In the early days of their career their dark, heavy, oppressively slow sound made them innovators of genres like sludge, grunge, and doom metal. The Melvins' music is influenced by Flipper, Black Flag's My War-era hardcore punk and Black Sabbath-style heavy metal, but their idiosyncratic approach, bizarre sense of humor, and experimentation make neat categorization difficult. Singer/guitarist Buzz Osborne (aka "King Buzzo") and drummer Dale Crover are constant members while several bass guitarists have cycled through the group. The Melvins usually performed as a trio until 2006 when two members of Big Business became permanent members of the band.
The band was named after a grocery clerk at the Thriftway in Montesano, Washington where Osborne was employed. Melvin was the most-hated fellow employee and the band felt it to be an appropriate name. Like SF noisenik predecessors Flipper, their love of slow tempos and sludgy sound were a strong influence on grunge music, especially Nirvana and many other bands from Seattle. Their protegés, however, tended to use more conventional musical structures with this sound.
Though the group has received mostly positive critical notice, Crover's drumming has been especially praised; Patrick Kennedy describes his work as "astonishing, powerful, and daring."
While never finding and most likely never even seeking great mainstream success, the Melvins maintain an impressive schedule of new albums and tours, including a collaboration with Fantômas in The Fantômas Melvins Big Band, two releases with former Dead Kennedys frontman Jello Biafra, and in 2004 the Melvins collaborated with ambient artist Lustmord for Pigs of the Roman Empire. In appreciation of their devoted fans, the Melvins have released various collectables through the years that have included two-headed dolls, an eight-track tape, and a plastic fetus in a jar.
Fellow Aberdeen resident Kurt Cobain (a good friend of Crover) was a huge Melvins fan and helped them transport their equipment to a few shows. Cobain also auditioned to join the band on bass, but he didn't make it, reportedly because he was so nervous that he forgot all the songs. Cobain maintained his relation with the band. Later he produced and played on some songs (guitar on "Sky Pup", percussion on "Spread Eagle Beagle") on the band's major label debut, Houdini. Dale Crover is also attributed as playing on the Nirvana debut album, Bleach, and on "Incesticide". In addition, Dave Grohl (ex-drummer for Nirvana) co-wrote and played drums for Isabella on Buzzo's Melvins solo album, King Buzzo.
07 Set Me Straight
Melvins Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
She was my way da bed and i could run my teeth.
It's more like hundred mile nol and know mor men but you can make my teeth growl.
You could make my underworld. Its a big dark world now, its a big dark hell.
Los sicka whacth out for your tails. lika purse told de a male. likea hog dance likea pig tail .
My world dance shattor waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay!
Well baybe I'm uter foll and i fell to grow She measured hole de foll now and she cleaned my nose.
You look like such a worthy man likea a sailer does on the water.
Likea hole damn like phish down likea willow man-o waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!
all da signs si call down what you way like aso terro tin in.
lika homicide. like a tis dow like a well bow tis doe waaaaaaay!
Submitted by Zodiac
NIGHT GOAT:
She wants my way to feel
And I cut my teeth
It's more nine hundred miles
Oh, I got no more me
Well you can make my teeth grind
You can make my underworld
IT's a bit done well now
It's a big dark hell
You sit and watch out for your tails
Like a poison sold on demand
Like a hard chance
Like a pig tail
I walked my self away
Well, baby I'm talked about
And I felt it grow
She makes you undefiled now
And she'll clean my nose
I looked so Peaceul
I looked so underworld
I ain't got no mind, but
I ain't got no tail
You looked like such a worthy man
Like a sinner tossed on the wind
Like a hard sell
Like I've passed on
Like a willow thrown away!
On signs I'll walk down for the way
Like a poison sold on demand
Like a Hard sell
Like I'm set down
Like the well on goes away!!!!!!
The band now sings new lyrics when they play this one live, and they seem to be about heroin and their dead pal Kurt... Submitted by Rene
LIZZY:
I'm sin
Done in water
You might be over him
He's somebody's daughter
As far as is well known
Send me a black one
Muzzled in a big fat one
Open with a castrate
Mystery man
He sits here with father
We seem so in love too
Open up a cat skin
White with a pretty hand
Wish the little beast gone
Half-made man
Elvis has honor
Not half-boned siksura
Heavy Betty big bone
Little Kitty big bone
I'm not sweetly
Give me one
Eat more with your collar
Calling me a man
Time is a big one
Lonely and a bit of fun
Mystery and hopeless
Happens with the palm trees
And she makes me want to see
Bring the kid and carry me
Rig it with the closeness
Hang my bones.
Submitted by Rene
GOING BLIND:
And I know how it's to be
There is nothing more for you and I
Some are young and some are free
But I think I'm going blind
Cause, I think I'm going blind
And I know how it's to be
Little lady can't you see?
You're so young and different than I
I'm ninety three, you're sixteen
Can't you see I'm going blind?
Cause, I think I'm going blind
And I know how it should be
Cause, I think I'm going blind
And I know how it should be
You're much younger can't you see?
There is nothing more for you and I
I'm ninety three, you're sixteen
And I think I'm going blind
Yes I think I'm going blind
And I know how it should be
SUBMITTED BY: Angel Dust
HONEY BUCKET:
In times of bella foe fa lies cobalt cast and clean.
I gotta motor fare the wheel real fast and fear.
Tri-jacking blackened for moi, handcuffs and special keys.
Triple lies and neckties divide. This will be his size.
Throw my case of plasterscene down. Maybe after you won't let it.
Ain't about to pick my rounds. This is in my way.
Plop is fast as my hole's down. Green glass and most of all.
Been around the somber town, maybe in the wall.
Submitted by Egulphy
HONEY BUCKET:
Eight times of fel-an-fo-fi
Like cobalt cast and clean
I got a mojo felt the wheel
Real fashion feel
Tri-Jack it, black it for more
Handcuffs with special keys
Triple locked and been down defiled
It's a V. S. I.
Throw a case of plasticine down
Baby I can immolate
And it's rotten in my rounds
Sister's in my way
I'm as fast as my home town
Green glass it most of all
Been around this foreign cage
Villiage in the wall.
Submitted by Rene
HAG ME:
I cut my ceilin', motor and pale.
I only know the ceilin' mouth.
I make myself, yellow the sound.
That am a leg sprung under.
Give me a gravity, your right left leg.
Holdin' my hate against me you.
Can't say you'll never keep my breath.
It's wise to think you'll try.
I grow the piston, I see the right to only.....
They see the right to, she knows the bit around me.
Reachin' and growin', all things in file.
Give me air to break my.......
to hopeful par, antenna.
Tea take the sender.
I slow your gravity, I damn your house.
Don't hang me with your force grief.
I grow the piston, I see the right to only.....
They see the right to, she knows the bit around me.
Lace it and only, like a barb, baby freight baby, Dean,
I'm in a line, mida make a move, cross a state rollin', to whine.
Hey, hey, hey, hey
Submitted by Nathan Speer
HAG ME:
I caught my ceiling
Motor revving
I only know the ceiling's down.
I make my soul
Yellow the sound
I have the lace from under. . .
Give me your property
Your rightless left
Holding my haze against me, You. . .
. . .can't say you'll never keep my breath
It's wise to think you'll try.
I chrome the piston
I steal the rattle only (REFRAIN)
Make see the rattle
She knows the bits around me.
Reaching and growing
All things evolve. . .
Give me the air to breathe my. . .
To hope for crossed
Antenna
She take the center
I stole your property
I damn your house
Don't hag me with your forced scream.
REFRAIN
Lacy and lonely
Like a bug
Baby fate a baby tee
I'm in a line
Gonna make a move
Cross the State
Rolling it wide
Hey!
Submitted by Rene
SET ME STRAIGHT:
I know something that you would never believe
I wish I was able to finally make you a queen.
Now, you set me straight
You told me things
That heroes must make
I'll do what you say
As long as you feel
And I can be had
Without sex appeal
I know something that you would never believe
I wish I was able to finally make you a queen.
It's times like this, Baby that makes it all seem worthwhile.
I'm lookin' for something that I can find in a smile
Now, you set me straight
You told me things
That heroes must make
I'll do what you say
As long as you kneel
And I can be had
Without sex appeal.
It is difficult to interpret the lyrics of "Set Me Straight" by the Melvins, as the lyrics are not entirely clear and seem to have multiple interpretations. However, they seem to touch on themes of power dynamics, hero worship, and sexual desire. The singer wishes to please someone, possibly a lover or a societal figure, and is willing to do anything that is asked of them. They are willing to subjugate themselves: "I'll do what you say / As long as you feel / And I can be had / Without sex appeal." There is a sense of worship towards the person they are trying to please, as they hope to "finally make [them] a queen."
Line by Line Meaning
I know something that you would never believe
The singer possesses knowledge that the listener would be surprised to hear.
I wish I was able to finally make you a queen.
The singer desires to please and elevate the listener.
Now, you set me straight
The listener has provided the singer with important information or guidance.
You told me things
The listener has shared valuable insights or advice.
That heroes must make
The listener has equated certain actions or traits with heroism.
I'll do what you say
The singer is willing to follow the listener's guidance or direction.
As long as you feel
The singer's actions are contingent on the listener's emotions or desires.
And I can be had
The artist is available and willing to offer themselves to the listener.
Without sex appeal
The artist's value and worth are not solely based on their sexual desirability.
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: ROGER OSBOURNE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Eric S
two drummers and they're perfectly in sync. Now that's talent.
jonathan401
Too fast. Savor these great tunes, men. Ease up on the tempo.
Charlyfromthenuclearcity
Billy Corgan loves them.
André Silveira
A plateia morreu
Fat A$$ Dogs
This crowd is lame
Yellowstoneisthecoolestparkever
festival crowd. And I think Nine Inch Nails was headlining that day. Many people seeing Melvins for the first time probably and just taking it in