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.
Judy Pt. 1
Melvins Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I heard a choir singing.
I saw my love walk down the aisle.
On her finger, he placed a ring, oh, oh.
I saw them holding hands
She was standing there with my man.
I heard them promise 'til death do us part.
Oh. All I could do, all I could do was cry.
All I could do was cry.
I was losing the man that I loved,
and all I could do was cry.
And now the wedding is over,
rice has been thrown over their heads.
For them, life has just begun but mine is at an end
Oh. All I could do, all I could do was cry.
All I could do was cry.
I was losing the man that I loved,
And all I could do was cry.
The lyrics of Melvins' song "Manky Pt. 1" depict a heartbroken narrator who witnesses the painful event of her loved one getting married to someone else. The lyrics open with the sound of church bells ringing and a choir singing, indicating that the scene is set at a wedding ceremony. The singer watches as her love walks down the aisle with another person and witnesses the exchange of wedding rings. This sight only intensifies her emotional turmoil.
In the following lines, the singer sees her love and the new partner holding hands, leaving her feeling devastated and betrayed. She hears them making vows to stay together until death, and each word pierces her heart with pain. This situation reflects the deep emotional connection the singer had with her love, making their separation even more agonizing and difficult to bear.
The chorus reveals the singer's intense emotional state. She expresses that all she can do in this situation is cry. The pain of witnessing her loved one marry someone else becomes overwhelming, and she feels helpless and powerless. The repetition of the phrase "All I could do was cry" emphasizes the depth of her sorrow and highlights the futility of her attempts to influence the outcome.
As the wedding ceremony concludes, rice is thrown over the couple's heads, symbolizing a joyous beginning for them. In contrast, the singer feels that her life is now coming to an end. The contrasting imagery of celebration and despair further emphasizes the singer's despair and the stark contrast between her feelings and the newfound happiness of the couple.
Overall, "Manky Pt. 1" tells a heart-wrenching tale of unrequited love and the pain that comes with witnessing the realization of that love with someone else. The lyrics capture the emotions of betrayal, longing, and ultimate despair, creating a poignant and melancholic narrative.
Line by Line Meaning
I heard church bells ringing
I became aware of the sound of church bells
I heard a choir singing
I perceived the harmonious voices of a choir
I saw my love walk down the aisle
I witnessed the person I love walking towards the front of the church
On her finger, he placed a ring, oh, oh
He gently placed a ring on her finger, symbolizing their commitment
I saw them holding hands
I observed them clasping their hands together
She was standing there with my man
She was present there alongside the person I am in a relationship with
I heard them promise 'til death do us part
I listened to them making a solemn vow to stay together until death separates them
Each word was a pain in my heart
Every word spoken intensified the ache within my heart
All I could do, all I could do was cry
My only response, my sole ability, was to let tears flow
I was losing the man that I loved
I was losing the person I deeply cared for
And now the wedding is over
The wedding ceremony has concluded
Rice has been thrown over their heads
People showered them with rice as they departed the ceremony
For them, life has just begun but mine is at an end
Their journey together is just commencing while mine feels like it is coming to a close
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: BERRY JR GORDY, GWENDOLYN GORDY FUQUA, ROQUEL DAVIS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind