Lessons in What Not to Become
Melvins Lyrics

When I was a kid my Daddy got mad
As a child I experienced an abusive relationship with my Dad, who got angry and physically hurt me.

And slammed me against the wall
My Dad was so angry at times that he would physically slam me against the wall.

Sometimes I got shook
My Dad's anger made me so scared that I would tremble and shake.

Sometimes I got hit
Along with shaking, I was also hit by my Dad as a result of his anger.

For losin' my temper at all
Even when I got angry, it didn't excuse my Dad's physical abuse towards me.

Didn't dare say 'Look at you, man
I was too scared to confront my Dad and point out the hypocrisy of his own behavior.

Blowin' your stack like that'
I couldn't call out my Dad for losing his temper since he would physically hurt me if I did.

I hadn't been taught the word 'hypocrite' yet
I didn't have the vocabulary to describe my Dad's hypocritical behavior at the time.

But I already knew what it meant
Even without the word, I knew that my Dad's behavior was hypocritical.

This is a lesson in what not to become
I learned from my Dad's behavior that I didn't want to become an abusive person like him.

Sometimes that means me
Despite my best efforts to be different from my Dad, I still make mistakes and exhibit similar behaviors.

Can't please everyone
No matter how hard I try, I can't make everyone happy with my actions and decisions.

Tryin' to live by a code I can stick to
I try to live by a personal code of ethics that I can adhere to and feel good about.

I'm a fuck up just like you
I make mistakes and have flaws, just like everyone else.

But it's better than not trying at all
Despite my imperfections, it's better to try and be a good person than to give up and not try at all.

Early on I knew
I learned early on in life.

To learn from the mistakes
To pay attention to the mistakes others have made.

Of people I most admire
Of people I respect and look up to.

Crazy-ass times
Wild and crazy times filled with reckless behavior.

Wish I was wild
I sometimes wish I could let loose and be wild like others I admire.

But the drugs snuffed out the fire
However, my drug use has dampened my spirit and curbed my wild tendencies.

All that talent fried and blackened
My drug use has damaged and destroyed a lot of my natural talent and potential.

Senile at 25
I am struggling with memory loss and other cognitive issues at a young age due to my drug use.

I'll never be as dope as you
I recognize that I can never be as cool, talented, or successful as those I admire due to my drug use.

But at least I'm still alive
Despite all of my problems, I am still alive and have the chance to improve my life and make better choices.

For some mouths that's me
I know that some people view me as a bad example and someone not to emulate.

Yeah, your Mum and I
In the following lines, the singer addresses their child.

Had such a great time when we your age
I want my child to know that I had fun and enjoyed myself when I was their age.

Makin' love, gettin' high
Part of the fun I had was engaging in sex and doing drugs.

Wild in the streets almost every day
I had a wild and carefree spirit that led me to spend most days acting recklessly in the streets.

But now that you're that age
Even though I had fun when I was young, I don't want my child to make the same mistakes I did.

Just Say No®
I want my child to stay away from drugs and make good choices.

But take your Ritalin
However, I am recommending that my child take medication for attention deficit for their own well-being.

If you still turn out wrong
Despite my advice and guidance, my child may still make mistakes or experience problems.

It's all your music's fault
I recognize that blaming my child's problems on their music is ridiculous and unlikely to be true.

Breaks my heart to see
It is painful for me to witness someone I care about struggle or suffer.

When someone born to lead
When someone who has the potential for greatness or success.

Gets so paranoid they're crazy
When that person becomes so consumed by their fears and concerns that they lose their sanity.

Agree with all I say
When the person expects others to agree with everything they say and do.

Or you're the enemy and there ain't no in between
When others are either with the person or against them, without any possibility for neutrality or compromise.

Drown like Ahab
I am comparing the person's situation to Captain Ahab's in Moby Dick, where their madness and obsession leads them to destruction.

Trying to slay that Great White Whale
The person's obsession with a particular goal or ambition that may ultimately lead to their downfall.

So tied up in their own rules
When someone becomes so strict and inflexible in their beliefs and actions that they become trapped by them.

People jump ship and they fail
When others abandon the person due to their rigid beliefs and actions, ultimately resulting in their failure or downfall.

Another lesson
Another example or warning.

Lessons in what not to become
Advice or guidance intended to help others avoid making bad decisions or mistakes.

I ain't 100% pure
I am admitting that I have made mistakes and am not always perfect.

To the point of being miserable
I recognize that being too strict or rigid can lead to unhappiness and misery, and try to avoid that extreme.