The band have never had, or have ever seemed to pursue, strong mainstream success, but they do have a devoted underground following in North America and Europe. They tour fairly often on both continents and maintain a dedicated fan base.
The band was formed in 1979 by brothers Rob Wright (bass guitar and vocals) and John Wright (drum set, keyboards and vocals). Their name derives from an anti-date rape slogan. For their first four years the duo's music would seem to be influenced as much by jazz and progressive rock as punk rock. The musical press described their earliest recordings as "Devo on a jazz trip, Motörhead after art school, or Wire on psychotic steroids." NoMeansNo have been credited with being an influence on, and perhaps even the genesis of, math rock.
The brothers Wright began recording as a two-piece in their parents' basement in 1979. These recordings, heard on their first two self-released 7"s, consisted of full rock band arrangements and had a new wave, warped-pop sound, different from subsequent recordings. When, in the early 1980s, the duo began gigging simply with bass, drums and vocals, the present form of their distinct sound slowly took shape. The songs they played in this period are documented on the "Mama" LP (re-released in 2004 on their own Wrong Records.)
In 1984, they added Andy Kerr (who played with John Wright in Infamous Scientists) on guitar and vocals. Kerr preferred pseudonymity and used such pseudonyms as "Buttercup" or "None-Of-Your-Fucking-Business". He brought a distinct hardcore punk edge to the group, and stayed until 1991. He is often erroneously credited for penning the lyrics of NoMeansNo songs on which he sang, perhaps due to deliberately vague liner notes and frequent vocal moonlighting (Kerr sings lead or co-lead vocals on nearly half the songs on Wrong for example). Kerr's vocals were a necessity for a period of time in the 1980s when Rob Wright was recovering from nodules on his vocal cords. While Rob Wright is the band's lyricist and main songwriter, all members have contributed songs to NoMeansNo records, and nearly all their material is credited to the entire band.
Wrong is widely considered the band's best and most representative record ("The playing is incredibly skilled, with the Wright brothers effortlessly shifting tempos and time signatures and Kerr's razor sharp lyrics clicking right into place").
After Kerr's departure, the Wright brothers recorded "Why Do They Call Me Mr. Happy?" as a duo. They subsequently recruited guitarist Tom Holliston from Showbusiness Giants and The Hanson Brothers, and have continued touring and releasing records, including "Worldhood of the World (as such)", "Dance of the Headless Bourgeoisie", "One", and most recently, "All Roads Lead to Ausfahrt" which was released on August 22, 2006. The album was released by AntAcidAudio in the United States and Southern Records in Europe.
The album "One", released in 2000, featured "two stunning covers that only make sense coming from NoMeansNo": a slow stoner rock-styled version of The Ramones' Beat On The Brat, and rather authentic fifteen-minute version of Miles Davis' Bitches Brew, (complete with electric piano and congas) featuring lyrics by Rob.
NoMeansNo initially released records with seminal punk rock record label Alternative Tentacles. This relationship ended in 2002. The band has since been reissuing old albums through Southern Records under their own Wrong Records imprint.
Even their earliest recordings demonstrate impressive instrumental technique ("some of the most complex instrumentation you're ever likely to find in punk rock"). Jazz has been an influence on the group; Rob's basslines have a loping, melodic quality often reminiscent of Charles Mingus, and John's drumming sometimes sounds a bit like Elvin Jones or Art Blakey.
NoMeansNo's output features a seemingly endless flow of "Wright/wrong/right" puns, and significant measures of black humour, with "pointedly warped lyrics", such as on "Dad" from Sex Mad. The song was a minor college radio hit, and has been called "a bit chilling, even though it's spit out at slam-pit's pace". The first person narrator details a rampaging father's physical and sexual abuse, ending with what's been called a "killer end touch—the baldly delivered line 'I'm seriously considering leaving home.'". One critic (while noting the group's "savage intelligence") suggests that NoMeansNo might well be "the secret influence on a fair amount of both early-'90s math rock and emo, what with the barely controlled fervour of the singing and the sudden jerks back and forth in the rhythm section."
Equally striking about the band's back catalogue is their ability to jump from style to style and still maintain their musical identity. They leap from dirge to thrash, complication to simplicity, discordant to melodic and still sound like themselves.
John's drumming style has been mentioned as an influence to others, including Dave Grohl.
NoMeansNo's alter ego is TheHanson Brothers, a quartet with John singing and different drummer. Nearly a Ramones tribute band, the Hanson Brothers play fun punk rock as a mock group of backward Canadian ice hockey fans. The lyrics centre on ice hockey, beer and girls. The name comes from characters in the 1977 George Roy Hill film Slap Shot, starring Paul Newman.
Rob Wright's alter ego is Mr. Wrong, who dresses as an authoritarian priest and often poses with a shotgun. Mr. Wrong is simply Wright on bass and vocals with no other instrumentation. It is rumoured that Wright also plays upright bass in a traditional jazz band who play standards, but he keeps this side of his life fuzzy in interviews.
Tom Holliston released several albums with his band Showbusiness Giants as well as three solo albums.
Andy Kerr and John Wright played in the early 1980s in the Infamous Scientists. Kerr, after leaving NoMeansNo, released a solo CD and collaborated with Victoria musician Scott Henderson in Hissanol. Kerr most recently has begun a duo called Two Pin Din in the Netherlands.
Everyday I Start to Ooze
NoMeansNo Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I lost several pounds and looked terrible
Thi marriage of yellow and black never looked good on paper
His mother was a secretary, I think
Her father a rapist
I'm a little pressed for time and facts
But I know
It's those personnal acts
That cut through the crap
I heard they were dimembering people down the street
Those Joneses, you gotta love'm
Various disguises are regrettable but necessary
If you're going to make it through the day
Everyday Everyday
Everyday I start to ooze
A bold plan drawn up by assholes to screw morons
News at eleven but first
A long serious look at what's seeping from open sore
Perhaps you should STOP PICKING AT IT
I never felt so alone
I never felt so used
I never felt so excited
It was those personal acts
Those personal acts
That cut up the crap and served it for breakfast
YOU DUMB FUCK
My mom phoned up the police today
Just to say hello, â??Helloâ??
My girlfriend has been missing for two weeks
I guess that's what happens when you alk the streets
With a bag on your head and a sign that says
Everyday Everyday
Everyday I start to ooze
Blue, black and blue and red are the colours of everyday
Ok, that's liffe, that's what I was told anyway
And picking your feet till they bleed may be the half of it
If every fourth animal in the world is a beetle
Maybe ervery fourt person is a DUMB FUCK
Listen , listen carefully now here's the answer
It rhymes with axe
Why, it's those personal acts
Those personal acts
Those suicide pacts
Those carelessly stored razorblades in the hands of small children
It's my face smeared on the pavement
It's Everyday
It's Everyday
Unday
Noneday
Useday
Buttugly
Whoreday
Painday
SPLATTERSDAY SPLATTERSDAY
YOU DUMB FUCK
The lyrics to NoMeansNo's song Everyday I Start to Ooze are cryptic and non-linear, but they paint a vivid picture of a disorienting and chaotic world. At the core of the song is the idea that personal actions are what truly matter, and that the surface-level appearances and expectations of society are just "crap" that needs to be cut through. The opening lines suggest that the singer has undergone some kind of transformation, losing weight and changing in some fundamental way, possibly due to stress or mental illness. They reference a "marriage of yellow and black" which doesn't look good on paper, possibly referring to a blending of different cultures or ideologies that doesn't fit in with conventional norms. The line "his mother was a secretary, I think / her father a rapist" is unsettling, and perhaps meant to highlight how our family backgrounds can shape us in unexpected ways.
The lines about "dismembering people down the street" and the "Joneses" who dress up in disguises suggest a world where violence and deception are omnipresent, and people are struggling to survive. The song also touches on themes of alienation and loneliness, with the singer feeling "so alone" and "used." The memorable refrain of "everyday I start to ooze" seems to evoke a sense of physical and emotional decay, as if the singer is slowly dissolving or losing their grip on reality. The final lines of the song are a brutal indictment of society, with the repeated refrain of "You dumb fuck" driving home the idea that people are ignorant and complicit in their own destruction.
Overall, the lyrics to Everyday I Start to Ooze are bleak and unsettling, but they also contain a kind of twisted humor and a sense of defiance in the face of adversity.
Line by Line Meaning
I guess you heard my head turned brown
You probably heard that I went through a really tough time lately and it took a toll on me, both mentally and physically.
I lost several pounds and looked terrible
As a result of my difficult experience, I became quite sick and frail, which made me look quite unwell.
This marriage of yellow and black never looked good on paper
This wedding or partnership may have seemed good in theory, but in reality, it was never going to work out.
His mother was a secretary, I think
I am uncertain of the details, but I believe his mother worked as a secretary for a living.
Her father a rapist
Unfortunately, her father committed the horrible crime of rape.
I'm a little pressed for time and facts
I don't have all the details or a lot of time to explain the situation fully.
But I know
Despite any lack of information or time, I am confident in my assertion or belief.
It's those personal acts
The things that people do privately or behind closed doors are often the most telling or revealing.
Those personal acts
I repeat that it's these private behaviours that often expose one's true character or intentions.
That cut through the crap
These actions or behaviours can be a powerful way to cut through deception or false appearances and reveal what is really going on.
I heard they were dismembering people down the street
I've heard rumours or reports of people being violently mutilated nearby.
Those Joneses, you gotta love'm
People seem to love gossiping or talking about the latest scandal, even if it's gruesome or violent.
Various disguises are regrettable but necessary
While it's unfortunate, sometimes people need to disguise themselves in order to protect themselves or achieve their goals.
If you're going to make it through the day
If you're going to survive or have success in life, you occasionally need to be deceptive or strategic.
Everyday Everyday
These challenges or experiences occur every day and can be exhausting or draining.
Everyday I start to ooze
It feels like every day, I'm slowly losing or leaking out my essence, my sense of self or integrity.
A bold plan drawn up by assholes to screw morons
Some people or groups may develop elaborate, malicious plans to take advantage of or exploit others.
News at eleven but first
Before we discuss anything else, let me tell you about the recent news report related to this situation.
A long serious look at what's seeping from open sore
We need to examine the unpleasant or painful truths that are emerging from this situation or relationship.
Perhaps you should STOP PICKING AT IT
Maybe we need to stop obsessing over or meddling in this situation or relationship that is causing so much harm or distress.
I never felt so alone
Despite being surrounded by others or having support, I have never felt so isolated or deserted.
I never felt so used
I have never been taken advantage of or exploited so blatantly or insensitively.
I never felt so excited
Despite all the negative aspects of this situation, I've never felt so stimulated or energised before.
Those personal acts
As before, it's those private behaviours that tell us the most about what's really happening in this situation.
Those personal acts
Again, it's those private deeds that expose the true intentions or character of someone involved in this situation.
That cut up the crap and served it for breakfast
These actions or behaviours severely disrupt or expose any lies or deceit and leave everyone to contend with the unpleasant aftereffects.
YOU DUMB FUCK
I'm not sure who this is directed at, but I'm highly frustrated or exasperated with someone or something.
My mom phoned up the police today
My mother recently contacted the authorities for some reason, which may or may not be related to this situation.
Just to say hello, 'Hello'
For some reason, my mother felt compelled to greet or contact the police, for no discernible reason.
My girlfriend has been missing for two weeks
Tragically, my significant other has been absent or out of contact for quite some time, which is causing me great concern.
I guess that's what happens when you walk the streets
It's possible that my partner encountered some trouble or danger while walking around town by herself.
With a bag on your head and a sign that says
I'm not sure if this is meant to be taken literally, but perhaps my partner was doing something risky or provocative that drew attention to her.
Blue, black and blue and red are the colours of everyday
The colours of bruises, cuts, and wounds are all too common or ordinary, indicating how often people suffer physical harm or abuse.
Ok, that's life, that's what I was told anyway
People often say that life is tough or unfair, as if we just have to accept it and move on.
And picking your feet till they bleed may be the half of it
People subject themselves to a lot of pain or discomfort, and yet this may not even be the worst of what life has in store for us.
If every fourth animal in the world is a beetle
I'm not sure where this statistic comes from, but it may be meant to suggest that there are many things in life that seem small or insignificant but can still have a major impact.
Maybe every fourth person is a DUMB FUCK
It's possible that a significant number of people are ignorant or foolish, which complicates matters and contributes to the challenges of life.
Listen, listen carefully now here's the answer
After all this frustration and uncertainty, I finally have something to say that will provide clarity or a solution to the problem at hand.
It rhymes with axe
Whatever the answer is, it will sound similar to or rhyme with the word 'axe.'
Why, it's those personal acts
As we've discussed before, it's what people do behind closed doors or privately that tells us the most about them or the situation they're in.
Those personal acts
As before, these private behaviours may be the key to understanding and resolving the issues at hand.
Those suicide pacts
This is a much more dire interpretation of personal acts, suggesting that some people may conspire to harm themselves or others in ways that could be fatal.
Those carelessly stored razorblades in the hands of small children
This is another very concerning interpretation of personal acts, indicating how some people carelessly leave dangerous weapons or objects within reach of vulnerable or innocent individuals, leading to tragic consequences.
It's my face smeared on the pavement
This imagery is quite gruesome and may suggest a violent or horrific end to someone's life or an escalation in the stakes of the situation being described.
It's Everyday
Once again, these difficulties or traumas seem to happen on a daily basis, exacerbating the challenges and multiplying the negative consequences.
It's Everyday
As before, I'm emphasising how this is a recurring pattern.
Unday
This strange variation on 'Sunday' may be intended to suggest that something has gone deeply wrong or off-kilter here.
Noneday
This made-up word seems to indicate a complete lack of any meaningful or noteworthy events in a given day.
Useday
This word has a dual meaning, perhaps referring to both the feeling of being used or taken advantage of, as well as a day that has already been used up or occupied.
Buttugly
This crass insult refers either to someone or something that is literally unattractive or figuratively unpleasant or useless.
Whoreday
This term is deeply offensive, denigrating both sex workers and women in general, and seems to suggest that someone or something has betrayed or exploited others for gain.
Painday
This one-word description speaks for itself, indicating that the day is full of hardship, suffering, or discomfort.
SPLATTERSDAY SPLATTERSDAY
This repeated phrase has a violent, chaotic quality and may suggest the gruesome and indiscriminate nature of the dangers or risks being faced.
YOU DUMB FUCK
Once again, this harsh insult expresses frustration, exasperation, or anger, directed at someone or something that is causing significant problems or distress.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
nobodylivesherenow
My favorite song! Well that changes daily...Nomeansno are KING!
acsial
I played this a lot as a college DJ back in the last century...never though it'd be so utterly prophetic.
P Dunk
😂 and you said that 6 year ago
Adam C. Sieracki
@P Dunk It only got worse...
David Costanza
Various disguises are regrettable but necessary if youre gonna make it through the day, everyday
B Gray
EVERY DAY!
This song is catchy as the black fucking plague
Darren Stansbury
This band has been among rock music's hidden treasures.
I can easily imagine them as an act in a Lollapalooza or Warped tour.
oiyabastard
Darren Stansbury. They are better than that
KOBKED -X
@oiyabastard well said and true
Eald GraegWulf
loved having these guys to listen to in that bleak musical decade that was the 80's… thnx guys!
cheers
charliewired