The Melvins are a sludge metal band that formed in Montesano, Washington, U… Read Full Bio ↴The Melvins are a sludge metal band that formed in Montesano, Washington, United States in 1983. The band currently consists of Buzz Osborne (vocals, guitar), Steven Shane McDonald (bass), and Dale Crover (drums). Osborne is the only remaining original member, although Crover has been a member since early in the band's career.

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.

Hide
Melvins Lyrics

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Do you think of us at all?
Would you say hello?
Hide and seek
Can't be played alone

Do you miss the home base?
Try to safe return
Hide and seek

While I count to 10

I open my yes and miss all this
Seekers, always alone
Hide and seek
I feel you've never gone

I tried to run, you got me
You tried to hide, I found you
Hide and seek
Till I say “love you”

While playing, all time flies

Life-given wine
Never ends till noon

Overall Meaning

These lyrics from Melvins' song "Hide" depict a game of hide and seek, which symbolically represents a search for connection and intimacy. The lyrics begin with questions of whether the subject thinks about the singer or if they would even acknowledge their presence ("Do you think of us at all? / Would you say hello?"). The game of hide and seek is then introduced as a metaphor, suggesting that true connection cannot be established or sustained when one is alone ("Hide and seek / Can't be played alone").

As the lyrics progress, it becomes evident that there is a longing for a sense of belonging and safe return ("Do you miss the home base? / Try to safe return"). The counting to ten, a common practice in the game, signifies the passage of time and the anticipation of finding someone or something ("Hide and seek / While I count to 10").

The singer then expresses their vulnerability, stating that despite their efforts to find the other person, they seem to be unable to fully connect with them ("I open my eyes and miss all this / Seekers, always alone / Hide and seek / I feel you've never gone"). The game of hide and seek takes on a deeper meaning here, reflecting the singer's yearning for love, understanding, and a lasting connection.

The lyrics take a turn in the following section, where the "you" in the song appears to have captured the attention and affection of the singer ("I tried to run, you got me / You tried to hide, I found you / Hide and seek / Till I say 'love you'"). This suggests a reciprocation of feelings within the dynamic of the game, indicating that the pursuit and the hiding are mutually enjoyed and understood as part of an ongoing game of love and connection.

The final line of the lyrics, "While playing, all time flies / Life-given wine / Never ends till noon," seems to suggest that the game of hide and seek represents the fleeting nature of life and the preciousness of moments spent together. The reference to "life-given wine" symbolizes the enjoyment and intoxication of being together, but with the awareness that these moments will eventually come to an end ("Never ends till noon").

Overall, Melvins' "Hide" portrays a yearning for connection and the complexity of relationships. Through the metaphor of hide and seek, the lyrics explore themes of longing, vulnerability, and the search for a sense of belonging.

Line by Line Meaning

Do you think of us at all?
Have you ever considered our existence and presence?

Would you say hello?
Are you willing to acknowledge and greet us?

Hide and seek
Engaging in a game of concealment and discovery

Can't be played alone
This game requires the participation of others

Do you miss the home base?
Do you yearn for the sense of security and familiarity?

Try to safe return
Attempt to find a way back to the place of safety

While I count to 10
During the period of my countdown from ten

I open my eyes and miss all this
When I awaken, I realize the absence and longing for these experiences

Seekers, always alone
Those who search are perpetually solitary

Hide and seek
Playing the game of concealment and discovery

I feel you've never gone
There's an enduring sensation that you have never departed