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.
Skin Horse
Melvins Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Follow said criminal in the form of his hand
He'll chance the overload when it's all about the end
Maybe the size and soul will settle in
Everyone is shifting all around his agonize
Can't make the sort of sound this and dust could sanitize
Gonna see in Earth all edge
Shoulder only angel seven half of every golden an
On those who really help me time unveils
Ty regarding visionary
Give it all to me I didn't' want to be
Singled out for the fire you little tangy
Make a mind to make a friend give it up toenail
Too old for that buy me a big one
To say what's real your not the boss of me
Meet my old man he's just a funny
He makes more than you will take it away
I've got the only wisdom we're still friends
In time it will all be over it will be good
But I'm old and I'm getting older knew I would
Later days finally coming on take me away
Little place near the holy one and let's run
The lyrics in Melvins' song Skin Horse are abstract and open to interpretation. The first line, "Ty plays the battle fold though bastardly," suggests someone named Ty who is behaving badly, perhaps aggressively or with intent to win at all costs, hence "battle." "Follow said criminal in the form of his hand" could be interpreted as someone being led by their impulses or instincts, with "criminal" representing the subconscious mind. "He'll chance the overload when it's all about the end" suggests risk-taking in the face of a potentially catastrophic outcome. "Maybe the size and soul will settle in" implies that the person involved is hoping for some kind of resolution or peace.
The next stanza, "Everyone is shifting all around his agonize / Can't make the sort of sound this and dust could sanitize / Gonna see in Earth all edge / Wishing I was at the where all dull razors all began" could be interpreted as a commentary on the human condition, with the singer observing the suffering of others and feeling helpless to do anything about it. The reference to "dull razors" could be seen as a metaphor for the mundane, everyday struggles that people face.
The final stanza, "In time it will all be over it will be good / But I'm old and I'm getting older knew I would / Later days finally coming on take me away / Little place near the holy one and let's run," suggests a sense of resignation to the inevitability of aging and mortality. The reference to "the holy one" could be interpreted as a desire for transcendence or spiritual enlightenment.
Line by Line Meaning
Ty plays the battle fold though bastardly
Ty is playing a game called battle fold, but he is playing unfairly.
Follow said criminal in the form of his hand
Someone is following a criminal, who is hiding using a fake identity.
He'll chance the overload when it's all about the end
He is willing to take a risk, even when everything is about to end.
Maybe the size and soul will settle in
The size and personality of something or someone will eventually become fixed.
Everyone is shifting all around his agonize
People around him are changing their positions while he is in agony.
Can't make the sort of sound this and dust could sanitize
The sound or noise he is making cannot be eliminated by wiping with a cloth or dusting.
Gonna see in Earth all edge
He is going to explore all the limits or extremes of the world he lives in.
Wishing I was at the where all dull razors all began
He wishes he was present at the place where all the blunt knives were originally created.
Shoulder only angel seven half of every golden an
He has an angel only on one shoulder who advises him, but that advice is only half right.
On those who really help me time unveils
Only time can reveal people who actually help him.
Ty regarding visionary
Ty is a person with the ability to imagine or plan the future with wisdom.
Give it all to me I didn't' want to be
He wants everything to be given to him, although he never asked for it.
Singled out for the fire you little tangy
He was chosen to be burned, and he is annoyed by it.
Make a mind to make a friend give it up toenail
He decides to create a new friend and gives up something important to him (his toenail).
Too old for that buy me a big one
He thinks he is too old for small things, and wants to buy a bigger one.
To say what's real your not the boss of me
He believes that others cannot control what he believes is real or true.
Meet my old man he's just a funny
He wants others to meet his father, who he thinks is amusing or humorous.
He makes more than you will take it away
His father earns more than someone else and they are jealous of it.
I've got the only wisdom we're still friends
He believes he is the only one with true wisdom, but they are still friends.
In time it will all be over it will be good
Eventually, everything will come to an end, but it will be okay.
But I'm old and I'm getting older knew I would
He acknowledges that he is aging, as he knew he would.
Later days finally coming on take me away
He is looking forward to better days that are finally on the way and wants to be taken there.
Little place near the holy one and let's run
There is a small place near a holy destination, and he wants to go there and run.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: ROGER OSBORNE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Emily K
I've been listening to this for over 20 years, and I'm proud to say I can sing like the chipmunk lol
Amorodia
Dang, I love this song so much. Second half gives me chills.
Kris Calabio
It's as if Melvins decided to write a Ween song.
Zoso Ross
00000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000
Justin Storelli
Wow. Eerie
joris van den hoek
it does sound weeney
Angelo B
One time through that "chorus" is not enough. Ever.
Melvins82
Lol! I agree, but that's the Melvins formula. They don't want us to get too excited nor too clingy to their songs.
andrew otis
@Angelo B \m/
Albatroce
Definitely my favourite song on that album