Gruntruck was a grunge/alternative metal band formed in 1989 in Seattle, Wa… Read Full Bio ↴Gruntruck was a grunge/alternative metal band formed in 1989 in Seattle, Washington by Ben McMillan and Scott McCullum, both previously from Skin Yard. Tommy Niemeyer from The Accüsed and Tim Paul, previously of Napalm Beach and Final Warning, rounded out the initial, classic line-up. Their sound was described as grunge, and the band focused more on the metal side of the genre.

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.

So Long
Gruntruck Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

So long, see you in the fall
So long, listen for the call
The song slipping through the marsh
The long wind whispers from the dark

These are the trees in skeleton garden
You know the power, well, it gets in the mind
Can't see the sky, I can't see their eyes

You know it hurts, even for a while
I push the TV 'cause it blocked out the sky
These are the things in skeleton garden

So long, well, see you in the fall
So long, well, listen for the call
A song slipping through the marsh
While a long wind whispers in the dark
These are the trees in skeleton gardens

Broke off, and give me some direction
Look out, it's more like infection
These are the trees in skeleton garden

Yeah, these things are bound to the skeleton garden
Every thing's gonna be on my chemical garden

Overall Meaning

The song "So Long" by Gruntruck contains rich and poetic lyrics that are open to interpretation. It starts with the repetition of "So long, see you in the fall" and "So long, listen for the call," which could indicate both a farewell and a promise to return. This could be directed at someone or a group of people, but it could also be a symbolic way of saying goodbye to a particular time and place. The line "The long wind whispers from the dark" evokes a sense of foreboding, as if something ominous is about to happen.

The second verse introduces the concept of a "skeleton garden," which could represent a dilapidated and abandoned place where nature has taken over. The line "You know the power, well, it gets in the mind" suggests that this place has a haunting effect on those who enter it. The singer cannot see the sky or the eyes of whoever or whatever is around, further emphasizing the sense of isolation and unease. The line "I push the TV 'cause it blocked out the sky" could also mean that technology is hindering our ability to connect with the natural world, and that we need to break free from it to truly experience life.

The last verse appears to be a call to action, as the singer cries out for direction and warns of an "infection." The repeated phrase "These are the trees in skeleton garden" serves as a reminder that the decay and destruction around us are real and present, and we must confront them head-on. The final line "Every thing's gonna be on my chemical garden" suggests that we are responsible for creating our own reality, and that the choices we make will have consequences.

Line by Line Meaning

So long, see you in the fall
Goodbye, I'll see you in the autumn

So long, listen for the call
Farewell, listen for the signal

The song slipping through the marsh
The melody is drifting through the wetland

The long wind whispers from the dark
The gust whimpers from the obscurity

These are the trees in skeleton garden
These are the barren plants in the lifeless park

You know the power, well, it gets in the mind
You're aware of the might, it ensnares the psyche

Can't see the sky, I can't see their eyes
Can't see the heavens, nor can I see their gazes

You know it hurts, even for a while
You know it pains, even if it's transitory

I push the TV 'cause it blocked out the sky
I shove the television as it obstructs the firmament

Broke off, and give me some direction
Disconnected, and provide me guidance

Look out, it's more like infection
Pay attention, it's more akin to contamination