Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain once described Kelly and McKee as his "most favorite songwriters in the whole world".
The band released two singles, "Son of a Gun" and "Dying for It", prior to releasing an album. In 1989 they released their only album, Dum Dum, on the record label Rough Trade. Following the closing of the record label 53rd and 3rd, which they had originally signed to, the band broke up in 1990. However, they reunited later that year to open for Nirvana when they played in Edinburgh.
Though they were not widely known when the band existed, covers of their songs by Nirvana and Kurt Cobain's tendency to mention them as an influence brought exposure to the band. With their songs "Son of a Gun" and "Molly's Lips" covered on Nirvana's album Incesticide and "Jesus Wants Me for a Sunbeam" covered as "Jesus Doesn't Want Me for a Sunbeam" on MTV Unplugged in New York, the band gained a new audience from people who wanted to discover the bands that influenced Cobain (a similar situation happened to the band The Meat Puppets). Due to this new exposure, in 1992 Sub Pop released The Way of the Vaselines: A Complete History, a compilation that contained The Vaselines' entire body of work on one album.
No longer together, members of the band moved on to new bands. Kelly went on to found the band Captain America (later renamed Eugenius). He currently performs solo. McKee founded the band Suckle and released her first solo album, Sunny Moon, in 2006.
In 2008, the band reformed and began to make sporadic appearences at festivals in the United Kingdom and the United States and various tours supporting Belle and Sebastian. The band will perform at the Belle and Sebastian's second Bowlie Weekender festival in December 2010.
In 2010, the band announced they would release their second album "Sex With An X" on September 14, 2010 on Sub Pop Records.
Dum-Dum
The Vaselines Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I was born to walk, but I wanted to walk,
I'm a real dum-dum, I even left my mom,
Cause I get on my knees, and I do what I please.
Dum-dum,
Dum-dum,
Dum-dum,
Dum-dum,
Dum-dum
I'm a real dum-dum, but I don't mind,
I got a dum-dum girl, we're two of a kind,
I'm a real dum-dum, I'm gonna find the sun,
I'm gonna do what I want, everyday that I please,
I'm a real dum-dum, Just look at the fun,
I'm gonna get my pics already, Satan, Satan,
I'm a real dum-dum, hey, I don't care,
If you wanted to know I'm a don't carebear.
The Vaselines's song Dum-Dum is a fun, upbeat song with a somewhat nonsensical and repetitive chorus that adds to the overall playful tone of the song. The verses tell the story of a person who refers to themselves as a "real dum-dum" and someone who was "born to walk, but wanted to walk". They also mention leaving their mother behind and doing "what they please". The chorus, consisting of only the word "dum-dum" repeated multiple times, is almost like a celebration of their perceived foolishness.
The lyrics can be interpreted in a few different ways. One way is that they are simply celebrating their carefree attitude and embrace of their own quirks and flaws. Another way is that they are poking fun at societal expectations and norms, highlighting the idea that sometimes it's okay to be a little "dumb" or unconventional.
Overall, Dum-Dum is a catchy and lighthearted song that encourages listeners to embrace their individuality and not take themselves too seriously.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm a real dum-dum, I'm a son of a gun,
I am not very intelligent, but I am a bold and daring person.
I was born to walk, but I wanted to walk,
I was meant to live a simple life, but I desired something more exciting.
I'm a real dum-dum, I even left my mom,
I am foolish enough to abandon my family and responsibilities.
Cause I get on my knees, and I do what I please.
I am impulsive and do whatever I want without considering the consequences.
Dum-dum, Dum-dum, Dum-dum, Dum, Dum-dum, Dum-dum
Repeating the word dum-dum emphasizes my lack of intelligence.
I'm a real dum-dum, but I don't mind,
I embrace and accept my lack of intelligence.
I got a dum-dum girl, we're two of a kind,
I am attracted to someone who is just as foolish as I am.
I'm a real dum-dum, I'm gonna find the sun,
I am determined to seek out a brighter and more exciting future.
I'm gonna do what I want, everyday that I please,
I will continue to act impulsively and selfishly with no regard for others.
I'm a real dum-dum, Just look at the fun,
I am having a great time despite my lack of intelligence.
I'm gonna get my pics already, Satan, Satan,
I am willing to make a deal with the devil if it means I can have what I want.
I'm a real dum-dum, hey, I don't care,
I am completely indifferent to what others think of me and my actions.
If you wanted to know I'm a don't carebear.
I am like a Care Bear who does not care about anything or anyone else.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: FRANCES MCKEE, EUGENE KELLY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind