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.
The Blind Leading the Blind
Skin Yard Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
In a room, alone
And his father comes in
And gives him a gun
And a book of rules
Titled "This Is the Real World"
And somewhere, a man in a crowd
Scrapes against something sharp
He's made out of metal
Hup, two, three, four
Hup, two, three, four
Hup, two, three, four
This is the real world
(The blind)
Holding onto hope
With eyes wide open
He sees the final hour
It's larger than he thought
It's bounding on two feet
It devours
He pulls a memory from his pocket
The insight gave to him
The blind leading the blind
Inscribed in silver line
In my childhood
By playing superhero
Now I feel my face
Is starting to tingle
It started dawning
As I go through the day
Superman, child's play
In my childhood
By playing superhero
And now I feel my face
Starting to tingle
It started dawning
I'm just normal
The blind leading the blind
All too true
Yet uncompromised
The blind leading the blind
Somewhere
Where the man got his arm scraped
And found himself made out of metal
He questions what he's done
Walking single-file from job to home
Daily, the same hours done
He takes out the book
"This Is the Real World"
The gun that his father gave him, still
The blind leading the blind
Father
(Father)
Holding onto hope
With death leftover
He musters up a smile
(A smile)
People on the street
Motions of metal feet
Eyes hollowed down
He pulls out a kiss
A girl gave him
Beautiful, unmatched by blind
The blind leading the blind
Fairy tales revised
(The blind)
(Father)
(The blind leading the blind)
The song “The Blind Leading the Blind” by Skin Yard is a poignant commentary on life’s struggles and the various ways in which people try to find their way through their difficulties. The first verse describes a man in a southern city who is given a gun and a book of rules titled “This is the Real World” by his father. Meanwhile, another man in a crowd scrapes against something sharp and discovers that he is made out of metal. The song’s title is repeated throughout the song and seems to be a metaphor for people blindly following rules and societal norms, even when they may not make sense.
The chorus speaks about holding on to hope, with eyes wide open, even though the final hour is larger than expected and seems to be devouring everything in its path. The idea of being a superhero in childhood and feeling normal as an adult is explored, with the conclusion that “The blind leading the blind, all too true yet uncompromised”. The final verse depicts a man who questions what he’s done and walks single-file from job to home every day, using the book and gun that his father gave him as a source of guidance. The song ends with the man pulling out a kiss that a girl gave him, a symbol of hope and positivity.
Line by Line Meaning
Somewhere in a southern city
The song paints a picture of a particular place in the southern United States where a person is alone in a room with his father.
In a room, alone
The boy is separated from other people and is isolated in a room.
And his father comes in
This suggests the boy is not in control of this situation or life choices.
And gives him a gun
The father gives his son a weapon, which can be dangerous if in the wrong hands.
And a book of rules
The father expects the son to understand how to live in the real world and is providing him with guidance.
Titled "This Is the Real World"
The title reveals the father's perspective of how life truly is.
And somewhere, a man in a crowd
The song then shifts to another subject, a man among many other people who live in the same world.
Scrapes against something sharp
This line paints a graphic image of someone experiencing physical harm from his environment.
And finds he's got metal in his arm
The man finds that even his body is affected by the harsh and often brutal world he lives in.
He's made out of metal
This line reveals that the man has learned to adapt to his surroundings and become hardened like metal.
Hup, two, three, four
These are military-style commands that suggest a forced order or structure.
Hup, two, three, four
These commands are repeated, emphasizing the idea of a strict, inflexible environment.
Hup, two, three, four
The repeated commands also suggest a robotic quality, hinting at the loss of individuality in a harsh world.
This is the real world
The song repeats the idea stated earlier by the father that this world is harsh and unforgiving.
(The blind)
This phrase suggests a lack of awareness or understanding of one's surroundings, which can be dangerous in a chaotic world.
Holding onto hope
The song shifts to a more hopeful perspective that suggests that even in dark times, people can retain a sense of hope, faith or positivity.
With eyes wide open
This suggests vigilance and awareness of the surroundings, allowing one to take control of their situation.
He sees the final hour
This suggests that the person feels that time is running out and life is fragile.
It's larger than he thought
The final hour is not just his, but part of the larger environment or world he is a part of.
It's bounding on two feet
This line suggests that the final hour is moving forward with or without him, unstoppable like a living creature.
It devours
This line suggests that the final hour is consuming or destroying everything in its path.
He pulls a memory from his pocket
Memories are powerful and can provide comfort or hope in dark times.
The insight gave to him
Memories can provide understanding of oneself or one's situation.
The blind leading the blind
This phrase is a powerful metaphor that suggests that a lack of awareness or understanding in a harsh world can be dangerous and potentially deadly.
Inscribed in silver line
This line suggests that this warning or insight is valuable and should not be ignored.
In my childhood
The song shifts to a personal perspective, revealing that the person is reflecting on their past.
By playing superhero
This reveals that the person used to imagine themselves as someone with power and control as a child.
Now I feel my face
This line suggests that this feeling of control has disappeared, replaced with a cold reality.
Is starting to tingle
This line suggests a feeling of fear or unease about this realization.
It started dawning
The person is slowly coming to the realization that they are not all-powerful and cannot control the world around them.
Superman, child's play
This line reveals that the feeling of being a superhero and having power over one's situation was only something the person experienced as a child.
In my childhood
The person repeats this phrase, emphasizing that the past is different than the present and cannot be recaptured.
By playing superhero
The person repeats this phrase, further emphasizing that childhood fantasies and playtime are not applicable in the real world.
And now I feel my face
This line brings the focus back to the present moment and the person's current reality.
Starting to tingle
This line suggests that the person is experiencing fear or unease about their current situation.
It started dawning
This line repeats the earlier phrase and emphasizes the seriousness of the person's awakening to their inability to control their surroundings.
I'm just normal
This line is a realization that the person is not special or powerful, but just an ordinary person in a harsh and unforgiving world.
All too true
This line suggests that the warning provided earlier about the blind leading the blind was not just a fantasy or idle thought, but a stark reality.
Yet uncompromised
This line suggests that even though the reality is harsh and dangerous, the person's spirit or hope has not been broken.
(Father)
The song shifts back to the boy's father, emphasizing the role of authority figures in shaping one's life and choices.
Holding onto hope
This line repeats an earlier phrase, emphasizing that hope is necessary to survive in a harsh world.
With death leftover
This line suggests that hope is necessary, even in the face of death or dying.
He musters up a smile
This line suggests the importance of staying positive and happy, even in difficult times.
(A smile)
This line emphasizes the importance of a smile, even if it is forced.
People on the street
This line suggests that even in harsh times, life goes on and people must continue to live their lives.
Motions of metal feet
This line is a metaphor, depicting the people around the person as unfeeling, robotic, and unaffected.
Eyes hollowed down
This line suggests that people around him are emotionless and lacking in hope or joy.
He pulls out a kiss
This line suggests a moment of happiness or joy that is remembered from the past.
A girl gave him
This line suggests that this happy memory is associated with a specific person.
Beautiful, unmatched by blind
This line is an expression of joy and beauty that is unmatched by the darkness and danger of the world around them.
Fairy tales revised
This line suggests that the happy memories and positive moments in life are often idealized and viewed through a distorted lens, much like a fairy tale.
(The blind)
This final line suggests that the person is surrounded by a world that does not see, hear, or understand him.
(Father)
The final shift back to the father underscores the importance of authority figures in shaping one's life choices.
(The blind leading the blind)
The song ends with the same phrase it started with, bringing the song full circle and emphasizing the central theme of the danger of ignorance in a harsh world.
Contributed by Arianna B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.