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.
Jew Boy Flower Head
Melvins Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Lies on him anyway
Leader
He cannot forget
The world needs now
And anyway
I hate it
Leave it on the floor
Lies on them anyway
Maybe
Attach it to the wall
The world needs now
And anyway
The crosses
It's later than you think
We all need
An old and all
Lately
He cannot forget
Holding out
And everywhere
I seen it
And we can all belong
The wheel
Sized up and everything
And feeling
Back against the wall
The world is now
A motor now
The native
We are not alone
The song "Jew Boy Flower Head" by the Melvins is a difficult one to interpret as it seems to be written in a way that purposely obfuscates its meaning. However, there are some themes that can be assumed from the lyrics. At first, the song seems to be discussing leadership in some way, with the lines "Liar / Lies on him anyway / Leader / He cannot forget" implying that some sort of leader is currently being accused of lying. The following lines mention the world needing something, but the singer expressing hatred towards it, before mentioning both a seal and crosses.
From there, the song takes on a more mysterious tone. The chorus mentions "holding out", "we all belong", and "the native". These phrases could be interpreted in various ways, but they suggest some sort of struggle or fight. The line "A motor now" could imply that this struggle is something that is being powered by individuals, perhaps even physically. The song seems to end on a more hopeful note, with "the native" being declared not alone.
Overall, the lyrics to "Jew Boy Flower Head" are very metaphorical and open to interpretation. The references to seals, crosses, and "the native" could be seen in many different ways depending on the listener's experiences and worldview.
Line by Line Meaning
Liar
The song starts with the simple declaration of a liar, implying that the following lines could also be lies or an exaggeration of the truth.
Lies on him anyway
The implication here is that the lies may be damaging or negative for someone, despite them being false.
Leader
Perhaps a reference to a figure of authority, someone who should be responsible and truthful.
He cannot forget
Something about this leader stuck with the songwriter, perhaps implying he had a personal experience with them.
The world needs now
The songwriter is acknowledging some need in the world, and it could be something important or dire.
And anyway
The songwriter is continuing a thought or idea from before, but it's unclear what they might be referring to.
I hate it
A strong negative emotion, but there's not enough context to know what specifically they hate.
Leave it on the floor
This lyric might suggest the songwriter doesn't want to deal with something, and wants to leave it behind.
The seal
This could be a reference to something that's closed or shut tight, potentially symbolizing secrets or hidden information.
Lies on them anyway
Similar to earlier, the songwriter is emphasizing that the lies might be hurting someone (in this case, a group of people).
Maybe
This word suggests uncertainty - the singer isn't sure about something that's coming up, or what they're considering next.
Attach it to the wall
A literal interpretation could be about hanging something up, but in the context of this song, it's unclear what this might mean symbolically.
The world needs now
This is the second time this line is repeated, potentially emphasizing how much weight it carries.
And anyway
Again, the singer is continuing a thought or idea they began earlier, but it's hard to say exactly what they're referring to.
The crosses
Religious iconography comes into play here. Depending on the interpretation, crosses can symbolize various things, including sacrifice, redemption, or persecution.
It's later than you think
This line might be a warning or a threat, coupled with a sense of urgency.
We all need
The inclusion of the word 'all' implies the necessity of whatever is being described.
An old and all
This line is open to interpretation, and its meaning is unclear. It could hint at something nostalgic or traditional.
Lately
The use of the word 'lately' suggests recent change or developments.
He cannot forget
The same line as earlier, repeated for emphasis.
Holding out
This vague statement doesn't give much indication of what the singer is referring to. It might suggest perseverance in the face of obstacles, or a refusal to give up.
And everywhere
This line could potentially refer to something that's pervasive or all-encompassing.
I seen it
The use of 'seen' instead of 'saw' could suggest a dialect or a specific speaking style, but the meaning is unclear without more context.
And we can all belong
This hopeful statement suggests inclusion and belonging, but there may be more to the sentiment.
The wheel
This could be a reference to cycles, repetition, or something in motion.
Sized up and everything
This phrase might imply being evaluated or judged in some way, potentially relating to success or failure.
And feeling
This phrase is too vague to make an accurate interpretation.
Back against the wall
This expression generally refers to being in a difficult or inescapable situation.
The world is now
This line might suggest some kind of turning point, an event or development that changes how things will be going forward.
A motor now
This line is open to interpretation, but 'motor' might suggest energy, movement, or power.
The native
The scene and context for this line are unclear, but 'native' might suggest a connection to a specific place or culture.
We are not alone
This line suggests the presence of community or support, and implies that the listener or singer is not alone in whatever they're facing.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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