The Jesus Lizard is an American alternative rock band formed in 1987 in Aus… Read Full Bio ↴The Jesus Lizard is an American alternative rock band formed in 1987 in Austin, Texas, United States. They are "a leading noise rock band in the American independent underground…(who) turned out a series of independent records filled with scathing, disembowelling, guitar-driven pseudo-industrial noise, all of which received positive reviews in underground music publications and heavy college-radio play."

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

S.D.B.J
The Jesus Lizard Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Lyin' around
Like some goddamn walrus
You make me
Sick to my stomach
The smell is here
Hangs like a killer
Hangs like a deadman
And I can't take another day

Sick
Drunk
Blow
Job
The smell is here
Hangs like a killer
Hangs like a deadman
And I can't take another day
Some kind of bra-wearin'-hairy-fish
Droolin' into your dish

Pastoral
Your life is gone
Your youth is over
Years of cheer
Reduced to this
A crumbling mess
On a September morn
Your blood flows by
Like a meandering stream
Bubbling
Gurgling
Brook-like
Baking in the midday sun
Hard on the outside
Soft on the inside
(That's a nice contract)
I saw you there
Sioux City bound
In a cornfield

I saw you there
Stinking

Overall Meaning

The Jesus Lizard's song S.D.B.J. is a remarkable piece of music with deeply unsettling and thought-provoking lyrics. The song opens with an image of someone lying around like a "goddamn walrus," which immediately sets the mood for the rest of the song. The singer is sickened by the smell emanating from this person, which hangs like a killer or a deadman. The person's lifestyle has reduced them to a crumbling mess, and the singer can't bear to witness it anymore. The lyrics go on to describe this person's past, and how years of cheer have been reduced to this, making the whole song feel melancholic and profound.

The second half of the song takes a darker turn, describing someone who is "Sioux City bound" and smelling bad. The lyrics emphasize that this person's youth is gone, and their life reduced to nothing. The metaphor of blood flowing like a meandering stream is used, emphasizing the fleeting nature of life. The hard on the outside, soft on the inside contrasts nicely, and the impression of someone stuck in a hopeless situation is created.

Line by Line Meaning

Lyin' around
You're doing nothing, just lying down

Like some goddamn walrus
In the same way as a lazy walrus

You make me
I have these feelings because of you

Sick to my stomach
I feel physically unwell

The smell is here
A bad odour is present

Hangs like a killer
It's as if the bad smell is causing harm

Hangs like a deadman
It's like the smell is coming from a corpse

And I can't take another day
I cannot endure this anymore

Sick
I am disgusted

Drunk
Intoxicated

Blow
Oral sex