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.
It Tastes Better Than the Truth
Melvins Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I wanted it
Next
No
I feel like a jester
I want more more forgiveness
No
Just help
Most of it stolen
I can't see
I don't even mention
I look look far away
The witches all
The witches all
Your were right
You were right
The witches all
The witches all
You were right
You were right
The witches all
The witches all
I want it to stop
The witches all
The witches all
Heaven, heaven
The witches all
The witches all
No, no it's not my fault
The witches all
The witches all
No, no, no
The witches all
The witches all
Help me, help me, help me
The witches all
The witches all
The witches all
You were bleeding
You said you wouldn't
I was just a
I was just a
Just a
I was just a
I was just a
Don't
Don't
I was just a
I
Was
I was just a
I was just a
I was just a
I was just a
I'm home, I'm home, I'm home
I was just a
I was just a
I was just a
Help me, help me, help me
I was just a
I was just a
I was just a
The lyrics to Melvins's song "It Tastes Better Than the Truth" convey a sense of confusion, desperation, and guilt. The singer seems to be overwhelmed by the weight of some unnamed wrongdoing, saying "I want this to stop" and "I want more forgiveness." They feel like a jester, perhaps indicating a sense of foolishness or being mocked by others. The repeated refrain of "The witches all, you were right" suggests a possible religious or supernatural theme, with the singer feeling persecuted by others and seeking help or salvation. The line "you were bleeding, you said you wouldn't" could also be interpreted as a reference to betrayal or breaking a promise.
Line by Line Meaning
I want this this to stop
I am tired of this situation and I want it to end.
I wanted it
I desired this situation in the past.
Next
Moving on to the next topic or action.
No
An outright refusal or denial.
I feel like a jester
I feel like I am being made fun of or not taken seriously.
I want more more forgiveness
I desire to be granted more forgiveness.
No
An outright refusal or denial.
Just help
I need assistance in this situation.
I can't see this
I am having trouble understanding or comprehending this.
Most of it stolen
The majority of something was taken or stolen.
I can't see
I am having trouble understanding or comprehending something.
I don't even mention
I do not even bring up or convey something.
I look look far away
I am distancing myself emotionally or mentally from something.
The witches all
A reference to a group of people who are causing problems.
Your were right
Acknowledgment of someone being correct.
You were right
Acknowledgment of someone being correct.
The witches all
A reference to a group of people who are causing problems.
The witches all
A reference to a group of people who are causing problems.
You were right
Acknowledgment of someone being correct.
The witches all
A reference to a group of people who are causing problems.
The witches all
A reference to a group of people who are causing problems.
I want it to stop
I desire for the problematic situation to end.
The witches all
A reference to a group of people who are causing problems.
The witches all
A reference to a group of people who are causing problems.
Heaven, heaven
A reference to a possible escape or solution.
The witches all
A reference to a group of people who are causing problems.
The witches all
A reference to a group of people who are causing problems.
No, no it's not my fault
I am denying responsibility for the situation.
The witches all
A reference to a group of people who are causing problems.
The witches all
A reference to a group of people who are causing problems.
Help me, help me, help me
I am requesting assistance from someone.
The witches all
A reference to a group of people who are causing problems.
The witches all
A reference to a group of people who are causing problems.
The witches all
A reference to a group of people who are causing problems.
You were bleeding
Someone was physically hurt.
You said you wouldn't
Someone made a promise not to do something.
I was just a
I was not important or relevant in the situation.
I was just a
I was not important or relevant in the situation.
Just a
Something was not significant or meaningful.
I was just a
I was not important or relevant in the situation.
Don't
An instruction to not do something.
Don't
An instruction to not do something.
I was just a
I was not important or relevant in the situation.
I
Referring to oneself.
Was
Past tense of the verb 'to be.'
I was just a
I was not important or relevant in the situation.
I was just a
I was not important or relevant in the situation.
I was just a
I was not important or relevant in the situation.
I was just a
I was not important or relevant in the situation.
I'm home, I'm home, I'm home
I have arrived in a familiar or comfortable space.
I was just a
I was not important or relevant in the situation.
I was just a
I was not important or relevant in the situation.
I was just a
I was not important or relevant in the situation.
Help me, help me, help me
I am requesting assistance from someone.
I was just a
I was not important or relevant in the situation.
I was just a
I was not important or relevant in the situation.
I was just a
I was not important or relevant in the situation.
Contributed by Scarlett H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.