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.
Oliver Twisted
The Vaselines Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Who used to think he was a brand and gifted
Stupendously handsome, beautifully smart
He had no heart
On his own, he was all alone
He wanted more than he ever got
Who took life so slow that he occasionally missed it
Permanently senseless, never on his brain
He had no brain
On his own, he was all alone
He wanted more than he ever got
Once I had a friend called Oliver Twisted
Who lived on the edge or so he insisted
Intelligently careless, hated Rock and Roll
He had no soul
On his own, he was all alone
He wanted more than he ever got
The Vaselines' song "Oliver Twisted" tells the story of a man named Oliver who is attractive, smart, and living life on the edge. However, despite his external attributes, the song reveals that Oliver is lacking in heart, brain, and soul. The lyrics paint the picture of someone who is constantly seeking more than he ever receives, yet he is ultimately alone in his pursuits.
The song's use of the name "Oliver Twisted" is a play on the famous Charles Dickens' fictional character "Oliver Twist." While the original Oliver is a poor, orphan boy seeking a better life, Oliver Twisted is a darker depiction of someone who may have everything on the surface, but is still unhappy and unfulfilled. The song suggests that Oliver's sense of superiority and carelessness is ultimately what leads to his alienation and lack of fulfillment.
The song's clever use of oxymorons such as "intelligently careless" and "permanently senseless" adds to the overall theme of Oliver's contradictions and internal conflict. The chorus's repetition of Oliver being alone and wanting more than he ever got also emphasizes his dissatisfaction and yearning for something outside of himself.
Line by Line Meaning
Once I had a friend called Oliver Twisted
The singer is describing a friend he used to have named Oliver Twisted.
Who used to think he was a brand and gifted
Oliver Twisted had an exaggerated sense of self-worth and thought he was talented in many ways.
Stupendously handsome, beautifully smart
Oliver Twisted was very good-looking and intelligent.
He had no heart
Despite his good qualities, Oliver Twisted lacked empathy and compassion.
On his own, he was all alone
Oliver Twisted often spent time by himself and was isolated from others.
He wanted more than he ever got
Oliver Twisted had high aspirations but never achieved what he wanted in life.
Who took life so slow that he occasionally missed it
Oliver Twisted was very laid-back and sometimes didn't fully experience life.
Permanently senseless, never on his brain
Oliver Twisted was constantly distracted or unfocused, and lacked mental clarity.
He had no brain
Metaphorically, Oliver Twisted lacked intelligence or critical thinking skills.
Who lived on the edge or so he insisted
Oliver Twisted claimed to live life dangerously or recklessly.
Intelligently careless, hated Rock and Roll
Oliver Twisted's carelessness was intentional, and he disliked a popular music genre.
He had no soul
In addition to his lack of empathy, Oliver Twisted was spiritually empty and lacked depth.
On his own, he was all alone
As before, Oliver Twisted was frequently alone and not connected with others.
He wanted more than he ever got
Again, Oliver Twisted had unfulfilled desires and was not satisfied with his life.
Lyrics © DOMINO PUBLISHING COMPANY, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: EUGENE KELLY, FRANCES MCKEE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind