completely transparent at this shared feast