In 1981, a fan of the Clean founded the Flying Nun label to release their first single, "Tally Ho." A follow-up track off one of their early EPs, "Beatnik", also achieved success, as did the second single, "Getting Older". The Flying Nun label went on to be New Zealand's biggest independent record company, championing the Dunedin Sound, a loosely-connected style of music largely produced by bands from this southern city. Others on the label included The Chills, The Verlaines, The Bats, and Sneaky Feelings.
During much of the 1980s, The Clean disbanded, and during this time the Kilgour brothers worked together on an experimental album and EP using the deliberately punning titles "The Great Unwashed" and "Clean Out of Our Minds". Reforming in the late 1980s, the band explored a slightly poppier vein of music while still retaining their experimental edge.
In June 2008 a live album recorded during the 2007 New Zealand tour was released in New Zealand on Arch Hill Records, entitled "Mashed". A new studio album, titled Mister Pop was released on September 7, 2009 on Arch Hill, and on September 8 in the United States on the Merge label.
In December 2009, The Clean announced their first European dates in more than 20 years, supporting the cult U.S band Pavement at Brixton Academy on the 10th of May. They also played at the Pavement curated ATP at Butlins Minehead on the 14th of May. Other dates on the tour included Amsterdam (May 22), Hamburg (May 23), Berlin (May 25) and Barcelona's Primavera Sound festival May 29).
Slug Song
The Clean Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Or rearrange your mind
Don't ever go and rearrange
Your mind, your mind, your mind
Your mind, your mind, your mind
Well anyway
Don't ever bend
To the hip, the grip
Of the insipid
I said well anyway
Don't ever bend
Don't ever change
Don't ever change
I said don't
Don't ever change
and misarrange your mind
your mind, your mind
I said don't ever change
your mind, mind
The lyrics in The Clean's Slug Song are open to interpretation, but they seem to express a sentiment against conformity and complacency. The song exhorts listeners to maintain their individuality and resist the influence of mundane or trendy ideas. The repetition of the line "Don't ever change" emphasizes the importance of staying true to oneself.
The song also seems to criticize the limitations of mainstream culture, represented by the "hip, the grip of the insipid." The Clean urges listeners not to "bend" to this influence, but to hold fast to their own perspectives and ideas. The repetition of the phrase "Your mind, your mind, your mind" reinforces the idea that one's thoughts and ideas are personal and valuable.
Overall, the lyrics of Slug Song encourage individuality, critical thinking, and resistance to conformity. The repetition of key phrases emphasizes the importance of these concepts, while the catchy melody and rhythm lend a sense of urgency to the message.
Line by Line Meaning
Said don't ever change
The singer is advising someone to not change who they are.
Or rearrange your mind
The singer is advising someone to not change the way they think or perceive the world.
Don't ever go and rearrange
The singer is repeating their advice to not change the way one thinks.
Your mind, your mind, your mind
The artist emphasizes the importance of preserving one's own way of thinking.
Well anyway
The artist changes the subject to provide further advice on how to stay true to oneself.
Don't ever bend
The singer advises someone to not compromise their values or beliefs.
To the hip, the grip
The singer is referencing the popular trends or social norms that may pressure someone to change who they are.
Of the insipid
The artist refers to these trends as 'insipid,' meaning they lack flavor or substance.
I said well anyway
The artist repeats their advice to clarify its importance.
Don't ever bend
The artist gives this advice again as an emphasis to stay true to oneself.
Don't ever change
The singer emphasizes the importance of staying consistent with oneself.
I said don't
The artist repeats their advice to make sure their point is clear.
And misarrange your mind
The singer advises someone to not change or lose their way of thinking.
Your mind, your mind
The singer repeats the importance of preserving one's own way of thinking.
I said don't ever change
The singer repeats their advice one last time to drive its importance home.
Your mind, mind
The artist reiterates the importance of one's own way of thinking and not losing it.
Contributed by Jayce W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@MichaelLMe
Said don't ever change
Or rearrange your mind
Don't ever go and rearrange
Your mind, your mind, your mind
Your mind, your mind, your mind
Well anyway
Don't ever bend
To the hip, the grip
Of the insipid
I said well anyway
Don't ever bend
Don't ever change
Don't ever change
I said don't
Don't ever change
and misarrange your mind
your mind, your mind
I said don't ever change
your mind, mind
@jimhinkley8983
my university put a great compilation of NZ music together to celebrate NZ music month and there was not one single Clean song out of 160π²!!! to me they are NZ music personified
@professorfeathers331
My cat and I drink tea to this song when we're tripping out.
@Friendsforgood270
Professor Feathers the most interesting man in the world!
@window_eye_when_do_i
Funny thing is my friend just showed me this after a shroom trip because I told him ' I feel like a 70 year old slug all jazzed up with nowhere to go' n now playing this while drinking tea with my cat.
@Geoh1990
I love tea!
@Ncp2666
Same but with my little stuffed raccoon <3
@superpass011
As it should be
@pincmin
I love this band!!!!
@noisepollution6761
94 sold out π€
@MichaelLMe
Said don't ever change
Or rearrange your mind
Don't ever go and rearrange
Your mind, your mind, your mind
Your mind, your mind, your mind
Well anyway
Don't ever bend
To the hip, the grip
Of the insipid
I said well anyway
Don't ever bend
Don't ever change
Don't ever change
I said don't
Don't ever change
and misarrange your mind
your mind, your mind
I said don't ever change
your mind, mind