Meat Puppets started as a punk rock band, but like most of their labelmates on SST Records, they established their own unique style, blending punk with country and psychedelic rock, and featuring Curt's warbling vocals. Meat Puppets later gained significant exposure when the Kirkwood brothers served as guest musicians on Nirvana's MTV Unplugged performance in 1993. The band's 1994 album Too High to Die subsequently became their most successful release. The band broke up twice, in 1996 and 2002, but reunited again in 2006.
Meat Puppets has influenced a number of rock bands including Nirvana, Soundgarden, Dinosaur Jr, Sebadoh and Pavement.
Their early works (the In A Car EP and Meat Puppets LP) were wholeheartedly punk, with vocals so feral in their delivery they were often indecipherable, but ultimately humorous and clever once deciphered. The musicianship was mostly thrash, yet the songs were tinged with a subtle, haunting element like that of a long abandoned ghost town. Their brand of cathartic, explosive hardcore attracted the attention of legendary punk label SST, who released their first record in 1982.
Unsatisfied with the result, the band spent plenty of time in the studio before the release of 1983's Meat Puppets II. The band's exciting experimentation with psychedelia, acid rock, and quieter tunes on top of a core western-style thrash sound, gave them their one acknowledged classic album, and propelled the record to legendary status. Meat Puppets II turned Meat Puppets into the one of the leading bands in SST Records league and, along with Violent Femmes, the Gun Club and others, helped establish country punk.
The Meat Puppets' burgeoning musicality led to more intricate and melodic efforts on 1985's Up on the Sun, which was a cohesive collage of songs that further demonstrated their abilities to capture a sound that had all of the wonder of the desert. The band's sound and vision became closely aligned with the legacy of The Byrds; some of the group's fans accused the Meat Puppets of becoming dangerously hippy-sounding (this appreciation of "hippy" music was hardly a sudden development: Curt's guitar solos were, from the beginning of his career, often reminiscent of Jerry Garcia). However, Up On The Sun demonstrated strong musicianship, accompanied by an unfading ability to write sophisticated and intriguing songs. This album generated the band's first major mainstream exposure, and many fans still consider it to be their masterpiece.
Over the next decade, the Meat Puppets remained on SST and released a series of albums, touring almost relentlessly on the underground circuit. After the release of Out My Way in 1986, however, the band was briefly sidelined by an accident when Curt's finger was broken after being slammed in their touring van's door. The accident delayed the band's next album, the psychedelic Mirage, until the next year. The final result was a meticulously crafted release in early 1987, and their most polished sound to date. Mirage at the time was hailed by some mainstream critics as the Puppet's best work yet.
Subsequently, their next album, the heavier, power-trio-rooted Huevos came out less than six months afterward, in late summer of 1987. In stark contrast to its predecessor, Huevos was recorded in a swift, fiery fashion, with many first takes, and minimal second guessing. The album was named, not only after the Spanish word for eggs, but was also a reference to the Spanish slang use of the word "Huevos" to mean "testicles." This was significant not only with regard to the songs themselves, but to the bold, rough manner in which they were recorded. These recordings were completed in only a matter of days, and along with a few drawings and one of Curt's paintings taken from the wall to serve as cover art (a dish of three boiled eggs, a green pepper, and a bottle of Tabasco sauce), was all sent to SST shortly before the band returned to the road en route to their next gig.
Monsters was released in 1989, featuring Curt-as-guitar-hero on such extended jams as "Touchdown King" and "Flight of the Fire Weasel."
Major label career (1991-1995)
As numerous bands from the seminal SST label, and other kindred punk-oriented indies, grappled with the "going major" decision, so did the 'Pups. Two years after their final studio recording for SST, 1989's Monsters, the trio released its major label debut, Forbidden Places, on the indie-friendly London Records. A three-year break saw the band's studio return with 1994's Too High To Die, produced by Butthole Surfers guitarist Paul Leary. The album featured "Backwater", a hit on alternative radio, and a hidden-track update of "Lake of Fire." Too High To Die earned the 'Pups a gold record (over 500,000 sold), outselling their previous records combined. That same year saw the 'Pups in their brightest mainstream spotlight as the band achieved sudden popularity when Nirvana's Kurt Cobain invited Cris and Curt to join him on MTV for acoustic performances of "Plateau", "Oh Me" and "Lake of Fire" (all originally from Meat Puppets II). The resulting album, MTV Unplugged in New York, served as a swan-song for Nirvana, as Cobain died six months after the concert. "Lake of Fire" became a cult favorite for its particularly wrenching vocal performance from Cobain. Subsequently, the Nirvana exposure and the strength of the single "Backwater" (their only charting single) helped lift the Meat Puppets to new commercial heights.
1995's No Joke! would be the final album recorded by the original Meat Puppets lineup. Unfortunately, Cris Kirkwood was now a heroin addict, whose heavy and compulsive use of the drug increasingly dominated his life. This was a major departure from the psychedelic drugs with which the Meat Puppets had always been associated; his erratic behavior soon became too much for the band to cope with. The first single from No Joke!, "Scum", charted briefly on the modern rock charts, but ultimately the album paled in success to its predecessor.
First hiatus and reunion (1996-2000)
Derrick recorded a solo EP under the moniker Today's Sounds in 1996, and later on in 1999 took charge of re-issuing the Puppets' original seven records on Rykodisc as well as putting out their first live album, Live in Montana. Curt formed a new band in Austin, TX called the Royal Neanderthal Orchestra, but they changed their name to Meat Puppets to release a promotional EP entitled You Love Me in 1999, Golden Lies in 2000 and Live in 2002. The line-up was Curt (voc/git), Kyle Ellison (voc/git), Andrew Duplantis (voc/bass) and Shandon Sahm (drums). Sahm's father was the legendary fiddler-singer-songwriter Doug Sahm of The Sir Douglas Quintet and Texas Tornados. The concluding track to Classic Puppets entitled "New Leaf" also dates from this incarnation of the band.
Break up (2001-2005)
Around 2001-2002, the Meat Puppets dissolved as Curt has gone on to release albums with the groups Eyes Adrift and Volcano. In 2005, he released his first solo album entitled Snow.
His brother Cris was arrested in December 2003 for attacking a security guard at a post office with the guard's baton. The guard shot Kirkwood during the melee. Kirkwood was subsequently denied bail, the judge citing Kirkwood's previous drug arrests and parole violations. He eventually went to prison for felony assault. He was released in July of 2005.
Derrick Bostrom began a home page (www.meatpuppets.com) for the band about six months before the original trio stopped working together. The site went through many different permutations before it was essentially mothballed in 2003. In late 2005, Bostrom revamped it once again, this time as a "blog" for his recollections and as a place to share pieces of Meat Puppets history.
Second reunion (2006-present)
On March 24, 2006, Curt Kirkwood polled fans at his MySpace page with the following bulletin: "Question for all! Would the original line up of the Meat Puppets interest anyone? Feedback is good - do you want a reunion?!" The response from fans was overwhelmingly positive within a couple of hours, leading to speculation of a full-blown Meat Puppets reunion in the near future. However, a post made by Derrick Bostrom on the official Meat Puppets site dismissed the notion.
An April 26, 2006 billboard.com story reported that the Kirkwood brothers would reunite as the Meat Puppets without original drummer Derrick Bostrom. Primus drummer Tim Alexander was announced as Bostrom's replacement. Curt mentioned that a new Meat Puppets album was written, but it has not yet been recorded. Curt continued to tour on his solo material with his son Elmo.
Tim Alexander never ended up drumming with the Meat Puppets. Instead, Ted Marcus is the band's current drummer.
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What To Do
Meat Puppets Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I really don't know what to do
What to do, yeah, I really don't know
I really don't know
Later on when the TV's on
Later on in the empty lot
Watch the scene just fade away
What to do, yeah, no, you really don't know
You really don't know what to do
What to do, yeah, you really don't know
You really don't know
There's a place where you can go
That's what you stick your money for
You drink down till you fall apart
And you really don't know, you really don't know
What to do, yeah, you know what to do, you know were to go
You're talkin', to people that you don't know
There's na na, nothin' that you don't know
There's na na, nothin', oh no, you really don't know
What to do, yeah, and you really don't know
You really don't know what to do
What to do, yeah, you really don't know
You really don't know
Hurry people get on your train
Don't be waitin' for the working day
It takes time to unfold your fate
And you really don't know, you really don't know
What to do, yeah, no I really don't know
I really don't know what to do
What to do, yeah, I really don't know
I really don't know what to do
What to do, yeah, I really don't know
I really don't know what to do
What to do, yeah, I really don't know
I really don't know what to do
The lyrics of Meat Puppets' "What to Do" express a common human predicament of feeling lost and unsure in life. The singer repeats the line "What to do" throughout the song, emphasizing their confusion and lack of direction. The second verse describes an experience in which the singer watches a scene fade away, further expressing their sense of uncertainty and helplessness. The third verse involves going to a bar and drinking until falling apart, highlighting a possible form of escapism that still leaves the individual feeling lost. The final verse encourages the listener to hurry and get on their train and not wait for the working day, suggesting that taking action and creating one's own path may be the only way to find a sense of purpose.
Overall, the song conveys a feeling of hopelessness and searching for direction in life, while also acknowledging that there may not be a clear answer or solution.
Line by Line Meaning
What to do, yeah, I really don't know
I am uncertain of what actions to take
I really don't know what to do
My lack of knowledge on this topic is causing me distress
Later on when the TV's on
In the future, when the television is turned on
Later on in the empty lot
In the future, in the vacant space
Watch the scene just fade away
Observe as the environment slowly disappears
And you really don't know, you really don't know
Despite watching this occurrence, you remain unsure
There's a place where you can go
There exists a location to visit
That's what you stick your money for
It is a place that requires payment for admission
You drink down till you fall apart
You consume alcohol excessively, to the point of losing control of yourself
And you really don't know, you really don't know
Despite being in this location, you remain uncertain
You're talkin', to people that you don't know
Speaking with unfamiliar individuals
There's na na, nothin' that you don't know
There is no hidden or unknown information being discussed
There's na na, nothin', oh no, you really don't know
Despite the lack of unknown information, you still feel unsure
Hurry people get on your train
Quickly board your transportation vehicle
Don't be waitin' for the working day
Do not delay until the traditional work schedule
It takes time to unfold your fate
Success in life requires patience
And you really don't know, you really don't know
Despite acknowledging timing is crucial, you still feel uncertain
What to do, yeah, no I really don't know
My confusion remains unchanged
I really don't know what to do
I am at a loss for how to proceed
What to do, yeah, I really don't know
My current state of uncertainty persists
I really don't know what to do
I am still struggling to make a decision
What to do, yeah, I really don't know
My lack of understanding is causing me anxiety
I really don't know what to do
I remain uncertain and indecisive
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Abkco Music Inc.
Written by: Keith Richards, Mick Jagger
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Elegly Weege Olimar
What to do yeah.
I really don't know,
I really don't know what to do.
What to do yeah.
I really don't know,
I really don't know.
Maybe when the TV stops.
Faded out on the epilogue.
Watch the screen just fade away.
Now, I really don't know,
I really don't know,
What to do yeah.
Well, I really don't know,
I really don't know what to do.
What to do yeah.
I really don't know,
I really don't know.
There's a place where you get bored,
That's what you make your money for.
Drink and dance 'til four o'clock.
Now, you really don't know.
You really don't know what to do yeah.
Nothin' to do, nowhere to go.
You're talkin' to people that you don't know.
There's na-na-nothin', to do-do-do.
There's na-na-nothin', (no) no.
You (I) really don't what to do yeah.
Well, I really don't know,
I really don't know what to do.
What to do yeah.
I really don't know,
I really don't know.
Hurry people get on your train.
Don't be late for work again.
Take this time to go to bed.
Now, I really don't know,
I really don't know what to do yeah.
Nothin' to do, nowhere to go.
You're talkin' to people that you don't know.
There's na-na-nothin', to do-do-do.
You're sick n' tired of foolin' 'round.
There's na-na-nothin', to do-do-do.
To do-do-do, to do-do-do.
There's na-na-nothin', na-na-nothin',
Na-na-nothin', na-na-nothin',
Na-na-nothin', na-na-nothin',
Na-na-nothin'
ROWDY RICO
This song is great because it's the kind of song you make up to yourself while you're walking to work from your car.
Jacob Ramseyer
This is one of those I love and just cannot say why
laser beam
Because they réally sound like they don't know what to do? That's what I think.
Anthony Navarro
Love this band . Saw them in 86.87,88 in high school. And twice in 95. Kickass music. Kirkwood is the fire on the les Paul guitar. Put it on high and let it eat. Then nice slow songs like this
Shamsa
Love it
Cookiemonster29
beautiful
Apollos_Being
had no idea this ones a rolling stones cover until I read this description!!
been singing this to myself a lot on my days off work man...
Bovinax
I like this better than the original
pipiturripi
@Kevin the original is by the rolling stones
Kevin
isn't this the original?