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.
Mine Is No Disgrace
Melvins Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
To take the blame?
How does it feel
To be behind the drain?
Because you take what you can get and ask for more
You never get what you deserve
And that's the score
Remember that the life you save may be your own
I hope that you'll accept my sympathy
But understand I gotta think it's better him than me
It's better him than me
A chain is just as strong as its weakest link
When you endure the strain, it's always later than you think
It's later than you think
Resign to a life of chronic celibacy
With fond memories and cheap pornography
God forbid I ever wanted intimacy
No more that out, out of the door
God forbid I should feel
I know that ain't real
But now I feel like I could rape a nun
And it's always the first kiss that gets you drunk
That gets you drunk
So I keep a habit on her face
While I listen to that "Yes" song
Yours is no disgrace
Mine is no disgrace
No, no disgrace
Ah, ah, ah, ah, ah
How does it feel
To fade away?
How does it feel
To be beneath the train?
The life disguised behind the backward mask
A little dignity is all I ask
Many people cross the beach and leave no trace
Well, I'm hoping for my footprints to remain
I know that ain't real
But now I feel like I could rape a nun
And it's always the first kiss that gets you drunk
That gets you drunk
So I keep a habit on her face
While I listen to that "Yes" song
Yours is no disgrace
Mine is no disgrace
No, no disgrace
Ah, ah, ah, ah, ah
Mine is no
Mine is no disgrace
Ah, ah, ah, ah, ah
Mine is no
Mine is no disgrace
The lyrics of "Mine Is No Disgrace" by Melvins paint a picture of someone who feels trapped in their life, unable to achieve what they desire, and is starting to feel a bitter resentment towards society. The first two stanzas show the singer's anger towards the injustice of life, where people never get what they deserve and are always treated unfairly. They also touch upon the topic of self-preservation, where people prioritize their safety over others' lives.
In the next set of lyrics, the singer describes how a person is only as strong as their weakest link, emphasizing the importance of self-improvement, and resilience. The line "resign to a life of chronic celibacy/With fond memories and cheap pornography" seems to reflect a sense of hopelessness and resignation towards physical desires. The lyrics "God forbid I ever wanted intimacy" and "No more that out, out of the door" show the singer's resentment towards societal norms and expectations that they had to conform to.
The song concludes with the repetition of the phrase "Mine Is No Disgrace", almost as if the singer is trying to convince themselves that they are not a complete failure despite feeling that way.
Overall, the song seems to be a commentary on the pressures and disappointments of life, and how some people may feel trapped and unable to achieve their desires.
Line by Line Meaning
How does it feel
To take the blame?
What is the sensation of being held accountable?
How does it feel
To be behind the drain?
What is the feeling when you are in the shadow of others?
Because you take what you can get and ask for more
You never get what you deserve
And that's the score
You always ask for more than what you are capable of getting and in the end, you won't achieve what you desire.
Remember that the life you save may be your own
But when you're bankrupt, you won't get another loan
Being careful and considerate of the present consequences can save you from future difficulties.
I hope that you'll accept my sympathy
But understand I gotta think it's better him than me
It's better him than me
I empathize with you but at the same time prioritize my own self-interest.
A chain is just as strong as its weakest link
When you endure the strain, it's always later than you think
It's later than you think
The weakest aspect of a group affects its overall strength, and realizing this after enduring a lot makes the realization too late for preventive measures.
Resign to a life of chronic celibacy
With fond memories and cheap pornography
God forbid I ever wanted intimacy
No more that out, out of the door
Choosing to live without any intimacy, relying on memories and pornography, and eliminating any desire for intimate relationships.
God forbid I should feel
I know that ain't real
But now I feel like I could rape a nun
And it's always the first kiss that gets you drunk
That gets you drunk
Suppressing feelings and repressing wants can lead to destructive thoughts and behaviors.
So I keep a habit on her face
While I listen to that "Yes" song
Yours is no disgrace
Mine is no disgrace
No, no disgrace
Distracting oneself and trying to find solace in music that reflects one's own shame and shortcomings.
How does it feel
To fade away?
How does it feel
To be beneath the train?
What is the feeling when you are slowly losing your sense of self and are left behind by others?
The life disguised behind the backward mask
A little dignity is all I ask
Many people cross the beach and leave no trace
Well, I'm hoping for my footprints to remain
Masking one's true self and asking for a little respect and leaving behind some legacy for the world to remember.
Mine is no
Mine is no disgrace
Although feeling as if you could be an outcast, there is no shame in admitting to one's shortcomings.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
CAKmusic
Arguably one of the best Melvins tracks
Max Straight
I would definitely argue against that
SHACOBES123
Or at least the lead singer of Foetus lol
C.J.M. 1997
It's one of my favorite. It suits a different mood than things off Bullhead, though I think the Melvin's are awesome I rarely get into a decent chunk of their catalog but this one is fucking cool.
Zepphead
Its actually a Foetus track done by The Melvins,sort of like Smells Like Nirvana(teen spirit),but this song is named after a YES song
C.J.M. 1997
@Zepphead well I knew it was JG Thirlwell who wrote the lyrics but I didn't know he wrote the music.
Kevin Mcnamara
Just god damned amazing. And they still don't get the props they deserve
thedavil Man
One of my all time favs too..... powerful lyrics yes, but it's also how the lyrics are sung that, sets the mood and makes it equally comforting / disturbing/ accepting..etc...whatever the imagery makes you feel at that time.
Timmay Halsaid
Seen these guys open for Nirvana in 93
David Bruno
This song is like detecting the very cosmic origins of Grunge, from 20 years ago, from 20 years before that. How it hurts.