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.
we all love JUDY
Melvins Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Go!!!
Go!!!
Go!!!
Send it all into find us
Can't feel it's weight
Left it all to remind us
That it all just anyway
Will it ever be me
Let down it's a final
Let down and standing alone
See them wait
Locked down when you die
The song "Judy" by Melvins is a mysterious and enigmatic track that leaves a lot to interpretation. The repetitive use of the word "go" may be interpreted as a call to action or a plea for escape. The lyrics suggest that the singer is struggling to make sense of the world and their place in it. They seem to be searching for something that is just out of reach or beyond understanding. The line "can't feel its weight" implies a sense of numbness or disconnectedness, as if the singer is struggling to connect with their emotions or the world around them. The mention of Judy adds another level of complexity, as it is unclear who Judy is and what role she plays in the singer's life.
The chorus of the song features the lines "Let down it's a final, let down and standing alone". This suggests a feeling of disappointment and isolation, as if the singer has been let down by someone or something they trusted. The final lines of the song, "See them wait, locked down when you die", add to the sense of hopelessness and despair. The idea that one is locked down or confined in some way when they die implies that there is no escape from the struggles of life.
Overall, "Judy" is a complex and thought-provoking song that leaves a lot of room for interpretation. The repetitive use of the word "go" and the mysterious mention of Judy add to the sense of mystery and intrigue.
Line by Line Meaning
Go!!!
Let's start the movement with a bang!
Go!!!
Keep the energy high and the momentum going!
Go!!!
Let's push forward with all our might!
Go!!!
Never stop the progress!
Send it all into find us
Let's face our fears and find ourselves.
Can't feel it's weight
We're numb and unaware of the magnitude of our actions.
Left it all to remind us
We left our past behind to never forget where we came from.
That it all just anyway
In the grand scheme of things, everything we do is insignificant.
We're at the door
We are at the brink of something new.
Will it ever be me
Am I ready to seize the opportunity and take charge?
Let down it's a final
Disappointment is the ultimate end.
Let down and standing alone
Feeling defeated and isolated.
See them wait
Others are watching and anticipating our next move.
Locked down when you die
You are trapped and unable to escape the inevitable end.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Vvran36
What an amazing riff!!!
Luka Lapadat
We all love the Melvins
Brian L. Martin
It also makes it such that you have to listen to the album on their terms (in their order), "Shuffle" doesn't work so good when all the songs randomly split in the middle lol.
Rankmoistmeat
Seethe it weighed Lie down when you die Seethe it weighed Lie down when you die...
Dingo Lp
this always reminds me of the song "gore" from the lil video game "soldat"
=)
NotEvenDeathCanSaveYouFromMe
true, amen, bless you man
LordApocalyptica
Dingo Lp hooooooooly shit I don't think I've EVER seen Soldat referenced anywhere! That game has some dope music. Bloody Soil is another good one.
Machina One
crazy stuff
Spencer Lewis
I heard it was about Judas Priest. Would make sense...
dubyajayyo
This song is about the song Judy from the same album. Or is it about some gal named Judy?