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 Green Manalishi
Melvins Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The night is so black darkness cooks
You come on creepin' around making me do things I don't want to do
I can't believe that you need my love so bad
Comes in and around trying to drive me mad
How'd you know my dreams?
Making me see things I don't want to see
'Cause you're the green manalishi with the two pronged crown
Take all my lovers away
Leave me here just to try to keep from following you
The Green Manalishi is a song by American rock band Melvins, originally released in 1991. The lyrics describe a sense of unease and fear caused by an entity referred to as 'the green manalishi'. The song starts with describing a night where the full moon is shining and everything else is dark. This is where the green manalishi creeps in, making the singer do things he does not want to do. The singer is taken aback by the desperation the green manalishi exhibits for his love, and yet, he is trying to drive the singer mad. The green manalishi has the ability to know the singer's dreams and subconscious, making him see things he does not want to see. The song ends with the singer questioning whether the green manalishi is trying to bring everything down, and he pleads with him to leave him alone and take all his lovers away.
The lyrics can have many interpretations. It can be seen as an allegory for mental health issues or addiction, where the singer is struggling to cope with a looming threat that manifests in his subconscious. Alternatively, it could be seen as a commentary on society's obsession with love, and how some people will go to extreme lengths to obtain it.
Line by Line Meaning
Now when the day goes to sleep and the full moon looks
As the night falls and the full moon shows up in the sky
the night is so black darkness cooks
The darkness of the night is overwhelming
you come on creepin' around making me do things i don't want to do
You sneak in unexpectedly and force me to do things that I am not willing to
i can't believe that you need my love so bad
It's unbelievable that you desire to have my love so strongly
comes in and around trying to drive me mad
You make continuous efforts to push me towards madness
how'd you know my dreams?
How are you aware of my deepest desires and aspirations?
making me see things i don't want to see
You make me see things that I do not want to witness
'cause you're the green manalishi with the two pronged crown
You are the evil spirit with a green complexion and a double-pointed crown
all the tryin' is up are you bringin' this down?
Have all my efforts been for naught? Are you causing my downfall?
take all my lovers away
You take all my beloved ones from me
leave me here just to try to keep from following you
You abandon me to fend for myself and struggle to resist following you
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Peter Green
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Lars Christiansen
RIP Peter Green. Thank you Melvins for a great and unique cover (as always).
SALT PETER
Cant believe I'm saying it, but this is better than the Priest cover. That is an achievement. This is a pounding monster.
Vasilios Kotetsos
Way better than the flat,catchy ,clueless and spiceless version of judas priest.
But the original stands to another level
one eye
You know, the Melvins make the dark sound so sweet.
Chris Gilbreath
one of the most interesting covers of this song. Stands completely apart from all the rest. Kudos.
Toma Djarm
I first heard this in high school as a big Judas Priest fan, and I was blown away by how hard this version hit. I became a huge Melvins fan based (at that moment) on this one track, and then I found out about Peter Green not long after. How many songs take you on a journey through time like that?
Tatiana
μακραν αγαπημενο cover!
Jerry D.
Why in the fuck am I just finding this? What a bloody mess my life is, thank the gods for the Melvins.
kamel benchabane
Great
Dost Khan
SSSinissster!!!