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.
Dead Wipe
Melvins Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Don't hiss me with that scare
Ring me for the mess that you're in
You're one with the open head
Back to you
Sure, jack it over
I didn't never want to come in this place
Let your little rag doll squeeze on me
Soaking, I'll never see it
Simple now
Over it now.
The Melvins' song "Dead Wipe" is a dark and cryptic portrayal of a violent encounter where one person hurts another. The titular "dead wipe" appears to be a reference to the aftermath of the violence, with the singer mentioning it running down their face. The opening line, "Dead wipe did cross your skin," seems to imply that the violence was done to the other person, but it's unclear who hurt whom. The line "Don't hiss me with that scare" suggests that they are trying to downplay the seriousness of the situation.
The rest of the lyrics are just as enigmatic, with the singer seeming to blame the other person for the mess they're in ("Ring me for the mess that you're in"). The lines "Back to you / Sure, jack it over" seem to be a dismissal of the other person's complaints or feelings. The final lines, "Soaking, I'll never see it / Simple now / Over it now," suggest that the singer is trying to move on from whatever happened, even if they can't forget it entirely.
Overall, "Dead Wipe" is a bleak and unsettling song that leaves a lot to interpretation. It's unclear what exactly happened between the two people, but whatever it was, it seems to have left a lasting impression on the singer.
Line by Line Meaning
Dead wipe did cross your skin
A metaphorical description of how a negative experience has affected the person.
Don't hiss me with that scare
Don't try to intimidate me with fear tactics.
Ring me for the mess that you're in
Call me for help when you find yourself in trouble.
You're one with the open head
You're someone who's open to new ideas, but also vulnerable to negative experiences.
Back to you
The person is deflecting attention away from themselves and directing it back to the one who caused the negative experience.
Sure, jack it over
A sarcastic remark to someone who's being overly confident and self-assured.
I didn't never want to come in this place
The person regrets being in a situation that has caused them pain and discomfort.
Let your little rag doll squeeze on me
A description of a person who's clingy and needy, and who's trying to take advantage of the person's vulnerability.
Dead wipe runs on my face
The negative experience still lingers on and continues to affect the person.
Soaking, I'll never see it
The person is so overcome by the emotion of the experience that they're unable to see it with clarity or objectivity.
Simple now
The person has gained clarity about the situation and sees it as straightforward and uncomplicated.
Over it now.
The person has moved on from the negative experience and is no longer affected by it.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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