The band was formed in January 1985 by Daniel House and Jack Endino. Ben McMillan and Matt Cameron later joined the band in the same year. Skin Yard played its first show in June 1985 and opened for the U-Men. Skin Yard was featured on the Deep Six compilation. This album featured the first commercial recordings of Green River, Melvins, Soundgarden, Malfunkshun, and Skin Yard. In 1987, Skin Yard released their first single and debut self title LP. Matt Cameron left the band in June 1986 and joined Soundgarden in September. He was replaced by Steve Wied, but he only lasted two shows. Future Mother Love Bone drummer Greg Gilmor replaced Wied but he too only lasted two shows.
In the fall Jason Finn (later of The Presidents of the United States of America) joined Skin Yard. Jason left after eight months for personal reasons. Scott McCullum filled the vacancy in May 1987. He lasted two years and left after a U.S. tour that was quoted as being "the tour from hell". Skin Yard took a fourteen month hiatus and when Barrett Martin joined the band they started playing again.
In March 1991, Daniel House quit the band because he had just become a father and wanted to spend time with his family. He was replaced by Pat Pederson who stayed with the band until their breakup. The band had decided to break up after recording their 5th album.
Ben McMillan and Scott McCullum had started the band Gruntruck prior to the break up. Pat Pederson and Barret Martin worked with Jack Endino in Endino's Earthworm. Daniel House is now head of C/Z Records. Barrett Martin played with Screaming Trees until their breakup. Martin also worked with Alice in Chains singer Layne Staley and Pearl Jam guitarist Mike McCready in Mad Season, Peter Buck of R.E.M. and even toured with R.E.M.
Reptile
Skin Yard Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The beast is on on its feat
Give away another lie
Its your hurt so why do you lie
All I ever want to do is go back in time go back in time alive
Sometimes I like to fill the void I
know really nothing I fill the void
Sometimes I cry because I lie
Oh time I like to lie to you this time
I slayed the dragon its true
Saved a life a life of the party not tonight I killed the
king its true trapped her free we flew to the sky and lied to me
Time (extended)
I like to lie away time
I like to lie every time
Give into another lie
The lie is beast and its alive
Give into another beast
Its your heart but you must lie
All I ever want to do is go back in there
Go back there in time
Oh time!
Time
Oh time
My life is so small I lie this time beast beast is on its feat
Slay a dragon its true life's so small what to do
Thats all I lie this time
The song "Reptile" by Skin Yard is a dark and introspective piece that delves into the themes of deception and the consequences of lying. The lyrics speak about the internal conflict of the singer who is torn between the temptation of lying to fill the emptiness inside them and the remorse for their actions. The line "Give into another beast, the beast is on its feet" is a metaphor for the singer's urge to give into deception which ultimately leads them down a path of destruction. The lyrics also touch upon the concept of time and the desire to go back and undo the actions that have already been done. The line "All I ever want to do is go back in time, go back in time alive" depicts the singer's longing to go back and change their past mistakes.
The vocals and the instrumentals in the song enhance the gloominess and intensity of the lyrics. The distorted guitar riffs and the heavy drums give the song an aggressive and raw energy, while the vocals are delivered in a haunting and melancholic tone. Overall, the song is a powerful portrayal of the human struggle with self-deception and the urge to cover up one's insecurities and flaws.
Line by Line Meaning
Give into another beast
Succumb to a wild and dangerous desire or impulse
The beast is on on its feat
The uncontrollable desire is present and active
Give away another lie
Speak falsehoods to cover up one's own hurt
Its your hurt so why do you lie
Ask why lie to hide one's own emotional pain
All I ever want to do is go back in time go back in time alive
Long for a return to a past moment in a physically alive state
Sometimes I like to fill the void I
At times I intentionally occupy an empty or unfulfilled space
know really nothing I fill the void
Admit to not knowing anything while still occupying the empty space
Sometimes I cry because I lie
Feel emotional distress from telling falsehoods
But my life is so small I like to lie
Justify lying to make one's insignificant life seem more exciting
Oh time I like to lie to you this time
Address time as though it were a person and express a desire to deceive it
I slayed the dragon its true
Claim to have defeated an imaginary enemy
Saved a life a life of the party not tonight I killed the
Introduce a contradictory statement about the saved life being sacrificed
king its true trapped her free we flew to the sky and lied to me
Recount a story of freeing someone from captivity and flying away while lying to oneself
Time (extended)
Reiterate the concept of time, indicating its importance in the song
I like to lie away time
Express a pleasure in deceiving the passage of time
I like to lie every time
State a general inclination to lie
Give into another lie
Submit to telling more falsehoods
The lie is beast and its alive
Describe the lie as a living, monstrous entity
Its your heart but you must lie
Acknowledge that the pain and need to lie stems from within oneself
All I ever want to do is go back in there
Simply want to return to a time or place
Go back there in time
Phrase the desire to return as a command
My life is so small I lie this time beast beast is on its feat
Justify telling lies to make one's dull life seem more exciting while acknowledging the strength of the desire
Slay a dragon its true life's so small what to do
Repeat the claim of slaying a dragon and lament the insignificance of one's life
Thats all I lie this time
Declare this statement to be the only lie at this particular moment
Contributed by Addison L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.