The Hives are:
"Howlin" Pelle Almqvist (vocals)
Nicholaus "Arson" Almqvist (guitar)
Mikael "Vigilante Carlstroem" Karlsson (guitar)
Johan"The Johan and Only" Gustavsson (bass)
Christian "Chris Dangerous" Grahn (drums)
The band claims that their songs are written by an honorary "sixth Hive", Randy Fitzsimmons. Since Nicholaus Almqvist can be found listed under the pseudonym Randy Fitzsimmons in the archives of STIM (the Swedish equivalent of the Performing Right Society) many believe Fitzsimmons is 'fictional'. (Nicholaus Almqvist vehemently denies this.) The band are also known for their energetic live performances, with Howlin' Pelle running around stage and saying outrageous things, and with everyone strictly dressed in black and white.
The Hives formed in 1993 (originally they wanted to call themselves 'The HIVs', but decided to change it slightly resulting in their current name) and released their debut recording, the EP Oh Lord! When? How? in 1996, followed by 1997's Barely Legal LP, and 1998's a.k.a. I.D.I.O.T. EP on the Swedish skate punk oriented record label Burning Heart Records.
Soon after, they began touring in the US and finally released their 2000 US breakthrough album, Veni Vidi Vicious; the album included the hit singles "Main Offender" and "Hate to Say I Told You So". Their UK breakthrough, Your New Favourite Band, a greatest-hits compilation, was released on the Poptones label in 2001. This was followed by extensive touring, as well as the re-release of previous recordings in the US.
Their next album, entitled Tyrannosaurus Hives and released on July 20 2004, was a slight departure from earlier releases. It has been described as a sound similar to what it might sound like if the band taught robots how to play their music, and then re-learned it from the robots to record, because of its rigid/rapid-fire arrangement, yet the band kept their distinctive blend of garage and punk influences. The album includes the hit singles Walk Idiot Walk, Two-Timing Touch And Broken Bones, and A Little More For Little You.
The Hives' next record, titled The Black and White Album, was released on October 15, 2007 (November 13 in the U.S.). The band said they've recorded 20 to 30 songs (including seven recorded with producer Pharrell Williams) for this album and are currently choosing the best. Other tracks have been produced by Jacknife Lee and Dennis Herring. Sessions were held with Timbaland, with whom the band produced the song Throw It On Me, but took place too late for any of the resultant tracks to make the record. They hope to use these songs as b-sides, although Throw It On Me was released as a single on Timbaland's album Shock Value.
The Go Right Ahead Songfacts reports news detailing Swedish rock group, The Hives’, fifth studio album Lex Hives was announced on March 12, 2012. The record is composed of twelve self-produced tracks, with a deluxe version containing bonus songs produced by Josh Homme.
Mad Man
The Hives Lyrics
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he mad a mess, tried to restore but it was all in vain.
That's what I get when the holding the knife answers to the name.
Mad mad mad.
Mad man he operated, and what I before used to have in mind has now evaporated.
Mad man woke me up and said he'd fixed the leak
But now I can't walk and I believe I Stu-stu-stutter when I speak.
Mad mad mad.
Yeah I get the feeling that I've been cutdown, cutdown.
In a sort of scientific way.
Mad man he operated, he opened up went in and seperated.
He made a mess - tried to restore but it was all in vain.
That's what I get when the one holding the knife answers to the name
The Hives's song Mad Man tells a story of a person who undergoes an operation by a surgeon who turns out to be a mad man. The lyrics describe how the mad man operates on the person, separating parts of their body, making a mess in the process. The singer feels the consequences of the operation when the mad man wakes them up and claims to have fixed a leak, but they can no longer walk properly and stutter when they speak. The lyrics convey a sense of horror and disorientation, as the singer realizes that they are at the mercy of someone who doesn't know what they're doing.
The song's lyrics reflect a metaphorical meaning, reflecting a situation in which someone's well-being is at the mercy of others whom they cannot trust. The metaphor of surgery amplifies the idea that sometimes people make decisions that turn out to be harmful, leading to negative consequences that cannot be undone. The lyrics suggest that the singer's fate is beyond their control and that they're left with the consequences of a mad man's operation. The song’s tempo and the band’s energetic performance add to the sense of anxiety and uncertainty, emphasizing the song's theme.
Line by Line Meaning
Mad man he operated, he opened up went in and separated.
The mad man operated by tearing things apart.
He made a mess, tried to restore but it was all in vain.
The mad man attempted to fix what he destroyed, but it was a lost cause.
That's what I get when the holding the knife answers to the name.
Putting trust in someone who is reckless and dangerous leads to negative consequences.
Mad man he operated, and what I before used to have in mind has now evaporated.
The mad man's destruction caused the original plan to disappear.
Mad man woke me up and said he'd fixed the leak / But now I can't walk and I believe I Stu-stu-stutter when I speak.
The mad man claimed to have fixed a problem, but ended up causing physical and vocal issues for the artist.
I get the feeling that I've been cutdown, cutdown. / Yeah I get the feeling that I've been cutdown, cutdown. / In a sort of scientific way.
The singer feels like they have been dissected and studied like a science experiment, causing them to feel inferior.
Mad man he operated, he opened up went in and separated. / He made a mess - tried to restore but it was all in vain. / That's what I get when the one holding the knife answers to the name.
Reiterating the consequences of trusting a reckless person who causes destruction.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: RANDY FITZSIMMONS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind