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 Great Good Place
Melvins Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
With a woes and it sees no lies
I wouldn't touch that if I were you
Mundane and it leads nowhere
That never stopped him before
I don't understand this place
I would not cheat on a girl like you
And it's gonna go and get you
Yes, I don't know who it was
And they've never come back to know
How we have to go
Big nose, and lickin' eyes
With a woes and it sees no lies
I wouldn't touch that if I were you
I would not cheat on a girl like you
The Great Good Place is here
And it's gonna go and get you
"The Great Good Place" by Melvins is a song that elicits a sense of confusion and unease with its cryptic lyrics. The opening lines "Big nose, and lickin' eyes, With a woes and it sees no lies" describes something that might be repulsive and deceitful. The following lines "I wouldn't touch that if I were you, Mundane and it leads nowhere, That never stopped him before" suggest that the subject matter is not only unappealing but also lacks direction, and yet it's not stopped from pursuing its questionable course of action. In the chorus, the singer seemingly changes the topic when he declares that he wouldn't cheat on his partner because "The Great Good Place is here, And it's gonna go and get you." It's unclear what is meant by "The Great Good Place" and how it's related to the rest of the song. The verse that follows is just as perplexing as the previous ones, "Yes, I don't know who it was, And they've never come back to know, How we have to go," further adding to the song's enigma.
The song's lyrics are highly open to interpretation and lend themselves to various meanings. It could be about someone who's a creep and has a weird appearance, yet manages to get what they want despite this. The Great Good Place could refer to a utopia that's being promised to someone in exchange for infidelity, suggesting that the person is being manipulated into wrongdoing. It could also be that the singer is experiencing a psychedelic trip that has them questioning reality, leading to a loss of understanding of their surroundings.
Line by Line Meaning
Big nose, and lickin' eyes
Describing someone with a prominent nose and staring eyes
With a woes and it sees no lies
This person has problems and cannot tell the truth
I wouldn't touch that if I were you
This person is dangerous and should be avoided
Mundane and it leads nowhere
This place is boring and has no opportunities
That never stopped him before
The person with the big nose and staring eyes is used to being ignored
I don't understand this place
The singer is confused and doesn't know what's going on
I would not cheat on a girl like you
The singer is loyal to someone
The Great Good Place is here
There is a better place to be
And it's gonna go and get you
The singer is eager to get to the better place
Yes, I don't know who it was
The singer is uncertain about something
And they've never come back to know
Someone else has disappeared and has not returned
How we have to go
The singer knows that they have to leave this place
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Roger Osborne
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
huntermc
Damn, this is fourth track in a row from the new album that just kills!
Jed Ediah
I agree this is a good one, one of the best for sure
Alex Perry
Been a few years since I've really dug what Melvins have released, but these new tunes are great and probably their best since A senile animal!
Solyhhit Manchild
Complete wall of sound.
This is f**king great!
Kamil Szmelter
Great song, massive sound !
Dale Urangus
Are you kidding me? This is seriously amazing! Exactly what I need today, and for the next year! Thank You!
Look, it's Mike
Oh, man! This is the Melvins I've been waiting a little while for
kenneth salter
Great job Melvins ...You have acheived an amazing peice Art! Who would of thought ?
Ryan Hosey
How I wish we could all rock out to this jam live :( damn Covid...
Darren Nelson
Soon!