The band only released two albums. They toured the U.S. and Canada with Alice in Chains in fall of 1992, as well as Europe in the winter of 1993 with Pantera, who were supporting Vulgar Display of Power. According to Sean Kinney, they were Alice in Chains's most supported band at the time, opening alongside the Screaming Trees for Alice's Dirt tour. In 1996, they ended up in a legal battle with Roadrunner Records for contract termination. Gruntruck won the case, but at heavy cost to the band. Bassist Tim Paul left and was replaced by Alex Sibbald, and following a less than stellar tour with Circus of Power, drummer Scott McCullum left as well. In 1996, they resurfaced with new drummer Josh Sinder, previously of The Accüsed to record a 3-track EP called Shot.
The classic lineup reformed in the late 90s for various shows and recordings that never properly surfaced. In 2000, the band had a successful comeback stint in the Northwest playing many shows to audiences eager for Gruntruck. However, the band disbanded permanently in 2002, leaving behind rumors of a possible album of unreleased rarities that may or may not surface in the near future. Ben McMillan died from diabetes on January 26, 2008.
Break
Gruntruck Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Got a little place, yeah, where we can go
Build yourself a fort, line the walls with home
Please don't use that rope, I′m gonna sing you down
I'm gonna sing you down
So don't break
Yeah, leave it alone
So don′t break
Yeah, burn all the clothes
Break
Says she needs me there, yeah, she feels strong
And still sometimes the snake will try to wrap around
When all you want is it, but it is dead and gone
Lines across the face, they break to just sit down
I′m gonna sing you down
So don't break
Yeah, leave it alone
Break
So don′t break
Yeah, burn all the clothes
Break
Yeah, the lines are cracks in your face
Yeah, the lines, they're cracks in your face
You′ve got cracks in your face
You've got cracks in your face
You′re exposed, you're exposed
Yeah, you're exposed, yeah, you′re exposed
Lines across the face, she says they′re a river flow
Got a little place, yeah, where we can go
Build yourself a fort, line the walls with home
Please don't use that rope, I′m gonna sing you down
I'm gonna sing you down
So don′t break
Yeah, leave it alone
Break
So don't break
Yeah, burn all the clothes
Break
So don′t break
Yeah, leave it alone
Break
So don't break
Yeah, burn all the clothes
Break
The lyrics of Gruntruck's song "Break" seem to convey a message of support and encouragement to someone who is struggling with self-doubt or anxiety. The opening lines suggest that the person being addressed may be self-conscious about lines or wrinkles on their face, which they are told are "a river flow." This metaphor might suggest that the person is aging or going through difficult times, but that these experiences have a certain beauty or nobility to them, like the flow of a river.
The next lines suggest that there is a "little place" where the person and the singer can go to escape from their troubles. This might be a physical location or a state of mind. The image of building a fort and lining the walls with home suggests that the singer wants to create a safe and secure space where the person can feel protected and loved.
However, there is also a note of caution in the line "Please don't use that rope, I'm gonna sing you down." This might suggest that the person is feeling so overwhelmed or despairing that they are considering taking drastic action to escape their pain, but the singer is urging them not to give up. Instead, they promise to "sing [them] down," which might mean using words or music to calm and comfort them.
The chorus of the song emphasizes the message of resilience and perseverance: "So don't break / Yeah, leave it alone / Break / So don't break / Yeah, burn all the clothes / Break." The repetition of "break" suggests that the person is in danger of falling apart or giving up, but the singer urges them to keep going and not let their troubles overwhelm them. The final lines of the song repeat the earlier image of lines on the face, but this time they are referred to as "cracks." This might suggest that the person has been through difficult experiences that have left them scarred, but that these scars are a part of their identity and something that they can learn to accept and even celebrate.
Line by Line Meaning
Lines across the face, she says they're a river flow
Her wrinkles are evidence of time passing
Got a little place, yeah, where we can go
There's a place they can escape to together
Build yourself a fort, line the walls with home
Create a safe haven filled with love and comfort
Please don't use that rope, I'm gonna sing you down
Don't give up, I'll help you find your way back
I'm gonna sing you down
I'll use my voice to comfort and reassure you
So don't break
Don't give up or surrender
Yeah, leave it alone
Let things be and don't try to fix them
Break
To give up or collapse
Yeah, burn all the clothes
Get rid of everything and start fresh
Says she needs me there, yeah, she feels strong
She relies on my support and it empowers her
And still sometimes the snake will try to wrap around
Negative thoughts and feelings can still creep in
When all you want is it, but it is dead and gone
Sometimes we want something that's permanently out of reach
Lines across the face, they break to just sit down
Wrinkles can signify exhaustion and defeat
Yeah, the lines are cracks in your face
Wrinkles are like small openings that reveal past experiences
You've got cracks in your face
Your life has left its marks on you
You're exposed, you're exposed
You're vulnerable and open to the world
So don't break
Don't give up or lose hope
Yeah, leave it alone
Don't try to fix things that are beyond your control
Break
To accept defeat or surrender
So don't break
Keep pushing forward and don't give up
Yeah, burn all the clothes
Get rid of everything and start anew
Break
To break down emotionally or physically
Writer(s): Ben Scott Mcmillan, Norman Scott Mccullum, Thomas Joseph Niemeyer, Tim Paul
Contributed by Charlie W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.