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.
Jacksonville
Melvins Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
(feedback and symbol crashing ensues)
Ohh, I'm so damn lonely
(mumbling, singing over feedback. Sounds like Adam Sandler. More feedback)
And we hate everyone of you!
And we hate everyone of you!
And we hate everyone of you!
And we hate everyone of you!
And we hate everyone of you!
And we hate everyone of you!
FUCK YOU!
FUCK YOU!
FUCK YOU!
FUCK YOU!
FUCK YOU!
FUCK YOU!
FUCK YOU!
FUCK YOU!
AHHH!
We Hate you all and want you to die
We Hate you all and want you to die
We Hate you all and want you to die
We Hate You all and want you to die
FUCK YOU!
FUCK YOU!
FUCK YOU!
FUCK YOU!
We Hate You all and want you to die
We Hate You all and want you to die
We Hate You all and want you to die
We Hate You all and want you to die
Die!
Die!
Die!
Die!
Die!
Die!
Die!
Die!"
The song "Jacksonville" by Melvins is a lamentation about the miserable state of their current live performance in contrast to the high energy and entertainment that the city of Jacksonville, Florida is known for. The lyrics express the lead singer's disappointment in the lackluster response from most of the audience, who are either disinterested or want to fight. He expresses his admiration for the music scene in Jacksonville, wishing he could have lived there instead of California where he feels exiled. The song takes a turn towards aggression as the lyrics shift to a chorus of hatred towards the audience with repetitive chanting of "We hate you all and want you to die."
The lyrics may be interpreted as a commentary on the fickle nature of audience responses, and the frustration that performers feel when their hard work is met with disinterest or hostility. The contrast between the upbeat music scene in Jacksonville and the negative vibes on stage creates a clash that is reflected in the anger expressed in the latter part of the song. The repetitive chanting of "F**k you" and "We hate you all and want you to die" adds to the intensity of the song and is a cathartic release of emotions.
Line by Line Meaning
You Know, I don't think this is going very well. I mean, like 10 percent of the audience wants to fight. The other 90 percent are totally bored. So its like, what the fuck am I doing up here, you know.
The singer feels that their performance is not going well, with only a small percentage of the audience interested in fighting and the majority appearing bored. They question why they even bothered to come up on stage.
You know when I am sitting around at home in hollywood, usually what I am saying to myself is how much we suck compared to all the great bands from Jacksonville. I'm thinking how much my life sucks compared to what it would be like if I just lived in Jacksonville. Unfortuneatly, I am exiled in California. And you guys are in this hot bed of entertainment, called Jacksonville.
The singer often compares themselves and their band to the great bands from Jacksonville and feels that their life would be better if they lived there. However, they are exiled in California and feel envious of Jacksonville's reputation as a hot bed of entertainment.
So I think without any further ado, we will continue by being completely bored ourselves.
Despite their feelings of boredom and dissatisfaction with the audience's reaction, the singer decides to continue with the performance by embracing their own boredom.
Ohh, I'm so damn lonely
The artist expresses their loneliness in a melancholic tone.
...AND I HATE EVERYBODY!
The artist expresses their intense hatred for everybody.
And we hate everyone of you!
The singer extends their hatred to the entire audience.
FUCK YOU!
The singer openly tells the audience to 'fuck off'.
We Hate you all and want you to die
The artist expresses their hatred for the audience and wishes for their death.
Die!
The artist repeats their desire for the audience to die in a violent and aggressive manner.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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