Though not officially broken up, the band has not performed together in public since the early 1990s. In 2005, they were invited by Isaac Brock of Modest Mouse to perform at All Tomorrow's Parties but respectfully declined the invitation.
The band met while attending The Evergreen State College and began recording in 1983. The band's basic lineup was drums, guitar and vocals, though when they formed their only instruments were a pair of maracas and a Sears Silvertone guitar purchased at a thrift shop. Heather once joked in an interview that the history of the band could be told through a list of the various people they'd borrowed drums from. Heather and Calvin had been members of a previous band and approached Bret, who had no musical experience at the time, saying they ought to start a band and go to Japan. Indeed, it was on a trip to Tokyo that the band members recorded Three Tea Breakfast, an EP that established the band's reputation.
Calvin Johnson was one of the founders of seminal indie rock label K Records. The label achieved modest success and continues to hold its independent integrity, claiming to have been "exploding the teenage underground into passionate revolt against the corporate ogre since 1982."
Beat Happening (1985), their full length debut, was critically acclaimed, as was Jamboree (1988). By the release of Dreamy in 1991, Beat Happening was one of the most popular bands in the indie rock community, leading to their pivotal role in the International Pop Underground Festival, which brought anti-corporate rock its earliest mainstream acceptance. Their last full-length album was 1992's You Turn Me On, which represented the band breaking many of their established conventions from earlier albums, most notably on Godsend, which runs 9 minutes in length and features blatant use of multitrack recording. The album was described by allmusic.com as "A masterpiece." Though never announcing a break-up and claiming at one point to still practice once a month, the members of Beat Happening have moved on to various other projects. In 2000 they released the Angel Gone single, their first new release in eight years.
A Beat Happening box set, Crashing Through, which collects all of the band's officially released music except for two of their tracks from a live cassette split with The Vaselines, was released in 2002. The box set included a booklet containing a lengthy essay on the history and impact of the band by Lois Maffeo, as well as rare photos of members Calvin, Heather and Bret.
http://www.krecs.com
Pajama Party in a Haunted Hive
Beat Happening Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'll lie down on top of you
Gonna split this womb in two
Haunted hive I'm comin' through
Sting me queen me
Queen sting dream me
Dream queen sting me
What's that growin' in my head
Worker bees, work her bed
I'm driving nails into your mattress head
I'm driving and I'm pumping red
Sting me queen me
Queen sting dream me
Dream queen sting me
Sting queen
Leave some honey
Drippy runny
On your tummy
Rich and yummy
Bee hive in a haunted house
Laying eggs inside my mouth
Gimme something to wash it out
Pour that honey down my throat
Sting me queen me
Queen sting dream me
Dream queen sting me
Sting queen
The lyrics to Beat Happening's song "Pajama Party in a Haunted Hive" are both playful and eerie, combining a lighthearted party atmosphere with the spookiness of a potentially haunted location. The opening lines "Yellow jacket buzz let's honey do / I'll lie down on top of you / Gonna split this womb in two / Haunted hive I'm comin' through" create a sexual undertone, referencing bees and their hives as a metaphor for physical intimacy. However, the mention of a haunted hive hints at danger or instability in this sexual encounter, adding a layer of mystery and tension.
The second verse continues this theme of danger and confusion, with lines like "What's that growin' in my head / Worker bees, work her bed / I'm driving nails into your mattress head / I'm driving and I'm pumping red." These lyrics suggest a loss of control, with someone or something taking over the singer's body and actions. The repeated refrain of "Sting me queen me / Queen sting dream me / Dream queen sting me / Sting queen" adds to this sense of powerlessness, as the singer begs to be stung or taken over by the queen bee.
Overall, the lyrics to "Pajama Party in a Haunted Hive" create a unique atmosphere of fear and excitement, combining sexual themes with a haunting, otherworldly setting.
Line by Line Meaning
Yellow jacket buzz let's honey do
There's a sense of urgency here, with the singer indicating they want to get on with the act, comparing themselves to a yellow jacket buzzing around, asking their partner to join them in this honey-like pleasure.
I'll lie down on top of you
The singer is taking a dominant role here, indicating they want to be on top during sex.
Gonna split this womb in two
This line is quite violent, and speaks to the idea that the singer wants to 'split' their partner in half, indicating a level of intensity, and perhaps even fetishization of violence or tearing apart the body.
Haunted hive I'm comin' through
The setting here is a 'haunted hive,' which could either be a literal beehive in a scary place or a metaphor for the dark, exciting location of the sex. The singer is announcing their arrival, perhaps like a bee, and speaking to the thrill of being in a haunted place.
Sting me queen me
This is repeated throughout the song and seems to refer to BDSM ideas around pain and submission. Being stung is painful, but they want to be 'queen'ed' (dominated) in order to achieve pleasure.
What's that growin' in my head
This line is enigmatic, but could speak to the feeling of something strange and exciting (like honeycomb or bees) growing in the singer's mind. It could also reference drug use or mental illness associated with the act of sex.
Worker bees, work her bed
The singer is using a metaphor here comparing their partner to a queen bee, with the 'worker bees' (themselves) doing the dirty work in the bed or 'hive'.
I'm driving nails into your mattress head
This line is quite violent and clearly about hurting their partner. The idea of nailing something into someone's head is upsetting and dark, again speaking to the possibly fetishization of violence in this relationship.
I'm driving and I'm pumping red
This line is also violent and could be about blood or just intense physical exertion. It seems to build on the sensation of the previous line--the singer is driving something in and pumping something out, pushing themselves to some sort of limit.
Leave some honey
This line seems like another request, where the singer is asking their partner to provide something natural and sweet, perhaps to match the theme of bees and honey in the song.
Drippy runny
This line is again related to honey or some other sort of liquid, and may speak to the building excitement of the song, as the singer requests more and more intense sensations.
On your tummy
This line is probably literal--the singer wants their partner to leave some honey on their belly--but also could be a command, indicating the submissive role the singer wants their partner to take.
Rich and yummy
This phrase seems to end the brief chorus about honey, again asking for something sweet, but also again referencing the intense pleasure associated with it in this context.
Bee hive in a haunted house
This line mirrors the earlier reference to a 'haunted hive,' creating a sense of unity across the song. It also speaks to the idea that the sexual relationship between the two partners is ongoing, and emphasizes the 'hive' throughout.
Laying eggs inside my mouth
This line is quite surreal and strange, and carries with it possible associations with pregnancy or sickness. The idea of 'laying eggs' in the singer's mouth is somewhat horrific, but also could be a metaphor for the intensity of passion involved in this interaction.
Gimme something to wash it out
This line is also enigmatic, but seems to continue the theme of needing relief or refreshment from the intensity of the situation. The 'it' that needs to be washed out could be anything--the sweetness of the honey, the sense of being trapped, feelings of violence or intensity.
Pour that honey down my throat
The final line of the song concludes with a request for even more intensity--this time taking the honey like a drink, perhaps, instead of just having it on their belly or mouth. This line reinforces the themes of sweetness, intensity, and pleasure throughout the song.
Contributed by Mackenzie O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@pashedmotatos
Sounds like a mix of Joy Divison and Velvet Underground
@caualuiz1859
Jesus and Mary Chain, then?
@QuadMochaMatti
@CauĆ£ Luiz Why yes, please! #jamcforever
@ukpunk1
Lots of bass in this one compared to the Sub-Pop 200 version, but nonetheless just as cool or better.
@ChrisbrandonzaulBarroman
yeah yeah grunge
@marioolave6334
Remember me the cramps
@verianosetembrino
grunge authentic. ?