The discography of Helmet boasts eight studio albums and two compilation albums. Following their initial release, "Strap It On" (1990), through Amphetamine Reptile, Helmet inked a deal with Interscope Records, leading to three albums under the label, notably the highly successful "Meantime" (1992). While their subsequent works, "Betty" (1994) and "Aftertaste" (1997), achieved considerable success, they fell short of matching the critical and popular acclaim garnered by "Meantime." After disbanding in 1998, Helmet regrouped in 2004 and has since presented four additional albums: "Size Matters" (2004), "Monochrome" (2006), "Seeing Eye Dog" (2010), and "Dead to the World" (2016). Currently, the band is actively engaged in the creation of their ninth studio album.
Discography
Strap It On (1990)
Meantime (1992)
Betty (1994)
Aftertaste (1997)
Size Matters (2004)
Monochrome (2006)
Seeing Eye Dog (2010)
Dead to the World (2016)
Give It
Helmet Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Has to be done
Peace and love and
Who's number one
The right to give
Learn to bleed it's free
Pain is outside
Lift it up to see
Step ahead
Always wear the past
Dying soothe me
Beneath the smell of grass
No world secret
Kept is too intent
I've got my nerve
Self-help confidence
Confidence
in squeezing every drop of life out of the situation, confidence in surviving through the pain, confidence in one’s own strength to come out victorious amidst the chaos – that is what Helmet’s song Give It portrays.
The lyrics of the song focus on the dichotomy of peace and violence, and how they are both integral to our existence. Killing, which is a violent act, is necessary to maintain peace, and the singer acknowledges the pain that comes with it. The right to give is also highlighted, which could either mean the right to give life or the right to end it. The line “learn to bleed it’s free” could be interpreted in two ways – either it refers to the idea that it is healthy to let out our emotions and ‘bleed’ occasionally, or that death is the ultimate sacrifice and it costs nothing.
The next few lines talk about the importance of the past, and how it should be embraced rather than forgotten. Death is seen as a means of relief in the line “dying soothes me beneath the smell of grass” and the importance of honesty is stressed in the line “no world secret kept is too intent”. The final line of the song, “self-help confidence” sums up the message of the song – one must have faith in oneself and the resilience to overcome all obstacles.
Line by Line Meaning
Killing hurts
Taking a life is a painful act
Has to be done
However, it is sometimes necessary
Peace and love and
Though peace and love are important, they don't always reign supreme
Who's number one
People often compete to be the best
The right to give
It is a privilege to be able to help others
Learn to bleed it's free
It may be necessary to sacrifice and struggle without compensation
Pain is outside
Suffering is separate from oneself
Lift it up to see
One must look at the bigger picture to fully understand a situation
Step ahead
Move forward and progress
Always wear the past
One's past experiences shape them and should be remembered
Dying soothe me
The idea of death brings a sense of peace and ease
Beneath the smell of grass
Death is a natural part of life
No world secret
There are no hidden truths about the state of the world
Kept is too intent
Keeping secrets or withholding information can have negative consequences
I've got my nerve
I have the courage and confidence to face challenges
Self-help confidence
Believing in oneself leads to personal growth and success
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Darren House, Darren Kevin Rock, Kurt Wagner, Hallam Ashley Beedle
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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This whole album was on constant rotation back in ‘92. Such a killer band.
Sydney R6
This whole album is still on my constant rotation
james sutcliffe
Yes.
I was 19, and when I first heard them, I was blown away. So tight.
Jan
Helmet wasnt just some weird nu metal cross over shit ... it's totally GRUNGE ! they belong into the grunge heaven right next to NIRVANA
Joe sandy smokin Joe's beagles
Helmet was such an under rated band from the 90s they kicked ass on every song. They deserve more recognition than What they ever got. Still some of the most awesome riffs to listen to 30 years later.
Nick Clark
Helmet has been one of my top 5 bands of all time since age 15 (1992). They continue to be, and their first three albums (especially Meantime) hold up very, very well. Give It is one of the best tracks on Meantime and that’s a very high standard. Just saw them live a couple of weeks ago (Nov 2019)for the first time in 22 years and Page is still brilliant. Thanks for posting this video.
Kevin Marema
I was also 15 in '92 and Give It was always my favorite track on Meantime. I still crank this album and it still feels as fresh as it did almost 30 years ago.
Max Korn
@Kevin Marema me too!
Richard Gonzales
Same here ! This track made Me a HELMET fan in 1992!
LeadMe2TheBliss
I just saw them in 2022 open up for KoRn! Are their more recent albums any good?