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.
The Decay Of Lying
Melvins Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
There was a weakness to be sane
We had to go there just to get them
Out of the picture take the airplanes
We were like heroes of the world
We died before we failed
There was no screaming
To wear us down
Some things are never going to happen
Sometimes it's better if it stays
The times are tightening
That's the thinking
Sharpen ideas complicate
We were like heroes of the world
We died before we failed
There was no screaming
Only sleeping
To wear us down
We were like heroes of the world
We died before we failed
There was no screaming
Only sleeping
To wear us down
"The Decay Of Lying" by Melvins is a song that delves into the complex nature of human behavior and the consequences of our actions. The lyrics suggest that there is inherent violence and a certain fragility in our sanity. The line "There was still violence to behavior, there was a weakness to be sane" implies that despite our best efforts, we cannot fully escape our primal instincts, and maintaining our sanity can sometimes feel like a weakness or a struggle.
The song hints at a need to remove ourselves from certain situations or people who may be detrimental to our well-being. The line "We had to go there just to get them, out of the picture take the airplanes" suggests that drastic measures must be taken to eliminate toxic influences from our lives. This could be interpreted symbolically as a metaphor for cutting ties with negative people or letting go of destructive habits.
The concept of heroism is also explored in the song. The repeated phrase "We were like heroes of the world, we died before we failed" reflects the idea that sometimes it is better to perish with honorable intentions than to experience the pain of failure. This could signify a willingness to sacrifice oneself for a worthy cause or to protect others.
Overall, "The Decay Of Lying" reflects on the complexities of human nature, the struggle to maintain sanity, the importance of removing toxic influences, and the willingness to sacrifice for greater ideals.
Line by Line Meaning
There was still violence to behavior
Behavior was still filled with aggression and hostility
There was a weakness to be sane
It was difficult to maintain rationality and sanity
We had to go there just to get them
We had to confront certain people or situations in order to resolve the issue
Out of the picture take the airplanes
To remove them from the situation completely, we took drastic measures such as commandeering airplanes
We were like heroes of the world
We felt like saviors or important figures on a global scale
We died before we failed
We met our demise or downfall before experiencing failure
There was no screaming
There was an absence of frantic or panicked outbursts
Only sleeping
We were merely resting or in a state of calm
To wear us down
To exhaust or weaken us over time
Some things are never going to happen
Certain events or outcomes will never come to pass
Sometimes it's better if it stays
In certain situations, it is more advantageous for things to remain as they are
The times are tightening
The circumstances or conditions are becoming more restrictive or oppressive
That's the thinking
That is the mindset or perspective
Sharpen ideas complicate
Refining concepts and notions can lead to added complexity
Contributed by Tyler I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.