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.
Sex With An X
The Vaselines Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Feels so good it must be bad for me
Feels so good it must be bad for me
Lets do it, Lets do it again
You look so right, you must be wrong for me
You look so right, you must be wrong for me
You look so right, you must be wrong for me
Lets do it, Lets do it again
Help me Help me, my resolve is breaking
I've given up and i'm goin' down
I've done too much, of all the stuff
That i was warned, do not touch
(chorus)
Stop me, Stop me, please forgive me
I'm too blind, to see the light
I've been cursed, but know it's worst
I don't know, what i did last night
Save me, Save me
Temptations breaking
I gave in to all you had
I confess, to all the mess
When darkness fell, I was bad
(chorous)
The Vaselines's song "Sex With An X" talks about the idea of giving into temptation, and indulging in things that could be perceived as 'bad' or 'wrong'. The repetition of the line "Feels so good it must be bad for me" emphasizes the idea of being aware of the potential dangers of the situation, but still following through with it anyway. Similarly, the repeated line "Lets do it, Lets do it again" creates a sense of addiction, and the sense of wanting more despite the negative consequences.
The song also touches on the idea of guilt and shame, with lines such as "Help me Help me, my resolve is breaking" and "Stop me, Stop me, please forgive me". The singer of the song is aware of their actions and the potential consequences, but still feels unable to resist the temptation. "When darkness fell, I was bad" completes the picture of someone who has given in to their desires, but feels remorseful afterwards.
Overall, "Sex With An X" is a commentary on the human psyche and how we often find ourselves in situations where we know what the right decision is, but end up making the wrong one anyway. The catchy chorus and upbeat tempo of the song juxtaposes the somewhat heavy subject matter, creating a sense of irony.
Line by Line Meaning
Feels so good it must be bad for me
The pleasure I am experiencing is so intense that it must have negative consequences.
Lets do it, Lets do it again
I cannot resist the temptation to engage in this activity again.
You look so right, you must be wrong for me
The attraction I feel towards you is so strong that it goes against reason and logic.
Help me Help me, my resolve is breaking
I am struggling to resist the urges I am feeling.
I've given up and i'm goin' down
I have abandoned my attempts to resist and am submitting to my impulses.
I've done too much, of all the stuff
I have indulged in this activity to a damaging extent.
That i was warned, do not touch
I was cautioned against engaging in this behavior, but ignored the warnings.
Stop me, Stop me, please forgive me
I am asking for help to overcome my desires and seeking forgiveness for my actions.
I'm too blind, to see the light
I am so caught up in my impulses that I cannot see the negative consequences of my actions.
I've been cursed, but know it's worst
I understand that my indulgences have negative consequences and that it could get worse.
I don't know, what i did last night
The intensity of my actions has led me to forget what I did.
Save me, Save me
I am asking for someone to help me overcome my desires.
Temptations breaking
My desire for this activity is overpowering my willpower.
I gave in to all you had
I was unable to resist the temptations presented to me.
I confess, to all the mess
I am admitting to the negative consequences of my actions.
When darkness fell, I was bad
I struggled to resist my desires, and gave in when it became harder to resist.
(chorous)
Repeating the previous lines about giving into temptation and asking for forgiveness.
Contributed by Alice V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Fervellasverzas
Feels so good it must be bad for me
Feels so good it must be bad for me
Feels so good it must be bad for me
Lets do it, Lets do it again
You look so right, you must be wrong for me
You look so right, you must be wrong for me
You look so right, you must be wrong for me
Lets do it, Lets do it again
Help me Help me, my resolve is breaking
I've given up and i'm goin' down
I've done too much, of all the stuff
That i was warned, do not touch
Stop me, Stop me, please forgive me
I'm too blind, to see the light
I've been cursed, but know it's worst
I don't know, what i did last night
Save me, Save me
Temptations breaking
I gave in to all you had
I confess, to all the mess
When darkness fell, I was bad
Timothy McGivern
It is sooooo sad that more people are not aware of this song. Thanks Kurt for turning me onto them!!
Smokinjoe
It's also sad that most of their songs you are unable to comment on and discuss. I doubt there is a majority of negative comments, so open it up. Don't be like other labels and live in an echo chamber.
Edit: I mean not you personally, but Sub Pop.
Sergiu Sebastian
I can't wait for the album,it sounds so freaking awesome :) SubPop are the best,they are gonna be as good in the 2010s as they we're in the previous decades.
sliat1981
Eugene has a great voice
Anthony Robinson
Love this band!
xMilklt
Feels so good to have them back. :,)
djzenelvis
Great track and video nice to have them back.
shredzz1213
This is fucking hysterical. 20 years and they still got it!
Fervellasverzas
Feels so good it must be bad for me
Feels so good it must be bad for me
Feels so good it must be bad for me
Lets do it, Lets do it again
You look so right, you must be wrong for me
You look so right, you must be wrong for me
You look so right, you must be wrong for me
Lets do it, Lets do it again
Help me Help me, my resolve is breaking
I've given up and i'm goin' down
I've done too much, of all the stuff
That i was warned, do not touch
Stop me, Stop me, please forgive me
I'm too blind, to see the light
I've been cursed, but know it's worst
I don't know, what i did last night
Save me, Save me
Temptations breaking
I gave in to all you had
I confess, to all the mess
When darkness fell, I was bad
Gabriele Bortoluzzi
so fucking slept on. this video is awesome