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.
Now a Limo
Melvins Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Like you know
Sha too slow
Steel pulls in
You're just a rotter
LIke I showed you
Guess you're really
Like I told you
Gonna carry you over
Dis more
Johnny Disenter
Dis belt
Sharper disenter
It's more
Show you the issue.
The lyrics to Melvins' song "Now a Limo" are cryptic and surreal, and seem to be about a range of disconnected and bizarre images and concepts. The song starts with the line "golden issues", which is unclear in its meaning, but suggests something elusive and valuable. The next few lines are similarly obscure, using nonsense phrases like "sha too slow" and "steel pulls in" that don't have a clear meaning. The lyrics then become more aggressive and violent, with the singer calling the listener a "rotter" and threatening to "carry you over" with the "black mar" (perhaps a reference to the grim reaper or death). The final lines of the song seem to be a repetition of earlier lines, with "dis more" and "dis belt" suggesting some sort of punishment or torture.
Overall, the lyrics to "Now a Limo" are difficult to interpret, and seem to be more about creating a mood or atmosphere than communicating a specific narrative or message. The song is full of strange and unsettling imagery, and the lyrics are delivered in a menacing and aggressive tone that adds to the sense of unease. The song might be interpreted as a sort of nightmare or fever dream, in which strange and disturbing things happen without rhyme or reason.
Line by Line Meaning
Golden issues
Important problems, challenges or difficulties that are deserving of great consideration and attention.
Like you know
As if you have knowledge or awareness about the topic at hand.
Sha too slow
You are moving at a sluggish pace and not keeping up with the demand or expectation.
Steel pulls in
A massive and powerful entity or force is arriving at the scene.
You're just a rotter
You are a contemptible and worthless person, with no redeeming qualities.
LIke I showed you
Just as I demonstrated or proved to you previously.
Guess you're really
Perhaps you truly are, no matter how unexpected or surprising it may seem.
Like I told you
As I warned or informed you of beforehand.
Black mar
A bad mark or flaw that greatly detracts from the quality or value of something.
Gonna carry you over
Will lift or transport you to a more favorable or successful situation.
Dis more
This is just the beginning or there is so much more to come.
Johnny Disenter
A person who dissents or opposes the prevailing view or system, whose name happens to be Johnny.
Dis belt
A harsh or severe criticism or punishment, similar to being struck with a belt.
Sharper disenter
A dissenting voice or opinion that is particularly cutting, incisive or well-argued.
It's more
There is greater significance, importance or meaning to this than meets the eye.
Show you the issue
Will present or demonstrate to you the problem or challenge that needs to be addressed.
Contributed by Adam J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.