The Melvins are a sludge metal band that formed in Montesano, Washington, U… Read Full Bio ↴The Melvins are a sludge metal band that formed in Montesano, Washington, United States in 1983. The band currently consists of Buzz Osborne (vocals, guitar), Steven Shane McDonald (bass), and Dale Crover (drums). Osborne is the only remaining original member, although Crover has been a member since early in the band's career.

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.

Your Blessened
Melvins Lyrics

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I like your hands
Mr. Cancer see
Fell the timber
I felt you be
And if you were
Just like your will
We can end up
And we can turn up

And we can bleed

When man's only distant relative
Has descended on his own
You will know

Your blessened
I can feel you, babe
You're man-like
You're friendly
You're me

I like your hands
Mr. Cancer see

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to the Melvins' song "Your Blessened" speak of a powerful connection between two individuals. The repeated phrase "I like your hands, Mr. Cancer see" could be interpreted in different ways, but one possibility is that it refers to the idea of healing touch, and finding something beautiful or valuable even in difficult circumstances. The lines "Fell the timber, I felt you be" might suggest a sense of grounding, of being connected to nature or earthiness, while "And if you were just like your will" could be taken as a suggestion to stay true to oneself and one's own desires or values. The final lines "We can end up / And we can turn up / And we can bleed" create a sense of urgency or intensity, perhaps urging the listener to take risks or embrace their passions.

In the second verse, the lyrics shift into more mysterious and cryptic territory. The phrase "When man's only distant relative / Has descended on his own / You will know" could be interpreted in countless ways, depending on one's worldview or personal experiences. It could be a reference to a particular tragedy, or it could be a more general reflection on the human condition. The final lines of the song, with their repetition of the phrase "Your blessened / I can feel you, babe / You're man-like / You're friendly / You're me," add to the enigmatic quality of the lyrics. Overall, "Your Blessened" is a thought-provoking and somewhat abstract song that invites multiple interpretations.

Line by Line Meaning

I like your hands
I appreciate your physical touch, skills or actions

Mr. Cancer see
Addressing the personification of cancer, acknowledging its effects and presence

Fell the timber
Perceive the weight or importance of an action, situation or emotion

I felt you be
I sensed your existence and presence

And if you were
If you happen to be

Just like your will
In accordance with your desires, intentions or wishes

We can end up
We can conclude, finish or terminate

And we can turn up
We can appear, arrive or show up

And we can bleed
We can experience pain, suffering or loss

When man's only distant relative
When humanity is disconnected or unrelated to its surroundings

Has descended on his own
Has faced the consequences and challenges of its own actions