After a brief run as a recording-only project based in Austin, founding vocalist David Yow, bassist David Wm. Sims and guitarist Duane Denison relocated to Chicago, Illinois in 1989, finding kindred spirits in recording engineer Steve Albini and the Touch and Go Records imprint. With the addition of drummer Mac McNeilly, they began operating as a live band, expanding their following beyond Chicago's alternative scene into an international audience. Drummer Jim Kimball replaced McNeilly late in 1996, and was himself replaced by Brendan Murphy two years later.
Despite releasing a split single with leading alt-rockers Nirvana and signing to Capitol Records, the band failed to find commercial success amid the alternative rock explosion of the 1990s, and disbanded in 1999. Their reunion from 2008 to 2010 and following tour enjoyed positive responses from audiences and critics.
In October 2013, The Jesus Lizard were set to play at the All Tomorrow's Parties event Release the Bats in Melbourne, Australia. They cancelled this show due to "unforeseen circumstances."
Members:
David Yow - vocals;
Duane Denison - guitars;
David Wm. Sims - bass;
Mac McNeilly - drums.
Former members:
Jim Kimball - drums;
Brendan Murphy - drums.
http://www.thejesuslizard.net
If You Had Lips
The Jesus Lizard Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I love you
Hey shitmouth
I love you
A number of years
Have passed between our
Legs
Taste your buttery muffin
I've never known anyone who bent so much to me
I never
I've never known anyone who bent so much to me
I never
When you smile
I can smell your breath
I see the shit
On your teeth
man, I'd love to catch ya
If you had lips I'd kiss ya
I pray the Lord to curse ya
hey shitmouth
I love you
Will you bury me?
Ancient man - he needed
Ancient man - he had it
Man, I'd love to catch ya
If you had lips I'd kiss ya
Pray the Lord to curse ya
Now we two lay together
Will ya bury me?
Will ya bury me?
Will ya bury me?
The Jesus Lizard's song "If You Had Lips" features lyrics that are as confrontational and explicit as they are open to interpretation. At its core, the song is about the complicated and sometimes contradictory emotions that accompany a physical relationship, but it is also about power dynamics, intimacy, and even mortality.
The repeated line "hey shitmouth, I love you" sets the tone for the rest of the song, which oscillates between aggression and affection. The singer seems to be addressing someone they have a deep connection with, but also someone they have little respect for. The imagery of "tasting your buttery muffin" and "seeing the shit on your teeth" is both intimate and vulgar, creating a sense of discomfort and unease.
The line "I've never known anyone who bent so much to me" is particularly intriguing, as it implies a kind of submission or subservience. It is unclear who is doing the bending and who is doing the demanding, but it adds a layer of complexity to the singer's feelings. Likewise, the line "ancient man - he needed / ancient man - he had it" is enigmatic, suggesting both a nostalgia for more primitive times and a sense of inevitability.
Line by Line Meaning
Hey shitmouth
Addressing someone with an insult term, possibly used in jest or to show intimacy
I love you
Expressing affection towards the person being addressed
Hey shitmouth
Repeating the same address as in the first line, further emphasising the intimacy or joking tone
I love you
Reiterating the affection expressed earlier
A number of years
Referring to a significant amount of time passing
Have passed between our
Implying a shared history or relationship over a period of time
Legs
Possibly referring to sexual activity, or simply physical proximity
Taste your buttery muffin
Using explicit language to describe a sexual act or body part
Hey shitmouth!
An exclamatory statement, possibly suggesting arousal or excitement
I've never known anyone who bent so much to me
Expressing admiration for the person's willingness to please or accommodate
I never
Repeating the previous line for emphasis or poetic effect
When you smile
Describing a specific physical action or expression of the person being addressed
I can smell your breath
Suggesting intimacy or proximity, possibly with a hint of disgust or negative judgement
I see the shit
Referring to a visible trace of the person's bodily waste or neglect, again with a negative connotation
On your teeth
Specifically locating the object of the previous line
Man, I'd love to catch ya
Expressing desire for physical contact, possibly flirtatious or aggressive
If you had lips I'd kiss ya
Imagining a physical attribute that is lacking in the person being addressed, while simultaneously expressing a desire for intimacy
I pray the Lord to curse ya
An ironic or humorous statement, invoking religious language to express anger or annoyance
Hey shitmouth
Repeating the same address as in the previous lines, possibly to further intensify the emotion or establish a refrain
I love you
Reiterating the earlier expression of affection, which now has a different tone or context
Will you bury me?
Possibly a literal query about one's own death, or a figurative expression of submission or surrender
Ancient man - he needed
Invoking the image of primitive or historical figures
Ancient man - he had it
Suggesting a contrast between the simplicity or clarity of ancient times and a more troubled, complex present
Man, I'd love to catch ya
Repeating a previous line, while possibly shifting the intended meaning in the current context
If you had lips I'd kiss ya
Repeating a previous line, which now has a slightly different or ambiguous meaning
Pray the Lord to curse ya
Repeating a previous line for effect, possibly to create a sense of closure or balance in the lyrics
Now we two lay together
Suggesting a shared moment of intimacy or vulnerability, possibly with a hint of despair or resignation
Will ya bury me?
Repeating a previous line, which now has a more profound or final meaning
Will ya bury me?
Repeating a previous line, which now echoes or reinforces the earlier sense of surrender or acceptance
Will ya bury me?
Repeating a previous line, possibly as a final call to action or a rhetorical question with no clear answer
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind