The first album in 1989 combining the squall of bands like The Birthday Party with elements of free jazz and musique concrète from Oxbow, Fuckfest, met with international success and created a small but loyal following that has grown ever since.
Followed in 1992 by King of the Jews. The menacing The Balls in the Great Meat Grinder Collection also appeared in 1992, and after 1995's Steve Albini-produced Let Me Be a Woman Oxbow signed to the SST label for 1997's Serenade in Red, which featured guest vocals from Marianne Faithfull.
They released a split EP with the Italian band White Tornado in 1999, followed by An Evil Heat in 2002. The compilation Love That's Last: A Wholly Hypnographic and Disturbing Work Regarding Oxbow arrived in 2006.
Wenner has also played with God and Swell.
The original lineup:
Eugene S. Robinson - vocals;
Niko Wenner - guitars, keyboards;
Dan Adams - bass guitar, keyboards;
Greg Davis - drums, percussion.
Former members:
Tom Dobrov - drums.
http://www.theoxbow.com
Hunger
Oxbow Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
murder spoke he up
swinging from that hanging tree
murder spoke he up
the pixie twist turned
round and round
that boy up and around by my shack
that things change around
and rusted crust of old mud
and new painted that pretty color
that caught the corner of my eye
out in the yard
cute little red tailed spinner
bowing to break me
with that curious glimmer
of old age world and charm
to fix the shoe that stopped the stroll
thirsting for the thrill
of new game and old
and I knew water were not enough
Got to break and spin
and crack that song like another
seal being broken
and the ugly I wrote
was the ugly that came to
and the wrong that was done to me
was the wrong I done in
and that boy spoke he up
swinging on that broken arm
This grave will never hold me
The lyrics of Oxbow's song Hunger are complex and open to interpretation. The song seems to be about cycles of violence and how they perpetuate, as well as about seeking release from those cycles. The first verse describes a lynching, with the murderer speaking up while the victim hangs from a tree. The second verse describes a scene of transformation and change, with things changing around and the singer being caught off-guard by a cute little creature. The third verse seems to be about breaking free and seeking release from the past, with the singer thirsting for something more than just water and wanting to break and spin and crack that song like another seal being broken. The final line, "This grave will never hold me," suggests that the singer is seeking release from the cycles of violence and death that seem to be inherent in the world.
Overall, the lyrics of Hunger are dense and poetic, with multiple layers of meaning. The song seems to be about cycles of violence and seeking release from those cycles, but it could also be interpreted as a commentary on the human condition in general, with its themes of transformation, change, and the search for meaning and release.
Line by Line Meaning
Lash that boy in tight
Tie that boy up tightly
murder spoke he up
He spoke of murder
swinging from that hanging tree
Hanging from a tree
the pixie twist turned
A sudden change occurred
round and round
In circles
that boy up and around by my shack
That boy was circling my shack
that things change around
Things change constantly
pounding through the dust
Moving through dusty terrain
and rusted crust of old mud
Through rusted mud
and new painted that pretty color
And the new color that was painted
that caught the corner of my eye
Which caught my attention
out in the yard
In the yard outside
cute little red tailed spinner
A tiny animal with a red tail
bowing to break me
Appearing to be asking for trouble
with that curious glimmer
With an intriguing sparkle
of old age world and charm
Having the charm of an older time
to fix the shoe that stopped the stroll
To repair the shoe that stopped me from walking
thirsting for the thrill
Yearning for excitement
of new game and old
Of both new and old experiences
and I knew water were not enough
And I knew that water would not suffice
Got to break and spin
Need to break and make a change
and crack that song like another
To disrupt the norm like a song
seal being broken
Like opening a seal
and the ugly I wrote
The negative things I expressed
was the ugly that came to
Manifested into reality
and the wrong that was done to me
The injustice done to me
was the wrong I done in
Was a result of my own actions
and that boy spoke he up
And that boy spoke up
swinging on that broken arm
While hanging from a broken arm
This grave will never hold me
I will never be held captive by this grave
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing
Written by: JEAN SARA ROHE, LIAM ROBINSON, JEAN ROHE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind