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.
I Fuck Around
Melvins Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Yeah, fuck around, 'round, 'round, I fuck around
I fuck around 'round, 'round, 'round, I fuck around
Fuck around, 'round, 'round, I fuck around
Fuck around, 'round, 'round, I fuck around
Fuck around, 'round, 'round, I fuck around
I'm getting fucked, fucking up in down this fucking street
I gotta find a fucking place where the fuck heads meet
Those fuckers and me are getting fucking known
Yeah, the fuck heads know, so fucking leave us alone
I fuck around 'round, 'round, 'round, I fuck around
Fuck around, 'round, 'round, I fuck around
Fuck around, 'round, 'round, I fuck around
Fuck around, 'round, 'round, I fuck around
'Round, 'round fuck around
Fuck around, 'round, 'round
'Round, 'round, fuck around, I fuck around
Yeah, fuck around 'round 'round, I fuck around
I fuck around 'round, 'round, 'round, I fuck around
Fuck around, 'round, 'round, I fuck around
Fuck around, 'round, 'round, I fuck around
Fuck around, 'round, 'round, I fuck around
I fuck around 'round, 'round, 'round, I fuck around
Fuck around, 'round, 'round, I fuck around
Fuck around, 'round, 'round, I fuck around
Fuck around, 'round, 'round, I fuck around
I fuck around 'round, 'round, 'round, I fuck around
Fuck around, 'round, 'round, I fuck around
Fuck around, 'round, 'round, I fuck around
Fuck around, 'round, 'round, I fuck around
I fuck around 'round, 'round, 'round, I fuck around
Fuck around, 'round, 'round, I fuck around
Fuck around, 'round, 'round, I fuck around
Fuck around, 'round, 'round, I fuck around
I fuck around 'round, 'round, 'round, I fuck around
Fuck around, 'round, 'round, I fuck around
Fuck around, 'round, 'round, I fuck around
Fuck around, 'round, 'round, I fuck around
Stop fucking around
Stop fucking around
The lyrics to Melvins's song I Fuck Around are fairly simple and repetitive, but they convey a sense of frustration and rebellion. The singer is tired of conforming to society's expectations and wants to break free from the constraints of a mundane existence. The repetition of the phrase "I fuck around" serves as a mantra or rallying cry for the singer and others who feel the same way.
The lyrics also touch on themes of alienation and finding community. The singer is searching for a place where they can be themselves and be accepted by like-minded individuals. The use of expletives throughout the song adds to the sense of rebellion and defiance.
Overall, the lyrics to I Fuck Around are an expression of discontent and a desire to break free from societal norms and expectations.
Line by Line Meaning
'Round, 'round, fuck around, I fuck around
I am engaging in meaningless, purposeless activities without any particular goal or direction.
Yeah, fuck around, 'round, 'round, I fuck around
Yes, I continue to engage in these aimless activities without any sense of urgency or purpose.
I'm getting fucked, fucking up in down this fucking street
I am feeling overwhelmed and lost while navigating my way through life's challenges.
I gotta find a fucking place where the fuck heads meet
I need to find a community of like-minded individuals who engage in similar frivolous activities as I do.
Those fuckers and me are getting fucking known
My group of friends and I are becoming increasingly popular and well-known for our pointless antics.
Yeah, the fuck heads know, so fucking leave us alone
The people around us recognize our behavior and should therefore not interfere or judge the way we live our lives.
Stop fucking around
This could be a plea from someone in the same community to take life more seriously and engage in meaningful activities.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Roger Osborne
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind