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.
09 Joan Of Arc
Melvins Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
My lefty
Come on you knuckleheads
Move it move it move it
Moss in the mornin', lets you in
Is it a field day (feel they?), make me sin
It's only warm my, let you stay
Chase!
Learn-ed (your name?)
Finely
Earn your ray
Might be they
Lucky day
N!
How could you ever, moss it down
Extra ordin is, not my sound
She better hope, that you better mind
Mix me over my, debt (left,let?) be wide! (why!)
The song "09 Joan Of Arc" by Melvins is quite difficult to interpret, as the lyrics are quite abstract and disconnected. Nevertheless, there are a few themes that prevail in the song. The song starts with the words "My left, my lefty, come on you knuckleheads, move it move it move it." This phrase seems to be an invitation to the listener to pay close attention to what is to come. The next verse says "Moss in the mornin', lets you in, is it a field day (feel they?), make me sin, it's only warm my, let you stay, moss in the mornin', might be way." This line is one of the most meaningful, as it speaks about the transience of things. The morning dew is compared to moss, which suggests the fleeting nature of this early morning phenomenon. The line "is it a field day (feel they?), make me sin" seems to suggest that something is about to happen. The phrase "make me sin" could be read as a plea, as though the singer is asking someone to make them do something wrong. The following verse says "Chase! learn-ed (your name?), Finely, earn your ray, might be they, lucky day, N!" This verse is even more mysterious, as it seems to have no clear meaning. The words "Chase" and "learned" suggest a competition or quest of some kind, perhaps in the context of travel or adventure. Lastly, the line "How could you ever, moss it down, extra ordin is not my sound, she better hope that you better mind, mix me over my, debt (left, let?) be wide! (why!)" is also quite difficult to decode. The phrase "moss it down" again refers to the idea of transience and the fleeting nature of things. The rest of the lyrics do not offer any clear interpretation of what this phrase could mean.
Line by Line Meaning
My left
Addressing the listener's attention towards the left side
My lefty
Addressing the listener's attention towards the left side and emphasizing on it
Come on you knuckleheads
Encouraging someone in a friendly manner, possibly addressing a group of friends
Move it move it move it
Urging someone to move more quickly or to hurry up
Moss in the mornin', lets you in
Referring to a natural setting in the morning, possibly suggesting a peaceful or quiet atmosphere
Is it a field day (feel they?), make me sin
Asking a question or questioning something, possibly about a particular activity
It's only warm my, let you stay
Referring to a pleasant or comfortable feeling or situation
Moss in the mornin', might be way
Referring to a possible path or journey
Chase!
Using an exclamatory word to express excitement, encouragement or urgency
Learn-ed (your name?)
Possibly addressing someone by name or suggesting learning something new
Finely
Using an adverb to describe something in detail, possibly to emphasize on its importance
Earn your ray
Encouraging someone to work hard or earn something they desire
Might be they
A reference to a third party or group
Lucky day
Expressing a sense of happiness, surprise or excitement
N!
An exclamation or possibly a shortened form of a word
How could you ever, moss it down
Questioning someone's decision or action
Extra ordin is, not my sound
Stating an opinion about something that may go against the norm
She better hope, that you better mind
A warning or a suggestion to be cautious about something
Mix me over my, debt (left,let?) be wide! (why!)
Using wordplay or symbols to obscure or create multiple interpretations of a sentence or phrase
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: ROGER OSBOURNE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind