The band was originally called "Dinosaur", but changed its name following the release of its debut album Dinosaur in 1985, after a band called Dinosaurs, featuring ex-members of Country Joe and the Fish and Jefferson Airplane, threatened them with legal action. (They still used the name Dinosaur on their albums until 1987 at the latest, and some copies of You're Living All Over Me still lack the "Jr").
In 1987, Dinosaur Jr. signed to SST Records on the recommendation of Sonic Youth, and with them released what is often considered their best album, You're Living All Over Me. Bug followed the next year, an album which, in the UK, was released by Paul Smith's Blast First Records (home to Sonic Youth, Big Black and Butthole Surfers). During this period Dinosaur Jr. became known for their very loud concerts.
Despite not gaining much commercial success, the band has enjoyed something of a cult following. The success of singles Freak Scene and Just Like Heaven, and recommendations from the likes of Sonic Youth saw them signed by Warner Brothers. The signature Dinosaur Jr. sound is the melodic tunes saturated in layers of guitar noise and punctuated by J Mascis' elaborate, yet laconic guitar solos. They were a major influence on the up-and-coming band Nirvana.
Tensions ran high between Mascis and Barlow, and in 1989 Barlow was kicked out of the band. As a result, Barlow continued to work with his own band, Sebadoh. The two famously fell out on stage with Mascis attacking Barlow. Dinosaur Jr. subsequently became little more than a pseudonym for Mascis. He switched labels to Blanco y Negro in the UK, Warner/Sire in the US, with Green Mind (1991) being his first release in that deal.
After Barlow left the band, Van Conner, from the Screaming Trees, played bass for at least one live show in 1990, and Donna Dresch, from Team Dresch played bass at least once live with the band in 1990.
In 1991, Mike Johnson joined Dinosaur Jr as full-time bass player. He was in the band for 1991's Whatever's Cool With Me, 1993's Where You Been, 1994's Without A Sound, and 1997's Hand It Over.
Murph left the band in late 1993, after the Lollapalooza tour.
George Berz took over on drums, and drummed from 1994-1997. He was on Without A Sound, and Hand It Over. He later drummed for J Mascis + the Fog in 2000, 2001, and 2003.
Through the 90s, Mascis sometimes explored quieter and more tranquil shores than Dinosaur Jr. had in the 80s. The band formed part of the 1992 "Rollercoaster" tour. A package tour based on the successful "Lollapalooza". The tour featured The Jesus & Mary Chain, My Bloody Valentine & Blur. On the 1993 release, Where You Been, the opening track ("Out There") had an accompanying video and was aired on MTV for a short time. After 1994's Without a Sound and 1997's Hand It Over, Mascis began to release albums with the band J Mascis and the Fog.
In 2004, J Mascis regained the master rights to the first three Dinosaur Jr. albums from SST, and arranged for their reissue on the Merge label in early 2005. The reissues coincided with an announcement that the original lineup of J Mascis, Lou Barlow and Murph (Emmett Patrick Murphy) were reuniting for a summer tour. The success of this tour resulted in a new album entitled Beyond (2007) and single Been There All The Time. They are Lou Barlow's first recording with the band since 1989. The original line-up of Dinosaur Jr. has been touring extensively since 2005. They are currently on a world tour.
On February 20, 2009, Pitchfork Media announced that the band had signed with indie label Jagjaguwar, and their first release on the label entitled Farm was released June 23, 2009, to largely positive reviews.
The Leper
Dinosaur Jr. Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Sit with my life, open wide
Your stare is forcing my face open
A leper crumbling, never joking
Who should I believe
Safest to wallow in my own esteem
Afraid, stick my neck out
I'm a leper scared beyond this feeling
I dare to escape
A leper doomed to this
My life is chosen to rape
Embarrassed to be alive
Sit with my life open wide
Your stare is forcing my face open
A leper crumbling never joking
I'm a leper scared beyond this feeling
I dare to escape
A leper doomed to this
My life is chosen to rape
I'm a leper, leper, leper
The lyrics to Dinosaur Jr.'s Leper express the deep sense of embarrassment and shame that the singer feels about being alive. They sit with their life open wide, but are constantly aware of the judging stares of others, which causes them to feel like a leper. The singer feels as though they are falling apart and unable to put up a strong front in the face of this constant attention. They are never able to find humor in their situation, and struggle with even the most basic decisions, like knowing who to believe.
Throughout the song, the singer feels like they are trapped in their own body, unable to escape the feelings of fear and disconnection from the world around them. They are haunted by the sense that they are doomed to this life, and are forced to choose between constantly being raped by their circumstances or trying to escape from them. The repeated refrain of "I'm a leper" serves to reinforce the singer's sense of isolation and difference from those around them.
Overall, the lyrics to Leper are a powerful exploration of the deep sense of shame and isolation that can come from struggling with mental health issues or simply feeling like an outsider in one's own life. The repeated use of language related to disease and decay serves to underscore the sense of fear and discomfort that the singer feels.
Line by Line Meaning
Embarrassed to be alive
Feeling ashamed of my existence
Sit with my life, open wide
Overwhelmed by the weight of my own life
Your stare is forcing my face open
Feeling exposed and vulnerable under your gaze
A leper crumbling, never joking
Feeling unclean, damaged and without hope
Who should I believe
Feeling lost and unsure of what to trust
Safest to wallow in my own esteem
Choosing to stay in my own self-pitying thoughts
Afraid, stick my neck out
Feeling scared to take risks and try new things
Knowing the day has drawn
Aware that time is running out
A leper scared beyond this feeling
Feeling deeply scared and anxious
I dare to escape
Willing to try to break free from my fears
A leper doomed to this
Feeling trapped in my own struggles and pain
My life is chosen to rape
Feeling violated by the circumstances of my life
I'm a leper, leper, leper
Repeating the image of feeling unclean and unwanted
Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: JOSEPH DONALD MASCIS JR
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
William Mayflower
black,white, brown, yellow, green; no matter who or what you are, if you've ever felt like a loser; this song is your anthem. too bad most people will never hear it.
Fransisco Nieves
Incredibly underrated but i think thats one of the reasons i like this song
Jahcdo
that sounds pretencious, but I feel very identified. one of the best dinosaur jr themes
Fransisco Nieves
lol yeeeee
themassive brainman
Fransisco Nieves is your background Tim and eric
esdiego
this album is organized chaos. explosive and lethal. "embarrassed to be alive". or how bout " I see you ever once in a while". still say these phrases in my every day life
David Shiffer
This, Forget the Swan, Out There. These solos are one takes and J never came close to repeating them live. He shot these from the hip, and it’s fucking magic.
Void 00
I love their first album because it is so experimental
Carrie Syrett
J Mascis is a guitar GOD!!!! Great Live
Damien Safonte
Most of the lyrics on this album make you wonder how this guy didn't off himself......thank god he never did!