The Melvins are a sludge metal band that formed in Montesano, Washington, U… Read Full Bio ↴The Melvins are a sludge metal band that formed in Montesano, Washington, United States in 1983. The band currently consists of Buzz Osborne (vocals, guitar), Steven Shane McDonald (bass), and Dale Crover (drums). Osborne is the only remaining original member, although Crover has been a member since early in the band's career.

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.

Poison
Melvins Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

The partisans not the artisans
Are doing their dirty show
But I ripped my pants
Doing some dance
That I learned in France
And they think there ain't
Nothin' to know

Used, abused
Locked up, beaten and fined
But I got free
Copped a plea
And I can see
That there ain't no freedom
Bell gonna chime
This time

Truth and love
Are my law and worship
Form and conscience

My manifestation and guide
Nature and peace are
My shelter and companion
Order is my attitude
Beauty and perfection
Are my attack

False faces
Fast company
A night of thrills
With no jealousy, no poison

Nobody's tool
Will be a public fool
To manipulate the masses
Who lie and cheat
And eat their meat
And think it's sweet

While the rest all clean their glasses
In status classes

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Melvins's song "Poison" seem to describe a situation of oppression and control by a powerful elite, while the singer maintains his individuality and values. The opening lines suggest that those in power are putting on a "dirty show," but the singer has ripped his pants dancing, implying that he is not intimidated by them. The repetition of "they think there ain't nothin' to know" emphasizes the disconnect between those in power and ordinary people who have different experiences and knowledge.

The second verse highlights the singer's own experience of being "used, abused, locked up, beaten and fined," but he has managed to escape and can now see that there is no true freedom. The third verse provides insight into the singer's personal philosophy, which centers around "truth and love" and rejecting the false faces and manipulation of the powerful. The final lines of the song suggest that those in power may believe they are in control, but the rest of society is not blind to their actions and will eventually hold them accountable.

Line by Line Meaning

The partisans not the artisans Are doing their dirty show But I ripped my pants Doing some dance That I learned in France And they think there ain't Nothin' to know
The ones causing trouble are the people who support a particular group or cause, not those who are skilled in a particular craft. I accidentally tore my pants while performing a dance move I learned in France. They believe that there's nothing to be learned from my mistake.

Used, abused Locked up, beaten and fined But I got free Copped a plea And I can see That there ain't no freedom Bell gonna chime This time
I have been mistreated and wronged, imprisoned, beaten and fined, but I managed to escape by taking a plea bargain. I now understand that we are not truly free and that we should prepare for the consequences when the alarm bell sounds.

Truth and love Are my law and worship Form and conscience My manifestation and guide Nature and peace are My shelter and companion Order is my attitude Beauty and perfection Are my attack
I live my life by the principles of truth and love, which I follow with deep reverence. My outward appearance and inner feelings are shaped by my conscience, and I depend on nature and peace to provide me with comfort and companionship. My approach to everything is orderly, and I am driven by my desire to create or pursue beauty and perfection.

False faces Fast company A night of thrills With no jealousy, no poison
People put on a façade and seek excitement, but without envy or malice toward others.

Nobody's tool Will be a public fool To manipulate the masses Who lie and cheat And eat their meat And think it's sweet While the rest all clean their glasses In status classes
I will not be an instrument in the hands of anyone who wishes to deceive the public for their own gain. These people who lie, cheat, and kill for profit will continue their shady ways, while others remain ignorant to their plight, completely wrapped up in status classes.

Lyrics © TERRORBIRD PUBLISHING LLC
Written by: JASON WILLIAM BLACK, CHARLES ALLEN RAGAN, GEORGE REBELLO, CHRISTOPHER JAMES WOLLARD

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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