Formed as a side project to Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds, the band was originally known as Mini Seeds and was formed by Cave as "a way to escape the weight of The Bad Seeds." The band's name was inspired by a Memphis Slim song, Grinder Man Blues, which Cave is noted to have started singing during one of the band's early rehearsal sessions. The band's eponymous debut studio album, Grinderman, was released in 2007 to extremely positive reviews and the band's second and final studio album, Grinderman 2, was released in 2010 to a similar reception.
Following extensive touring after the release of Grinderman 2, Grinderman disbanded after a performance at the Meredith Music Festival in Victoria, Australia in December 2011. The band split up in order to focus on The Bad Seeds upcoming material. However, Jim Sclavunos later said: "I can't predict what the future of Grinderman is - if there is a future." The band reunited for a one-off performance at Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in Indio, California in April 2013.
http://www.grinderman.com
Go tell the woman
Grinderman Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
We have evolved
We're up on our hind legs
The problem solved
We are artists
We are mathematicians
Some of us hold extremely high positions
But we are tired
And we're free
Go tell the women that we're leaving
We're sick and tired
Of all this self-serving grieving
All we wanted was a little consensual rape in the afternoon
And maybe a bit more in the evening
We are scientists
We do genetics
We leave religion
To the psychos and fanatics
But we are tired
We got nothing to believe in
We are lost
Go tell the women that we're leaving
We done our thing
We're hip to the sound
Of six billion people
Going down
We are magicians
We are deceiving
We are free and we're lost
Go tell the women that we're leaving
Hey hey
Hey hey
Come on back now to the fray
Hey hey
Hey hey
Come on back now to the fray
Hey hey
Hey hey
The song "Go Tell The Woman" by Grinderman critiques modern society and the individuals that make it up. The opening lines present an optimistic tone by declaring humanity's evolution and problem-solving skills. However, the lyrics soon turn cynical by outlining the characteristics of contemporary life that make the subjects in question tired, hardly breathing, and feeling free to leave.
The second stanza mentions self-serving grieving, which can be understood as a metaphor for the endless cycle of wallowing in one's own problems instead of looking outward to the larger issues at hand. The next line – "All we wanted was a little consensual rape in the afternoon / And maybe a bit more in the evening" – invokes disturbing imagery, highlighting the dangerous sense of entitlement that some men feel toward women's bodies.
The final verse emphasizes the pointlessness of different professions and fields of study because there is nothing left for individuals to believe in. The chorus repeats the phrase "Go tell the women that we're leaving," once again underscoring the idea that the men depicted in the song cannot or do not want to be a part of this society.
Line by Line Meaning
We done our thing
We have accomplished everything we set out to do
We have evolved
We have progressed and changed over time
We're up on our hind legs
We are standing tall and confident
The problem solved
We have found solutions to the issues we faced
We are artists
We are creative individuals
We are mathematicians
We are logical thinkers and problem solvers
Some of us hold extremely high positions
Some of us have achieved great success and power
But we are tired
We are exhausted and worn out
We're hardly breathing
We are struggling to keep going
And we're free
We have the freedom to make our own choices
Go tell the women that we're leaving
Inform the women that we are departing
We're sick and tired
We are fed up and exhausted
Of all this self-serving grieving
We are tired of people only thinking of their own problems
All we wanted was a little consensual rape in the afternoon
We desire consensual sexual activity during the day
And maybe a bit more in the evening
We desire more sexual activity at night
We are scientists
We are researchers and experts in our field
We do genetics
We study genetics and heredity
We leave religion
We do not follow or believe in any religion
To the psychos and fanatics
We view those who are religious as crazy and extreme
But we are tired
We are exhausted and worn out
We got nothing to believe in
We lack faith or trust in anything
We are lost
We are confused and directionless
Go tell the women that we're leaving
Inform the women that we are departing
We done our thing
We have accomplished everything we set out to do
We're hip to the sound
We are aware and knowledgeable of current trends
Of six billion people
Of the entire world population
Going down
Declining or becoming worse
We are magicians
We have the ability to deceive or trick others
We are deceiving
We are not truthful or honest
We are free and we're lost
We have the freedom to make our own choices, but we lack direction
Go tell the women that we're leaving
Inform the women that we are departing
Hey hey
An exclamation urging attention or enthusiasm
Come on back now to the fray
Return to the chaotic and intense situation
Hey hey
An exclamation urging attention or enthusiasm
Come on back now to the fray
Return to the chaotic and intense situation
Hey hey
An exclamation urging attention or enthusiasm
Contributed by Liliana H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@NucDoc
"Go Tell The Women"
We done our thing
We have evolved
We're up on our hind legs
The problem solved
We are artists
We are mathematicians
Some of us hold extremely high positions
But we are tired
We're hardly breathing
And we're free
Go tell the women that we're leaving
We're sick and tired
Of all this self-serving grieving
All we wanted was a little consensual rape in the afternoon
And maybe a bit more in the evening
We are scientists
We do genetics
We leave religion
To the psychos and fanatics
But we are tired
We got nothing to believe in
We are lost
Go tell the women that we're leaving
We done our thing
We're hip to the sound
Of six billion people
Going down
We are magicians
We are deceiving
We are free and we're lost
Go tell the women that we're leaving
Hey hey
Hey hey
Come on back now to the fray
Hey hey
Hey hey
Come on back now to the fray
Hey hey
Hey hey
@cutletofcthulhu8079
here's a dangerous thought, you pinhead......
Maybe Nick isn't singing this ironically.
Maybe he's making a point that flew way over that myopic bubble wrapped around your tiny skull?
I think you should find someone who jibes with what Peterson says and sit down (with the full empathy you probably THINK you have) and really LISTEN to what they have to say instead of making the assumptions you've always made?
You know....listen the way you'd like to be listened to? That would be a fine start to a whole new and interesting world for you.......
@iknewzeus
This man is a genius - SO funny!!!!!!!!!!!! Thank you Nick - you make this world so much more bearable with your humour! (saw him in concert in 1998 in Toronto - best concert I ever went to - he just gets better and better).
@othellotyrant3152
Berkeley a few years ago, fucking amazing!
@ufcayr8120
Absolutely
@jonnyjaywick
I've been with Nick since the Birthday party and this is one of my favourite of all his songs
@NucDoc
"Go Tell The Women"
We done our thing
We have evolved
We're up on our hind legs
The problem solved
We are artists
We are mathematicians
Some of us hold extremely high positions
But we are tired
We're hardly breathing
And we're free
Go tell the women that we're leaving
We're sick and tired
Of all this self-serving grieving
All we wanted was a little consensual rape in the afternoon
And maybe a bit more in the evening
We are scientists
We do genetics
We leave religion
To the psychos and fanatics
But we are tired
We got nothing to believe in
We are lost
Go tell the women that we're leaving
We done our thing
We're hip to the sound
Of six billion people
Going down
We are magicians
We are deceiving
We are free and we're lost
Go tell the women that we're leaving
Hey hey
Hey hey
Come on back now to the fray
Hey hey
Hey hey
Come on back now to the fray
Hey hey
Hey hey
@Hozzizay
now that's a bit of a crazily rawkus oxymoron
@theresalemieux6993
Best Grinderman song. Listen to it on a loop for sleep. Long live Nick Cave and Grinderman!!!
@jekylwhispy
People say often that good music is no longer being made, but I feel now that I can answer to that, "Nick Cave" as long as he still lives.
@carrolcoulter
LOVE THIS BAND!!!!!
@grinderman77
I play Nick a lot at home. My wife hates it (she calls him "the mononucleosis man") but for some reason, she loves this song. I think it's the special vibe it possesses. Grinderman sure came up with something special when they composed this song.