Mother Love Bone was established in 1988 by former Green River members Jeff Ament, Bruce Fairweather and Stone Gossard, former Malfunkshun frontman Andrew Wood and former Ten Minute Warning and Skin Yard drummer Greg Gilmore. Initially, the group was formed in 1987 out of the cover band Lords of the Wasteland which featured Wood, Gossard, Ament and Malfunkshun drummer Regan Hagar. By early 1988 the band had added Fairweather, replaced Hagar with drummer Greg Gilmore and changed its name to Mother Love Bone.
This new line-up quickly set about recording and playing area shows and by late 1988 had become one of Seattle's more promising bands. Wood's exuberant on-stage personality, outlandish clothes and dreamy lyrics helped bring attention to the band. In the 1996 grunge documentary, Hype!, Seattle engineer Jack Endino called Wood "the only stand-up comedian frontman in Seattle," a reference to Wood's playful style of interacting with Mother Love Bone fans.
In early 1989, the band signed to PolyGram subsidiary Mercury Records. As part of its contract PolyGram also created the Stardog Records imprint exclusively for the band. In March 1989, the group issued its debut EP, Shine, becoming the first of the new crop of Seattle bands to have a release on a major label. The record sold well and rapidly increased the hype surrounding the band. John Book of Allmusic said the "record contributed to the buzz about the Seattle music scene."
In late 1989, the group returned to the studio (this time in San Francisco, California) to record its debut album, Apple. Despite some initial difficulties, the record was on-time for its projected March 1990 release. By this point interest in the band had hit a fever pitch and it seemed destined that the band were going to make it big. Only days before Apple was slated to be released, however, frontman Andrew Wood, who had a long history with drug problems, overdosed on heroin. After spending a few days in the hospital in a coma, Wood died, effectively bringing the group to an end. The album would see release later that year on July 19, 1990. Kim Neely of Rolling Stone said that the album "succeeds where countless other hard rock albums have failed, capturing the essence of what made Zep immortal – dynamics, kids! – and giving it a unique Nineties spin."
Captain Hi-Top
Mother Love Bone Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm the instigator of the me generation
The official seminator of the female population, babe, rock yeah
Scoff at my rivals 'cause they ain't cool
And I re-wrote the Bible and I made my own rules
Captain Hi-Top, the love commander
I'm Captain Hi-Top, the love commander
Hide your mom, control your sister
I'm the hip-hop surgeon of the mindless eye
I said, [Incomprehensible]
And these stories of my image ain't up to par
I'll tell you what I'll do, I slid the beast to Farah
Saying baby, baby, baby
Baby, baby, baby, baby, baby
Baby, I'm a star
Captain Hi-Top, the love commander
I'm the ego star forever after
I'm talking 'bout Captain Hi-Top, the love commander
Hide your mom, control your sister
Captain Hi-Top, the love commander, yeah
I'm the ego star forever after
I'm Captain Hi-Top, the love commander
Hide your mom, control your sister, babe
Captain Hi-Top, the love commander
Hide your mom, control your sister
Can I get a Hallelujah, people?
The lyrics to Mother Love Bone's song "Captain Hi-Top" are full of bravado and self-confidence. The singer, who claims to be "magnificent," is positioning himself as the leader of his generation, referring to himself as the "instigator of the me generation" and the "official seminator of the female population." He scoffs at his rivals and claims to have rewritten the Bible and made his own rules. He refers to himself as "Captain Hi-Top, the love commander," and boasts of being the "hip-hop surgeon of the mindless eye."
The singer's use of language in this song is intentionally exaggerated and theatrical, playing up his larger-than-life persona. He uses hyperbolic language to describe himself and his abilities, positioning himself as a sort of messianic figure, "the ego star forever after."
Overall, it seems that "Captain Hi-Top" is meant to be a tongue-in-cheek celebration of confidence and swagger, poking fun at the idea of rock stars as god-like figures while simultaneously embracing the idea of the larger-than-life performer.
Line by Line Meaning
I am magnificent
I am incredibly great and impressive.
I'm the instigator of the me generation
I am the one who started and incited the generation that is all about the self.
The official seminator of the female population, babe, rock yeah
I am the designated seducer of women, babe, rock yeah.
Scoff at my rivals 'cause they ain't cool
I ridicule and mock my competitors because they are uncool.
And I re-wrote the Bible and I made my own rules
I rewrote the Bible and created my own set of rules.
Captain Hi-Top, the love commander
I am the powerful leader of love, Captain Hi-Top.
I'm the ego star forever after
I am the egotistical superstar that will last forever.
Hide your mom, control your sister
Take precautions with your mother and make sure to keep a handle on your sister when I'm around.
I'm the hip-hop surgeon of the mindless eye
I am the skilled and knowledgeable hip-hop artist of the ignorant and unobservant masses.
I said, [Incomprehensible]
I said something that cannot be understood.
And these stories of my image ain't up to par
The stories or rumors about me are not adequate or accurate.
I'll tell you what I'll do, I slid the beast to Farah
I'll tell you what I'll do, I'll whisper sweet nothings to a beautiful woman named Farah.
Saying baby, baby, baby
Repeating the term of endearment, baby, baby, baby.
Baby, baby, baby, baby, baby
Saying baby, baby, baby, baby, baby again.
Baby, I'm a star
I'm a star, baby.
Can I get a Hallelujah, people?
Can I get a joyous exclamation or a loud cheer, people?
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: ANDREW WOOD, BRUCE IAN FAIRWEATHER, GREG A. GILMORE, JEFFREY ALLEN AMENT, STONE C. GOSSARD
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@powercarve125
I am magnificent
… I'm the instigator of the me generation
The official seminator of the female population, babe, rock yeah
Scoff at my rivals 'cause they ain't cool
And I re-wrote the Bible and I made my own rules
… Captain Hi-Top, the love commander
I'm the ego star forever after
I'm Captain Hi-Top, the love commander
Hide your mom, control your sister
… I'm the hip-hop surgeon of the mindless eye
I said, [Incomprehensible]
And these stories of my image ain't up to par
… I'll tell you what I'll do, I slid the beast to Farah
Saying baby, baby, baby
Baby, baby, baby, baby, baby
Baby, I'm a star
… Captain Hi-Top, the love commander
I'm the ego star forever after
I'm talking 'bout Captain Hi-Top, the love commander
Hide your mom, control your sister
… Captain Hi-Top, the love commander, yeah
I'm the ego star forever after
I'm Captain Hi-Top, the love commander
Hide your mom, control your sister, babe
… Captain Hi-Top, the love commander
Hide your mom, control your sister
… Can I get a Hallelujah, people?
@manicmechanicman1189
You are missed day and night! RIP Andrew Wood 💐 Your talent and passion will forever remain unmatched.
@Duds.811
For a while, they were the best band in the world!!!!! Stone G., the riff's beast!!!
@markanthonyrosalesbarrient4355
The signature vibe elements that later would be heard on "Evenflow" was quite noticeable on this song(for some quite obvious reasons), this song is like a foreboding song of the sound that will later come into fruition.
@RubyRose.1977
That cackle intro Andy has mastered is everything!
@hellsbells288
Ive never heard so much fucking energy in a band
@Marc_Masters
Song just popped into my head today 😎
@lyonslaforet
Mother Love Bone's music makes me think of a cross between Aerosmith and the Cult and it's blatant in this great song!
@glxz99
TEMAZOOOO!!!!!
@powercarve125
I am magnificent
… I'm the instigator of the me generation
The official seminator of the female population, babe, rock yeah
Scoff at my rivals 'cause they ain't cool
And I re-wrote the Bible and I made my own rules
… Captain Hi-Top, the love commander
I'm the ego star forever after
I'm Captain Hi-Top, the love commander
Hide your mom, control your sister
… I'm the hip-hop surgeon of the mindless eye
I said, [Incomprehensible]
And these stories of my image ain't up to par
… I'll tell you what I'll do, I slid the beast to Farah
Saying baby, baby, baby
Baby, baby, baby, baby, baby
Baby, I'm a star
… Captain Hi-Top, the love commander
I'm the ego star forever after
I'm talking 'bout Captain Hi-Top, the love commander
Hide your mom, control your sister
… Captain Hi-Top, the love commander, yeah
I'm the ego star forever after
I'm Captain Hi-Top, the love commander
Hide your mom, control your sister, babe
… Captain Hi-Top, the love commander
Hide your mom, control your sister
… Can I get a Hallelujah, people?
@Kedbuka
These guys were great.