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.
At The Stake
Melvins Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I took a quarter of your wishes
Fed them all aside
The weaker of the fortune's mystery
Hasn't yet all appeared to me
But then I never wanted more than 3
Shade's know any reason
Her allergy's been forsaken maybe
Stir it all on at me
So it seems and so it's came away
Might be the voicings frighten
And so it's gotten me
The weaker of the fortune's mystery
Has finally pissed indeed
Indeed, made it for the eve
Shade's know any reason
Flames are all I see
Hala-tease been forsaken maybe
Stirin all on a lee
Now they're gonna burn me
Make all my flesh away'd
Real green turnin half ball shakin
Leave me, horror day.
The lyrics of Melvins' song At The Stake allude to a situation where the singer has made sacrifices or traded something of value for personal gain, as evidenced by the line "I took a quarter of your wishes." The chorus speaks of a sense of blame and confusion, as if the singer is being blamed for something they feel they didn't fully understand or intend. The lines "The weaker of the fortune's mystery / Hasn't yet all appeared to me" suggest a lack of complete understanding and control over the situation. The repeated phrase "shades know any reason / flames are all I see" emphasizes a sense of being trapped or persecuted, with "halatease" serving as a possible reference to some sort of perverse pleasure in watching the singer's suffering.
The second verse introduces a new sense of fear or apprehension, as the singer becomes aware of the "voicings" that are causing them strife. The line "The weaker of the fortune's mystery / Has finally pissed indeed" suggests that the singer has been unable to control or fully understand the forces at play. The repetition of "stirring all on a lee" suggests a situation spiraling out of control, leading to the final lines where the singer is about to be burned at the stake. The reference to "real green turnin half ball shakin" seems to imply that the singer is suffering some sort of physical affliction or poisoning.
Line by Line Meaning
Maybe once and maybe came away
There was a possibility, but it did not happen as expected.
I took a quarter of your wishes
I only took a small part of what you wanted or expected.
Fed them all aside
I did not pay attention to those wishes or try to fulfill them, I ignored them.
The weaker of the fortune's mystery
The less important aspect of the situation that is out of my control.
Hasn’t yet all appeared to me
I can’t see every part of it yet, it is still hidden from me.
But then I never wanted more than 3
I was not interested in more than three wishes, as they were not a priority to me.
Shade's know any reason
I don't understand the reason, or it is unclear to me.
Blame's are all I see
All I can focus on is who to blame or to point fingers at.
Her allergy's been forsaken maybe
She may have been abandoned or left on her own due to her allergy.
Stir it all on at me
Transfer the responsibility to me, make me deal with it.
So it seems and so it's came away
It appeared to happen in this way, and that is how it transpired.
Might be the voicings frighten
The way things are being communicated may be causing fear or alarm.
And so it's gotten me
I am affected by it, it has gotten to me.
The weaker of the fortune's mystery
The less significant part of the situation that is out of my control.
Has finally pissed indeed
It has finally made me angry or frustrated.
Indeed, made it for the eve
It has caused problems or trouble that lasted until the evening.
Shade's know any reason
I do not understand why or the logical explanation behind it.
Flames are all I see
All I can focus on is the anger, hostility or bad feelings.
Hala-tease been forsaken maybe
Pushing someone to the limits of their tolerance, causing abandon or neglect.
Stirin all on a lee
Putting more pressure or responsibilities on someone, in a difficult or challenging position.
Now they're gonna burn me
There will be consequences, and I will suffer because of my actions.
Make all my flesh away'd
I will be hurt, physically or emotionally, and it will be a painful experience.
Real green turnin half ball shakin
A sudden, intense feeling of fear, making me sick or causing me to shake uncontrollably.
Leave me, horror day.
It was a terrible experience, a day filled with horror and negative feelings.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: DALE CROVER, MARK DEUTROM, ROGER OSBOURNE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind