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.
Revolve
Melvins Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You gotta hold your tongue you gotta hit it with the right of way
Maybe I blocked you from your intellectual scene
In a way insane in a way it's gotta be.
Red Sister might be choking but I ain't about that kind
Answer me with the rhythm of a body that was born to lose two times.
Hey big motor
He says that I'm a true fortune lie
Big broken love, big broken knives
They might try to hide they have to answer mordant sins
You might be right like a hole in the wind
Poison daggers for the road mix broke down cross
Takes your head off the line
The flavor might be missing he has to cross that anyway
You can bet you can riddle with the brothers to the power of another day.
Hey big motor
He says the Night Patrol 49
Hang my shoulder
Big broken love, big broken knives
Doing it say I'm meat
Which one stole my time
Didn't you say you'd watch it?
Didn't I?
Evil stripped in me
Three more stripped in time.
Didn't you say you've got it?
Watch me...Ah!
The lyrics of Melvins's song Revolve describe a sense of chaos and confusion, with references to themes such as intellectualism, power and freedom. The first verse seems to suggest that people are not truly free, as there are social conventions that must be followed in order to succeed. The line "Maybe I blocked you from your intellectual scene" implies that there are those who try to prevent others from reaching their potential, whether intentionally or not. The second line "You gotta hold your tongue you gotta hit it with the right of way" suggests that conformity is necessary for success. The line "Answer me with the rhythm of a body that was born to lose two times" can be interpreted to mean that some people are simply meant to fail, and must accept their fate.
The chorus of the song is repeated twice throughout, and features the lines "Hey big motor, he says that I'm a true fortune lie, hang my shoulder, big broken love, big broken knives". This could be interpreted to mean the singer is being accused of being fake or insincere, or that they feel trapped in a situation where they are unable to express themselves or be true to themselves.
The second verse refers to the idea that people must confront the difficult and unpleasant aspects of life in order to truly live. The lines "Poison daggers for the road mix broke down cross, takes your head off the line, the flavor might be missing he has to cross that anyway" suggest that the path to success is fraught with danger, and that one must be willing to take risks in order to achieve their goals. The final lines of the song suggest a sense of desperation or urgency, as the singer demands "Didn't you say you've got it? Watch me...Ah!".
Overall, the song Revolve seems to express a sense of unease and frustration with conventional society, as the lyrics suggest that conformity and conventionality are not enough to achieve success. The song's chaotic energy and freewheeling lyrics suggest a sense of rebellion against the status quo.
Line by Line Meaning
Freedom's all lies different walk away
The concept of freedom is false, everyone has to leave eventually.
You gotta hold your tongue you gotta hit it with the right of way
Sometimes, you have to hold back and strike at the right moment.
Maybe I blocked you from your intellectual scene
Perhaps my actions prevented you from experiencing intellectual growth.
In a way insane in a way it's gotta be.
The nature of this situation is both insane and inevitable.
Red Sister might be choking but I ain't about that kind
Others might be struggling, but I won't let it affect me.
Answer me with the rhythm of a body that was born to lose two times.
Respond to me with the pace of someone who has already failed twice.
Hey big motor
He says that I'm a true fortune lie
Hang my shoulder
Big broken love, big broken knives
A mysterious figure insults my integrity, causing me heartbreak and pain.
They might try to hide they have to answer mordant sins
Others may try to conceal their vices, but eventually they will have to face them.
You might be right like a hole in the wind
Your idea might be correct, but it won't make a difference.
Poison daggers for the road mix broke down cross
Hidden dangers lurk on the path ahead, waiting to strike.
Takes your head off the line
The flavor might be missing he has to cross that anyway
The consequences of this decision may be disastrous, but it must still be made.
You can bet you can riddle with the brothers to the power of another day.
You can try to solve problems with the help of others, one day at a time.
Doing it say I'm meat
Which one stole my time
Didn't you say you'd watch it?
Didn't I?
Others treat me like I'm disposable, and I question who stole my time.
Evil stripped in me
Three more stripped in time.
Didn't you say you've got it?
Watch me...Ah!
I've been exposed to evil, and three more have succumbed to it. I challenge those who claimed to have it under control.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: MARK DEUTROM, ROGER OSBOURNE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind