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.
You Dress Up For Armageddon
The Hives Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I have seen your sort before
You're all over history
Like dust on the kitchen floor
Tell me more
Your lips are moving,
You go on and on and on
But don't swing it at me
Cause it's not for me, no I disagree
[Chorus]
Cause I heard you before when you said
There is a hole in your heart and it's bleeding
You dress up for Armageddon
I dress up for summer
Yeah!
Hey and now you got their attention
You know, you gotta keep 'em believing
But as a matter of fact, what they believe you're not
Believing no more
Tell tell tell tell tell tell more
I hear you're one in a million
Tell me more
But there's a million of you
Tell, tell me more
You swing your rod, rod baby rod, rod
But don't swing it at me
It's not for me, no I disagree
[Chorus]
Who is that man with the microphone?
Today he is here but tomorrow he is gone
But I disagree
[Chorus]
You feel tortured and filled with regret
You say life is void of meaning
Are they not sick of you yet?
Man that's such a, man that's such a bummer
The Hives's song "You Dress Up For Armageddon" seems to be a commentary on those who pretend to care about important issues, such as impending doom or personal struggles, but do not actually take any meaningful action to address them. The singer addresses this figure, saying they have seen this type of person before, throughout history, and that they "go on and on" without really doing anything to change things. The chorus then contrasts the singer's more optimistic perspective, with a line about dressing up for summer instead of Armageddon.
The verse that follows seems to continue this critique of this type of person, whom the singer characterizes as trying to keep their audience captivated even though they may not actually believe in the message they are delivering. There is a reference to a man with a microphone who will be gone tomorrow, indicating perhaps the impermanence of the false messages delivered by these types of people. The final line of the song dismisses this person as a "bummer", implying that their negativity and lack of action is not worth engaging with.
Overall, the song seems to be a rather biting critique of those who pretend to care about important issues but do not actually do anything to address them. The singer seems to be calling for more authentic engagement and optimism, rather than simply dressing up for a supposedly inevitable Armageddon.
Line by Line Meaning
Hey, believe me,
I'm familiar with your type
I have seen your sort before
You're not unique
You're all over history
This has happened before
Like dust on the kitchen floor
You're insignificant
Tell me more
What else do you have to say?
Your lips are moving,
You're talking a lot
You go on and on and on
You won't stop talking
You swing your rod, rod baby rod, rod
You're making noise or taking action
But don't swing it at me
I don't want any part of it
Cause it's not for me, no I disagree
I don't agree with your views
[Chorus]
Repeating the chorus
Cause I heard you before when you said
I know what you're going to say
There is a hole in your heart and it's bleeding
You're in pain
You dress up for Armageddon
You're acting like the world is ending
I dress up for summer
I'm living in the moment
Hey and now you got their attention
People are listening to you
You know, you gotta keep 'em believing
You have to maintain their interest
But as a matter of fact, what they believe you're not
You're not truthful
Believing no more
People are starting to question you
Tell tell tell tell tell tell more
I want to know all the details
I hear you're one in a million
You're unique
But there's a million of you
There are many people like you
Who is that man with the microphone?
Who are you and what are you saying?
Today he is here but tomorrow he is gone
You won't be around forever
But I disagree
I don't think you're important
[Chorus]
Repeating the chorus
You feel tortured and filled with regret
You're unhappy
You say life is void of meaning
You don't find life fulfilling
Are they not sick of you yet?
People are getting tired of your negative attitude
Man that's such a, man that's such a bummer
That's sad and disappointing
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Randy Fitzsimmons
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Guilherme Idéias
Hey believe me, I have seen your sort before
You're all over history like dust on the kitchen floor
(Tell me more)
Your lips are moving, you go on and on and on and on and on
You swing your rod, rod baby rod, rod but don't swing it at me
Cuz it's not for me, no I disagree
Cuz I heard you before when you said
There is a hole in your heart and it's bleeding
You dress up for Armageddon
I dress up for summer
Yeah!
Hey and now you got their attention
You know, you gotta keep 'em believing
but as a matter of fact, what they believe you're not
Believing no more (Tell tell tell tell tell tell me more)
I hear you're one in a million (tell me more)
But there's a million of you (tell, tell me more)
You swing your rod, rod baby rod, rod but don't swing it at me
It's not for me, no I disagree
Cuz I heard you before when you said
There is a hole in your heart and it's bleeding
You dress up for Armageddon
I dress up for summer
Who is the man with the microphone?
Today he is here but tomorrow he is gone
But I disagree
And I heard you before when you said
There is a hole in your heart and it's bleeding
You dress up for Armageddon
I dress up for summer
You feel tortured and filled with regret
You say life is void of meaning
Are they not sick of you yet?
Man that's such, man that's such a bummer
Guilherme Idéias
Hey believe me, I have seen your sort before
You're all over history like dust on the kitchen floor
(Tell me more)
Your lips are moving, you go on and on and on and on and on
You swing your rod, rod baby rod, rod but don't swing it at me
Cuz it's not for me, no I disagree
Cuz I heard you before when you said
There is a hole in your heart and it's bleeding
You dress up for Armageddon
I dress up for summer
Yeah!
Hey and now you got their attention
You know, you gotta keep 'em believing
but as a matter of fact, what they believe you're not
Believing no more (Tell tell tell tell tell tell me more)
I hear you're one in a million (tell me more)
But there's a million of you (tell, tell me more)
You swing your rod, rod baby rod, rod but don't swing it at me
It's not for me, no I disagree
Cuz I heard you before when you said
There is a hole in your heart and it's bleeding
You dress up for Armageddon
I dress up for summer
Who is the man with the microphone?
Today he is here but tomorrow he is gone
But I disagree
And I heard you before when you said
There is a hole in your heart and it's bleeding
You dress up for Armageddon
I dress up for summer
You feel tortured and filled with regret
You say life is void of meaning
Are they not sick of you yet?
Man that's such, man that's such a bummer
Slinky Suits
Oh man, this reminds me of when I had all of their albums...now I can't find a single one...time to get them again! The Hives are so great, absolutely no "bad" songs!
TreTre McBongrips
Favorite song on the album.. I gotta say I rarely buy cd's but The Hives is one of the 2 bands I support and actually spend money on lol.
Jeremy Bauman
i don't get why there songs are so great they just are
bleedinspleen
i cant really say which album takes the cake, cause every album is just so damn good. but it think this song takes the cake on this album. this band will be talked about for a really long time. fuckin hives are law
Darcy Perusco
I just found them I dunno what the fuck i've even been doing holy shit
TwilightLink293
simply amazing!Hives 4ever!
Explodamite
yeah, the hives are good band
C. Gray
love this song!
seeenrulez
Still one of my very favorites