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.
Lexicon Devil
Melvins Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Looking for the future,worlds my aim!
So gimme gimme your hands-gimme gimme your minds-
Gimme gimme this-gimme gimme tha-ea-ea-ea-ttt!
I want toy tin soldiers that can push and shove
I want gunboy rovers that'll wreck this club
I'll build you up and level your heads
I'll get silver guns to drip old blood
Let's give this established joke a shove
We're gonna wreak havoc on this rancid mill
I'm searchin' for something even if I'm killed
Empty out your pockets-you don't need their change
I'm giving you the power to rearrange
Together we'll run to the highest prop
Tear it down and let it drop away
The song Lexicon Devil by Melvins talks about the desire to bring about radical change in society. The lyrics describe the singer as a 'battered brain' Lexicon Devil who is looking for a new and better future. He calls out to the audience to give him their hands, minds and everything else for a new beginning. The singer seeks to build an army of toy tin soldiers and gunboy rovers who will help him wreck things around. The aim is to level the heads of the establishment, run society his way, and rid themselves of cold men and politics that have always held them down.
The singer goes on to speak of getting silver guns that can drip old blood to give 'this established joke' a shove. He calls for the destruction of the existing order, wreaking havoc on the rancid mill that is the establishment. The 'Lexicon Devil' is in search of something, and he will stop at nothing to find it, even if it means his death. The call to empty pockets and rearrange the power structure is one of rebellion, and the ultimate aim is to tear society down to the ground and build it anew from scratch. The song's lyrics are a call to action, asking people to take a stand against the established order and fight for something better.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm Lexicon Devil with a battered brain
I am a skilled wordsmith, but my mind has been damaged by past experiences.
Looking for the future, worlds my aim!
I am searching for what comes next and have set my sights on achieving greatness.
So gimme gimme your hands-gimme gimme your minds- Gimme gimme this-gimme gimme tha-ea-ea-ea-ttt!
I crave your support and your ideas, so please give them to me in abundance.
I want toy tin soldiers that can push and shove
I desire controllable minions who will do my bidding and use force when necessary.
I want gunboy rovers that'll wreck this club
I am seeking allies who are capable of causing chaos and destruction if required to achieve our goals.
I'll build you up and level your heads
I will provide guidance and assistance to you, while simultaneously demanding compliance and obedience.
We'll run it my way cold men and politics dead
I will be the one in charge with no room for negotiations or political games.
I'll get silver guns to drip old blood
I will acquire weapons and spill blood in the pursuit of our objectives, possibly against those who stand in our way or who are deemed expendable.
Let's give this established joke a shove
We will use our power to challenge and disrupt an established and unsatisfactory system or status quo.
We're gonna wreak havoc on this rancid mill
We will cause destruction and chaos to an industry or facility that we despise.
I'm searchin' for something even if I'm killed
I am determined to find something I desire, even if it costs me my life.
Empty out your pockets-you don't need their change
I urge you to reject the ideas and the currency that have been imposed on you by others.
I'm giving you the power to rearrange
I am empowering you to exercise your own creativity and become a force of change.
Together we'll run to the highest prop
We will work together to reach our ultimate goal.
Tear it down and let it drop away
We will actively dismantle and discard the old system to make way for something new and better.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Darby Crash, Georg Ruthenberg
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Kraken turdz
very good cover, they capture the energy and sprirt of the original, im gonna check more melvins out because of this.
Alex Silver
I like the energy here! He's like puching the words with a hammer ! :)
Hubblebub Lumbubwub
I came here for a Melvins cover of The Germs and I got a Melvins cover of The Germs. What did you guys expect? Stop bitching about which one is better.
Jose Gomez
Exactly, they're both awesome.
The Germs=Punk Rock
The Melvins=Sludge Metal
NOFX0890
This is fkn radical. First time iv heard this song covered. Yes i live under a rock.
Beefmouth
Great cover from one of the best bands EVER!
Cazlab
these vocals are fucking awesome sounds crazy and pissed, perfect for this song! :D
MissMeatcleaver
for a good 8 months, while in college, this was my favorite song in the world and i'd listen to it over and over and over and over andover and over andover and over and ya ya ya etc etc etc.... oh here i go listening to this song over and over again. lol
BigPapa Paradox
i love how the melvins put there own unique touch to it there not just trying to sound just like the band their covering like most bands do.
Hank Clock
the Germs always have these fantastic lyrics