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

Skull Of A German
The Jesus Lizard Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

They found him
In the latrine hiding
Dressed in clothes
Fifteen layers deep
The food that he had bled on
Was arranged in stupid shapes
He must have cut his arms to garnish
Plates laid out for banquets

And he had taken others clothing
While they slept
Or while they played
If you want to pop him
I didn't see it
He'd been seen
Watching children playing
Recognized
Because of what he was wearing
So when they finally caught him
He was embarrassed and ashamed
Not cause of his actions
Because of what they made him do
He was not jailed or beaten
He did not go to trial
If you want to pop him
I didn't see it
They made him
Leave in front of thousands
Of crazed and drunken people
Clad only in his boxers
Humiliated naked
Laughed at and then spit on

His punishment was lasting
Atonement is forever

Overall Meaning

The Jesus Lizard's song “Skull of a German” appears to be a commentary on the consequences of war and societal alienation, perpetrated upon those who belong to a specific culture, race or ethnicity. Based on the lyrics, it can be assumed that the singer is a German soldier, who is found hiding in a latrine, donning multiple layers of clothing that he had purloined from others. The food that he had bled on partially indicated that he was either forced to eat unsuitable food, or he self-harmed himself. The lyrics also reveal the one that made him wear other’s clothes and eat silly shaped food, as no one claimed responsibility for it.

Additionally, it appears that the German soldier was forced to do atrocities, hinted at by the clothes that he wore, visible from far away, and recognized him as such. He was not imprisoned or even punished, which gives the impression that he must have done something for which he was not wholly responsible, and instead, he was made to suffer in other ways. The events described culminate in the soldier being publicly humiliated and made to atone for something that might not have been entirely his fault. The punishing experiences he is forced to endure have left him shattered and ostracized forever.

Line by Line Meaning

They found him
They discovered him

In the latrine hiding
Hiding in the restroom

Dressed in clothes
Wearing garments

Fifteen layers deep
Wearing many layers of clothing

The food that he had bled on
The food he had spilled blood on

Was arranged in stupid shapes
He had arranged the food in silly ways

He must have cut his arms to garnish
He may have cut himself to decorate

Plates laid out for banquets
Plates set up for large gatherings

And he had taken others clothing
He had stolen clothes from others

While they slept
When they were asleep

Or while they played
Or when they were playing