The Hives are a garage rock band from Fagersta, Sweden that emerged in the … Read Full Bio ↴The Hives are a garage rock band from Fagersta, Sweden that emerged in the US and the UK in the early 2000s, but existed for nearly a decade before that, playing punk rock.

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.

Numbers
The Hives Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8
I don't wanna be a number
Just like being a prisoner
I just wanna stay free
Don't wanna be a number three

Oh, I don't wanna be a 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8
Signing on the dot

Got my name on the form
Thought I had it made
They treat you just insane

Oh, I don't wanna be no 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8
You are just a number
And I ain't got a name
You are just a number
And I ain't got a name

Sitting in a prison cell
Numbers on the chest
Age is just a number
Mummy does know best

Oh, I don't wanna be no 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8
You are just a number
And I ain't got a name
You are just a number
And I ain't got a name

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8
I don't wanna be a number
Just like being a prisoner
I just wanna stay free
Don't wanna be a number three

Oh, I don't wanna be no 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8
You are just a number
And I ain't got a name
You are just a number

And I ain't got a name
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to The Hives's song "Numbers" express a desire to avoid being treated like a mere number or statistic. The opening lines establish the singer's stance, as they proclaim, "I don't wanna be a number / Just like being a prisoner / I just wanna stay free / Don't wanna be a number three." This indicates that the singer feels that being assigned a number dehumanizes them, as if they are reduced to a mere sum or statistic rather than being seen as an individual. The lyric "Signing on the dot / Got my name on the form / Thought I had it made / They treat you just insane" further emphasizes the singer's discontent with being treated like a number. They thought signing a contract would grant them a sense of security or belonging, but instead, they found themselves being treated inhumanely.

The song's references to a prison cell and numbers on a chest further reinforce the notion that being reduced to a number strips away one's individuality and freedom. The line "Age is just a number / Mummy does know best" suggests that there are some situations where numbers can be useful or relevant, but in general, the song argues against being labeled or categorized. The final lyrics of the song repeat the same warning against being reduced to a number and ending with the line, "You are just a number / And I ain't got a name." This line is especially poignant because it emphasizes that being assigned a number takes away one's identity and sense of self.

Line by Line Meaning

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8
Counting off numbers, implying that the singer is more than just a number.

I don't wanna be a number
The singer does not want to be reduced to just a number, seeking individuality and freedom.

Just like being a prisoner
Being grouped as a number reduces the singer's worth and emphasizes their lack of autonomy, just like being in prison.

I just wanna stay free
The artist desires to maintain their personal freedom and not be constrained by societal norms.

Don't wanna be a number three
The number 3 is insignificant, signifying the artist does not even want to be associated with numbered rankings.

Oh, I don't wanna be a 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8
Reiterating the desire to not be reduced to a number, emphasizing the list of numbers.

Signing on the dot
Referencing a contract, the singer is giving away their autonomy to be reduced to a number.

Got my name on the form
While the artist may appear to have individuality, society still reduces them to a number.

Thought I had it made
The artist initially believed that signing the contract was a good decision.

They treat you just insane
However, society treats people as objects and reduces their individuality, driving people to insanity.

You are just a number
Society sees individuals as insignificant, stripping them of their humanity.

And I ain't got a name
Despite the outward appearance of individuality, to society, the artist is still only a number, dehumanizing them.

Sitting in a prison cell
Alluding to the previous mention of imprisonment, signifying lack of autonomy and individuality.

Numbers on the chest
Incarcerated individuals are reduced to numbers, taking away whatever individual identity they had left.

Age is just a number
Age is a construct just like other numbers, reinforcing society's arbitrary ranking systems.

Mummy does know best
Looking to the artist's mother for guidance, seeking to maintain the artist's individuality.

Lyrics © Budde Music Publishing GmbH, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: PETER JONNATHAN DAVISON, MELVIN LEROY ELLIS, MICHAEL DAVISON, KEITH WARREN

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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