In 2005, the band expanded their live band by adding Dan Elkan on vocals, rhythm guitar, and synth and Jonathan Hischke on bass guitar. In 2006, Hella's line-up was expanded to include Hill's cousin, Josh Hill (guitar), Spencer's Advantage bandmate Carson McWhirter (bass) and Aaron Ross (Vocals).
Since 2009, Hella's lineup is back to the original two-piece of Zach Hill and Spencer Seim, and in August of 2011 they released their latest album, Tripper, on Sargent House.
Dull Fangs
Hella Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Rehearse the future to do the same
Maintain these dull fangs
So they will not be tamed
No one wants the pieces back together
Bad habits fall apart in the best of weather
Substitutes are formed from what remains
When the future gets right
It's gonna take its own life
And leave behind its twin to haunt us all again
The moment that you're in could be your enemy or your friend
Living in the year where it doesn't come back
Will free us from the thought of being caught in the act
You can build a mountain but you'll still eat dirt
When the truth causes death even the lies don't hurt
Entertain these dull fangs
That they will not be tamed
Please maintain these dull fangs
And rehearse the future to do the same
No one wants change unless you can change it in for trash
The ending of it all is the only thing that lasts
Living in the darkness that your ego casts
It kisses with the same trap that betrays behind all backs
When you're walking through this head
Is it dense or is it vast?
Understanding is a hidden path
Caskets only kennel our masks
Burn the popular sensations over-nighting the wrath
Entertain these dull fangs
That they will not be tamed
Please maintain these dull fangs
And rehearse the future to do the same
Entertain these dull fangs
That they will not be....
Eternally ignored
Fast forward
Futures all fall to the past
Dying is the way to gain fame
Present is the love that won't last
Entertain your dull fangs
Eternally ignored
Fast forward
Entertain these dull fangs
That they will not be tamed
Please maintain these dull fangs
That they will not be tamed
The lyrics to Hella's "Dull Fangs" are steeped in metaphor and open to interpretation. The song overall seems to be an indictment of complacency and a call to resist the status quo, represented here by "dull fangs." The singer urges us to maintain these fangs - to not let them be tamed - but also to entertain them, to keep them sharp and vital. This might suggest that there is value in maintaining our natural abilities, urges, and impulses, even if they aren't always socially acceptable. The line "rehearse the future to do the same" could imply that we're stuck in cycles of destructive behavior, repeating the same patterns over and over again. The song also touches on the idea of change, and how people resist it unless it's presented in a way that feels comfortable or familiar. The line "no one wants change unless you can change it in for trash" suggests that it's difficult to get people to truly embrace change, especially when it requires leaving behind things they're attached to.
The line "when the future gets right, it's gonna take its own life, and leave behind its twin to haunt us all again" adds another layer of complexity to the song. It's unclear exactly what the "twin" represents, but it seems to be something ominous or negative. The next line, "the moment that you're in could be your enemy or your friend," suggests that the present moment is always ambiguous, and that our choices can either help or harm us. The lines "living in the year where it doesn't come back/will free us from the thought of being caught in the act" could be interpreted as a call to live in the present rather than dwelling on past mistakes. Overall, the song seems to be urging listeners to resist complacency and embrace change, to keep their instincts sharp but also be mindful of the consequences of their actions.
Line by Line Meaning
Entertain these dull fags
Keep the dull people entertained
Rehearse the future to do the same
Plan to keep doing the same things in the future
Maintain these dull fangs
Keep these dull things from becoming exciting or wild
So they will not be tamed
So they will not be controlled or changed
No one wants the pieces back together
People are resistant to change and would rather stick to familiar patterns and habits
Bad habits fall apart in the best of weather
Even bad habits can change or disappear unexpectedly
Substitutes are formed from what remains
New things are created from what is left behind
When the future gets right
When everything falls into place in the future
It's gonna take its own life
It will develop and grow on its own
And leave behind its twin to haunt us all again
A cycle may repeat itself in the future
The moment that you're in could be your enemy or your friend
The present can either help or harm you, depending on how you approach it
Living in the year where it doesn't come back
Living in a time where the past does not repeat itself
Will free us from the thought of being caught in the act
We will no longer feel guilty or ashamed about our actions
You can build a mountain but you'll still eat dirt
No matter how much you accomplish or accumulate, you will still have to deal with unpleasant realities
When the truth causes death even the lies don't hurt
Sometimes the truth is so difficult to accept that even lies can't make it any worse
No one wants change unless you can change it in for trash
People don't want change unless it is an improvement over what they currently have
The ending of it all is the only thing that lasts
Everything eventually comes to an end
Living in the darkness that your ego casts
Being trapped in your own self-centeredness
It kisses with the same trap that betrays behind all backs
The same deceptions and traps that are used on others can also be used on oneself
When you're walking through this head
When you are thinking about things in your mind
Is it dense or is it vast?
Is your thinking narrow-minded or broad-minded?
Understanding is a hidden path
It takes effort to truly understand and empathize with others
Caskets only kennel our masks
Death is the only thing that can truly reveal our true selves
Burn the popular sensations over-nighting the wrath
Get rid of the things that are causing unnecessary anger and frustration
Eternally ignored
Constantly being overlooked and neglected
Fast forward
Quickly move ahead in time
Futures all fall to the past
No matter what happens in the future, it will eventually become the past
Dying is the way to gain fame
People often become famous after they die
Present is the love that won't last
The current moment is fleeting and will not endure
Entertain your dull fangs
Keep yourself content with predictable things
Please maintain these dull fangs
Request to keep things dull and unadventurous
That they will not be tamed
So they will not be changed or challenged
Contributed by Alexander C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.